Monday 21 January 2013

Banks

Banks eh? I've been having more contact that usual with mine lately, having had a card swallowed by an ATM and immediately put to felonious use (to the tune of two and half grand). When I eventually got to speak to someone at my bank that day - in person - I must say they were really quite helpful, even if I did have to spend another half hour hanging on the telephone in a little cubicle at the bank. It was all sorted out in the end... But the ongoing irritation is, and has been for many months, the calls I get from some keen young chap at the bank wanting me to come in and 'review' my account or something to that effect. From experience I know this to be a complete waste of time, but when I got a call from a young lady with an Italian accent, rather than the keen young chap, I finally succumbed and agreed to drop in at 4pm (note that time) tomorrow.
This call was followed by another from the keen young chap, who had no idea what had happened and sounded extremely miffed that the young lady with the Italian accent had nipped in and nabbed an appointment. Seething he was...  And then, this morning, I had a text message from the bank, helpfully reminding me of my appointment with the Italian lady at 9am tomorrow. As I said, banks eh?

9 comments:

  1. Hmm...same sort of thing with a business account I have had with Barclays for 20 years. Couple of months ago I had a series of pleasant but insistent calls from what I imagined (rightly) was my 'new' relationship manager, an lady from the vast Continent of Asia. These people are mis-named. I have had four over the last decade and have managed no sort of 'relationship' with any of them, nor sought one. My needs are simple. An unsecured overdraft of £25K which my small business can service with ease, and no questions asked.
    This lady asked if she could visit us to 'get a feel for our business, and perhaps offer some advice'. I told her I didn't see the point, knowing full well what she really wanted to do - reduce or eliminate our overdraft, or turn it into a loan.
    The meeting was short, the atmosphere was the cool side of cold, and I chose to 'reduce'. I read the papers, I dabble...I know what is going on in the world. Banks eh?

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  2. Well quite Mahlerman. Like you, all I want out of my bank is a decent overdraft facility - what else do they have to offer that I couldn't get elsewhere? If only they'd just leave us alone...

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  3. Change your bank, Mr Nigeness! The intrusive calls from Barclays got me down so I left them years ago for the Co-op, who never ring me.

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  4. Oddly enough Mary, the Co-Op bank is exactly what I have in mind - I'm just waiting till they get a few more branches open...

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  5. Go digital, Mr N! I conduct nearly all my banking business over the net. You can also request an overdraft online - the Co-op is very accommodating. Remember the days when you had to queue in a bank on Saturday mornings (shut up shop at midday, having closed promptly at 3.30pm each day during the working week)? Things have come a long way since then.

    If you're committed to conducting your business at a real branch, then the Co-op's acquisition of the Lloyds branch network should soon accommodate your needs. But I still urge you to consider a more wholehearted digital approach.

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  6. In the event the Italian lady was very charming and the meeting was - I blush to relate - quite useful. Whatever next?

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  7. The Co-op can't compete with that.

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  8. Getting a call from your bank ranks up with getting a call from the tax authorities on the list of life's great stressors. The rush of momentary panic is not much relieved when they reveal they were only calling to see if you were satisfied with their services. "I was up to now" is the only honest answer.

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  9. "Relationship manager" pshaw... they always just want to sell you something.

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