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Tizer
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25/06/2010
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09:59
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I just love banks, don't you? They go out of their way to make life exciting and to make sure we are always wondering if our account will have been emptied by tomorrow morning. They spend a fortune launching `Chip & Pin' and trying to convince us that it is infallible and that any fraud on our card in future will be due to our failings, not theirs. They do us great favours like deciding, unilaterally, to get rid of cheques. They are so good to us I thought we should reward them with a thread devoted to their marvellous escapades. Let me start with this offering but please add your own experiences and comments...
We have received a letter from Santander (Abbey Nat to you and me) beginning "We are deligted to inform you..." which always sets alarm bells ringing, and ends "As Santander we will continue to offer innovative, great value products and are committed to delivering excellent service to our customers" which sets the sirens blaring. What they are delighted to inform me is that they have upgraded (without consulting me) my Cheque Guarantee Card to a Visa Debit Card. But I don't want a Visa debit card, I don't need another card, it's just another thing to get stolen, lost or defrauded.
But there's a sting in the tail. They then tell me to destroy my cheque guarantee card by cutting it in half. OK, I think, the new card will be used for this instead. But no, lower down in the letter it says the new card cannot be used to guarantee cheques. I know that cheques are set to be phased out (unilaterally once again, by June 2011) but it looks like the banks have devised a great scam to deprive us of cheque guarantee cards so they can say that cheques are not much use. I use cheques a lot and I would prefer that they were not phased out, but then, hey, the banks are not there just for you and me, are they?
I notice that although the letter tells me to destroy the cheque card, nowhere does it say that I cannot continue to use it. So I'm going to use it for as long as possible. I advise everyone to do the same. The banks are just hoping we will all fall in line with their demands and destroy the cards immediately.
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Tizer
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Posted - 21/02/2011 : 15:48
I was just thinking the same....the government should set up a forum with appropriate experts to come up with scenarios for each of the decadal intervals 2020, 2030, 2040, 2050 to predict the likely state of economic relationships between, say, Europe on the one hand and China and India on the other. We need to be planning now for the big changes ahead instead of putting our heads in the sand.
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frankwilk
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Posted - 21/02/2011 : 16:07
Problems with Scotch is it only takes a few men to produce millions of bottles !!!!! like the 16 Men of Tain !!!
Edited by - frankwilk on 21/02/2011 7:13:53 PM
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
catgate
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Posted - 21/02/2011 : 19:44
quote:
Tizer wrote:
I was just thinking the same....the government should set up a forum with appropriate experts to come up with scenarios for each of the decadal intervals 2020, 2030, 2040, 2050 to predict the likely state of economic relationships between, say, Europe on the one hand and China and India on the other. We need to be planning now for the big changes ahead instead of putting our heads in the sand.
I trust you are not thinking of experts such as those who advised on things like PFI and the other various roaring successes like the National Heath Computerisation Scheme and the National Database.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 04:04
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestey_Group
Dewhurst Butchers and tax avoidance. I remembered the name.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
frankwilk
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 08:20
Stanley nowt wrong with Tax Avoidance, now Evasion is a different thing. Don't blame the Companies they are doing what the Shareholder expects. It is the Regulation that is wrong or the Price is to High to Pay the Tax here, so they go some place that is cheaper !!
Just think our loss is some poor Swiss families Gain think positive.
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Tizer
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 09:49
Catty, no I don't mean bad experts or ones with vested interests. But don't think all advisors and `experts' are bad, the systems often don't work because those who are meant to use them gave incorrect or incomplete specifications for their requirements. And I was talking about experts more in the sense of the old China-watchers, people who know these countries well together with economists and such like.
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catgate
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 19:52
quote:
Tizer wrote:
Catty, no I don't mean bad experts or ones with vested interests. But don't think all advisors and `experts' are bad, .......Over the years I have come in contact, professionally, with many consultants and ex consultants. I think they were best described by a colleague as "Those who travel from afar bearing slides". Another claimed they fitted perfectly into the barb often aimed at teacher ...."Those who can do, Those who can't teach."
I know that there are some who have expertise in certain fields but most of those that I have encountered seem to want to spread their field of "expertise" rather to widely.
I was once in a pub in the Dales when a local chap, who it tranpired had just come back from visiting his wife in hospital, walked in.
"How's Doris then Stan", asked the barman.
"Oh not too bad," said Stan,"The specialist thinks she'll get over it."
"Who is she under."
"Mr Shackleton." said Stan.
"Oh I haven't heard of him. What does he specialise in?"
"Oh everything." replied Stan.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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frankwilk
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 20:24
Definition of " An Expert " Someone who knows when to call in " An Expert "
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Bradders
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Posted - 22/02/2011 : 21:37
"X" is an unknown (quantity ?)
A Spurt is a drip under pressure.......
We've all met 'em .....Still do !
Edited by - Bradders on 22/02/2011 9:39:45 PM
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 23/02/2011 : 06:42
When the history of the 20th and 21st century is written the activities of the 'consultants' and 'Experts' like McKinsey et al will perhaps come into some sort of perspective. Why don't managers and politicians trust their own judgement? Basic incompetence or prudent assessment of all points of view?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKinsey_%26_Company
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
catgate
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Posted - 23/02/2011 : 12:37
quote:
Stanley wrote:
Why don't managers and politicians trust their own judgement?
I'll give you a clue.
Look at the age of the cxurrent managers and politicians.
There has been a gradual eroding of older managers by younger but more senior managers and directors who have a fistful of diplomas and degrees (usually in hairstyling or flower arranging).
Then ask yourself where these consultants come from, and what their aganda is.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 01/03/2011 : 05:55
I note that HSBC have doubled their pre-tax profit. What recession?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
tripps
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Posted - 01/03/2011 : 08:38
I think there's a clue in the name - HSBC means Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The HQ is in London, but a lot of their business is not.
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pluggy
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Posted - 01/03/2011 : 12:33
Hopelessly Stupid Bunch of Cretins as I call them. Better than Santander, but that isn't saying much......
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Tizer
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Posted - 01/03/2011 : 15:51
While you read the following, think about how the banks are paying their staff bonuses at present and their executives massive salaries and bonuses...
`The Times' newspaper reports that `Which?' magazine has conducted a test to find out how well bank staff are advising their customers on ISAs. It phoned 104 staff at banks and building societies and in each case asked them the same 4 simple questions, such as can I transfer my ISA to another bank. Of the104 bank staff only 3 (yes, three) could answer all four questions. The Money Editor of `The Times' was driven to prepare a cut-out with the answers so that bank staff can pin it on their desk. It's so simple that the cut-out is only about 3 x 4 inches. Now just think again about those bonuses. First question, why are bonuses paid out when performance is as bad as this? Second question,why wasn't the money used instead to train staff in the basic principles of banking and finance? I have added below a copy of the cut-out from The Times with the answers.
Edited by - Tizer on 02/03/2011 10:23:09
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Beware, the banks are out to get you!
