Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 23rd May 1993

Dilbert//1499, first published 33 years ago on Sunday 23rd May 1993

Tags

bank of ethel ethel dilbert paying credit card automatically transfer account craze elsewhere

Official transcript

A teller at the Bank of Ethel says, "Next victim."

Dilbert approaches the window and says, "You charged me a fee for paying my credit card bill a day late."

The woman asks, "So?"

Dilbert asks, "Why don't your computers automatically transfer money from my checking account instead of charging a penalty?"

The teller replies, "Frankly, we're not much into the 'customer service' craze."

The teller continues, "We prefer to set little traps so customers get hit with unexpected penalties."

Dilbert says angrily, "Well!! I think I'll just take my business elsewhere!"

The teller says, "You're annoying me. That's a hundred dollar penalty!"

Dilbert walks out of the bank wearing only his underwear. He thinks, "I don't think I can even claim a moral victory here."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

BANK ETHEL NEXT VICTIM YOU CHARGED ME A FEE FOR PAYING MY CREDIT CARD BILL A DAY LATE.

501 WHY DON'T YOUR COMPUTERS AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFER MONEY FROM MY CHECKING ACCOUNT INSTEAD OF CHARGING A PENALTY?

FRANKLY, WE'RE NOT MUCH INTO THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" CRAZE.

WE PREFER TO SET LITTLE TRAPS SO CUSTOMERS GETHIT WITH UNEXPECTED PENALTIES.

WELL!! I THINK I'LL JUST TAKE MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!

YOU'RE ANNOYING ME. THAT'S A HUNDRED DOLLAR PENALTY !

I DON'T THINK I CAN EVEN CLAIM A MORAL VICTORY HERE

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "Bank of Ethel"

Summary:

The comic strip features Dilbert, a character known for his sarcastic and humorous interactions, in a bank setting. The story begins with Dilbert being charged a fee for paying his credit card bill a day late. He expresses his frustration to the bank representative, who explains that the fee is a result of the bank's automated transfer system.

Dilbert argues that the bank should not charge him a penalty for something that is not his fault, as the automated system is responsible for the delay. The bank representative responds by saying that the bank prefers to set little traps so customers get hit with unexpected penalties.

Dilbert becomes increasingly annoyed and sarcastic, eventually declaring that he can even claim a moral victory in this situation. The comic strip ends with Dilbert walking out of the bank, leaving the bank representative looking puzzled.

Key Themes:

• The comic strip highlights the frustration and annoyance that people may feel when dealing with bureaucracy and automated systems.
• It also touches on the theme of customer service and the importance of treating customers with respect and understanding.
• The use of sarcasm and humor adds to the comedic effect of the strip.

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