How many people does it take to make out a bill

The Greek public service has always been known for the principal of 'how many people to do one simple job', but in fact they are not alone.

Today we went to buy some bits and pieces of furniture from a hotel which is being refurbished. We chose our goods and expected just to pay the man who showed them to us. No such luck.

He made out a bill and calculated the total, 358 euros. He made a phone call, then walked us through the bowels of the hotel to an office where someone else made up a bill and printed it off, 358 euros.

Then he took up up to the top of the building where a lady typed the bill again, added it up, hand wrote an invoice, added that up, got us to sign, and sent us to the man at the next door desk to pay. He added up the amounts again, 358 euros. We paid, then we went back to the first lady. She wrote a receipt, attached it to one of the many print-outs, and we left. Seconds later she was chasing us, having given us the 'wrong copy'.

Reminds me of TEBE (the employers social security office) where I went once to get a statement. When I asked the lady if she could provide me with one immediately she said 'Of course, we are all computerised' and printed off the statement. I then had to go to three different people to get it verified, stamped, the stamp stamped etc. Unbelievable.
Diana