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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted -  25/06/2010  :  09:59
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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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 19/09/2010 : 06:30
Sorry about taking the space up but I tried something for an experiment. I put the text in first then used Pater's double dip method to post the pic so I have found a way to get text and pics inserted in the same box, put the pic in last. Use a double space first.

 




Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 30/09/2010 : 16:57
From Which? web site, 30 September 2010

"Lloyds, Barclays and Santander have been identified as Britain's most complained about banks. The number of disputes recorded by the FSA has been revealed for the first time, with Lloyds and Barclays each receiving over a quarter of a million in the first half of 2010."

"Lloyds Banking Group was revealed to have received 288,717 complaints, Barclays 250,667 and Santander 244,978. Disputes were caused by the firms' day-to-day banking activities and also by 'general insurance', which includes payment protection insurance."

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/09/banks-top-fsa-complaints-table-231935


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pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 30/09/2010 : 17:57
I just signed up with HSBC for my business banking today. I've given up on Santander.  The business consultant I dealt with (Sue at Barlick - a real character, been there since it was Midland) says they get a good few defectors from Santander for exactly the same reasons that I quoted..... 

I'm staying with Nationwide for my personal banking.


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 05:26
Lloyds and Barclays reported clear-up rates in the 90percentile, Santander's was 46%. Sue is a nice lady and your right plugs, she's been there for ever! We are very lucky in Barlick to have at least one bank where you recognise the staff.


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
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Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 19:20
I received an offer of a new credit card the other day.  I don't want one so only had a quick glance at the paperwork.

With promises of a free flight to the Caribbean within 3 months of spending vast quantities of money on said card, I noticed that the typical APR is 46%.  Yes folks - FORTYSIX PERCENT!

I nearly fell of my chair laughing as I put in the shredder!


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 02/10/2010 : 05:53
I had a similar offer the other day from a short-term loan company. I forget the rate but it was something like 2000+% APR. Someone somewhere must be desperate or they wouldn't bother to spend money doing mail shots.

My shredder is busy too. A woman's best friend these days!


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 02/10/2010 : 11:31
I'm sad to have to say this but I'm sure there are some people out there who think 50% APR is better than 40% because it is a bigger number. If it's bigger it's better, innit?


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catgate
Senior Member


1764 Posts
Posted - 02/10/2010 : 12:51


quote:
Tizer wrote:
I'm sad to have to say this but I'm sure there are some people out there who think 50% APR is better than 40% because it is a bigger number. If it's bigger it's better, innit?

There are some people who think it is the 50th of April.


Every silver lining has a cloud.


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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 11:28
The total figure for number of customer complaints to banks in Britain has now passed 4,000,000,000 [Well, I was only a thousand fold out!] 4,000,000 a year. Almost all of them are rejected outright by the banks but of those that are then taken to the ombudsman 80% are upheld. Banks and insurance companies, under FSA rules, are allowed to to send a letter of outright rejection to a customer without even telling them they can pursue it with the ombudsman. The government is now changing this rule to deny the banks this escape route but it won't happen until July 2012 and it will apply only to banks and insurance companies (other companies still will be allowed to use the rejection letter). In the meantime, the advice is that if you complain to a bank and get the standard letter do not be put off - take your complaint to the next stage by writing to the ombudsman and then it is likely you will win.

Edited by - Tizer on 05/10/2010 17:01:56


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pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 22:21
4 billion complaints a year ? Every person in Britain making a complaint every 6 days ? I don't think the banks are quite that bad.......


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Anni
Regular Member


634 Posts
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 23:23
I never have had cause to complain about my bank for the past 16 years - First Direct.  In fact, I think they are the bees knees and the dogs whotsits, so you can't count me in your figures Laughing 

Someone somewhere must be complaining twice as hard to make up for my satisfaction Laughing


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 05:41
Tempting providence Anni?


Stanley Challenger Graham




Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk Go to Top of Page
pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 08:55
I'm happy with Nationwide with my 20+ years with them.  Strictly speaking of course they aren't a bank.  Having their customers being able to vote at the AGM each year probably helps keep them on the straight and narrow.   They fought hard to stay mutual back in the late eighties when the carpet baggers ruled and the world signed over their birthright for a £300 cash injection.  Many of those who did aren't around anymore. Abbey National, Bradford & Bingley etc etc


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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 17:06
Thanks for spotting the typo Pluggy, now corrected. I was tempted to keep my finger down on the 0 key for even longer though!

We've had 15 years of excellent service from our local Nationwide branch. The only troubles where when we have had to deal with the Head Office - like most Head Offices they don't know what's going on in the world and aren't even familiar with their own business and rules. The Co-Op bank has been good to us too.


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Gugger
Regular Member


61 Posts
Posted - 05/10/2010 : 18:19
A never ending story?

http://www.neweconomics.org/press-releases/banks-set-to-demand-fresh-bail-out-in-2011-warns-think-tank


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