Features of the Israeli service or How the global SWIFT system collapsed

It’s now my freedom to go somewhere and do something grandiose, very limited in time by my children’s school holidays. I was once free like the wind. Each period of life has its charm.

At that time I was read by Hemingway and one day I was able to travel to Florida (in general) and to the Keys (in particular) - namely to Kewest, where the great writer lived. Said - done: I bought a ticket to Fort Lunderdale with a transfer and a gap in a few days in New York. After Florida, go on a gallop through America: walk, walk.

I was lucky in New York: they just opened access to the Statue of Liberty, which was closed after 9.11 (in the courtyard was September 2004), but they did not allow to the very top, but only to the museum, so - not impressed. I was lucky with the hurricane. In Florida there was a hurricane season, and that year there were two hurricanes at once: one weaker and one stronger. When I was in New York, there was warm autumn weather, and the day I flew to Florida, the remnants of the first hurricane reached New York by a powerful cyclone (anticyclone?That literally flooded the city – even closed a couple of subway branches. I was already flying to Florida.

In Florida, it was summer weather and the only thing that reminded me of the hurricane just passed here was... a complete, more precisely, complete absence of tourists The streets of Miami and other cities were empty. This was my first visit to Florida, but I think there are usually a lot more people there. We picked up the car at the airport and headed south.

The second hurricane was approaching, and it was planned to reach the shores of Florida in a week, exactly the day after we flew from Tampa to Las Vegas. We were lucky in all directions: we didn’t plan anything in advance, and we couldn’t: leave New York the day before the flood, fly to Florida the day after a hurricane, and leave the day before the next. Luckily in all directions.

The global SWIFT system has collapsed.

Does this happen? Kren knows: I can’t say if it happened before or after these events, but it happened in September 2004 – I know it for sure.

So we rented a car and drove around Florida. In a week, we visited all Keys, Miami, and also Disney World. We only have to go to United and tomorrow we will fly to Las Vegas to spend the money we have earned with hard work. Cash we took with us at a minimum: like - came to the fortress of civilization, and we have two (I and my girlfriend) 5 credit cards. Let us break!

At Universal we were told that the map does not pass. I tried another one, another one... another one... None passed. What fucking thing? I went to the bankomat. It should be said that the money has not been removed.

Flight to Las Vegas, of course paid in advance, hotel, car, then flight from San Francisco back to Israel - all of course paid. But we really didn’t have the cash for gasoline, even to get to Tampa (100 kilometers from wherever we were, if I’m not mistaken), not to mention the very long trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco with a night on the road, and to visit Las Vegas and not lose at least $100 and not go for at least one show? Not seriously...

What to do? Without any hope, I call to Israel, to a loan company. It is night in Israel. There will not be day to day to serve you, and here is the night. Molly, we have gotten.

Surprisingly, the loan company not only responded in the middle of the night, but also began to look for the cause of the problem. My bank account is okay. The cards are not closed. Wait, they say, and they wait. A cell phone call is roaming from the U.S. to Israel... Okay, this is my last chance to save my vacation, otherwise... I don’t even want to think.

After 15 minutes of waiting, I was informed of the following: it turns out that the world system SWIFT has fallen, and if more accurately - that part of it, which is engaged in international transfers and confirmations of payments - it is the international, that is. If I had an American card, it would work. Israel would also work in Israel. The Israeli in America is FIG. And I thought Israel was already the 51st (52nd?) The State of America (Shutka). And this whole bida can last 3-4 days. The billiard! In three or four days, I’m going from Las Vegas to Los Angeles by car. And the money - there is not even in Florida to get to the airport of Tampa.

The writer.

Honestly, somehow I didn’t think about relatives or friends from Israel who could transfer us money. I can imagine their eyes when I call them and tell them something like, “I’m in Las Vegas. I’m in Meli, there’s no money. Give me a few hundred.” Their first reaction would be: “Yes, you have protected! How much money did you put there?”

Without any particular hope of help, I describe by phone to a person from a loan company in what ass I am in and already expect him to say something like: I can’t help anything, I’m preparing to bombard the streets of some town in Florida. Hopefully the crocodiles don’t walk in the streets.

And there happened the unexpected. The man listened to me and said, "Look, of course, we don't have instructions for this, but I can withdraw $500 from your account through your credit card, I will go to Western Union in the morning and transfer the money to you." It will be in the morning in a few hours. Of course I agreed.

And he did, I got the money, and after 2-3 days the credit cards worked out again.

What happened? A man commits a small official crime and removes money from my account. After that, after finishing the night shift on the phone, before going to bed, he goes on the way to Western Union and transfers me money. All because – I am in a difficult position at a distance of 12 thousand kilometers and my vacation is in danger. But he could treat the matter formally: I can't help anything, call the manager in the morning, maybe something will help. Farewell to! Have a good holiday!

But he didn’t do that, he really made an effort to help me get out of the situation I was in. Yes, of course, what I got into such a situation is their fault, the loan company. But it’s not his fault, he doesn’t have to help me.

and helped.

The vacation was saved, my friend and I had a very good rest and fun.

They also received a life lesson.