Which is the best bank for left-handers?

cw1972

I'm a leftie and have always just put up with the awkwardness of writing the stub on a cheque book.

Saying that, I can't remeber the last time I used a cheque, I'm still only half-way through one I've had since 2002

Joe_Bloggs

It occured to me that if the same informatiion was printed on the back of the cheque, then cheque books could be used without anyone complaining about handedness.You could also pay two people at once in a cheque shortage situation.

On a more general note the use of the keyboard has increased the 'dexterity' of my left hand. For a righty I hold the mouse with my right hand and type short text entries with the left. Often, increased co-ordination is required between hands where shift keys and capitalisation are required. By using the mouse so many other tasks are carried out by the other hand, such as the use of the telephone and remote controls.
J_B. (If you are standing in a queue in a bank then ask yourself, why ? )

ashmit

worried_and_confused wrote:

A drive-thru bank... those wacky americans :rotfl:

Oh my Lordy, I just remembered something reading your post. About 10 years ago, I reckon, I had a dream that I went through a drive-through Natwest in Liverpool - somewhere near the Anglican cathedral. It was dark and very creepy.

And there I was thinking it was just a dream, where I was really predicting the American future!!!!!!

wix

Alright. Nationwide and left handed cheque books.

I'm left handed, and I'm with Nationwide. I could not be happier with the service I receive. Much like right handed mice and scissors, right handed cheque books are something I've gotten used to.

worried_and_confused wrote:

69.4 - 23.4 = 46p hardly an extortionate amount to keep those lefty customers happy...

A left handed cheque book, by these figures, costs nearly three times as much a right handed one. When you multiply that 46 pence by however many thousand cheque books might be needed, it's not economical for an institution that's supposed to be looking after your money. LH chequebooks are, let's face it, a luxury. Nice to have, but us lefties can all do without them.

pin wrote:

However it would be a nice "added bonus" to have a left hand cheque book (and even a paying in book), it would just make life that little bit easier and also so I could say "Proud to be different" (which Nationwide are not so much anymore).

One of my favourite things about Nationwide is the lack of paying-in books. Those things annoy me so much. Waste of paper and time. Frankly, I'll take better rates and customer service over "bonuses" any day of the week. As I'm sure you're all aware, there's no such thing as free banking. Left handed cheque books come at the expense of something else, usually rates.

And at HSBC, if I want to take cash out over the counter, I have to write a cheque to "cash", which seems more than a little backward to me considering the advances we've made in banking.

Interesting that Nationwide seems to come in for a great deal more bashing than any other financial institution around these parts. I wonder why that is.

keefyboy_2

In this world of people complaining about everything I am going to jump on the band wagon and complain that surely isn't this discrimination against lefties ??? I saw figures last year that actually puts the amount of left handed people up to nearer 40 % of the population.

I am a leftie and can not write with my right hand at all, this would be a great assistance to me as I am partially sighted as well, I bank with HSBC and even though I have been in the bank with staff members signing paperwork, no one has ever told me I can have a left handed cheque book, roll on tomorrow morning.......

I will also bring up another bee in my bonnet about banks and cheque books, as I said previously I am partially sighted and I was told by social services staff, that banks can supply you with a Template which you put over your right or left cheques which enables you to fill in the correct places to write a cheque out when you are partially or fully sighted. I made enquiries with my bank at that time who was Abbey (National) who gave me a telephone number to get immediate assistance with this request, I rang the number and my details were taken and I was told it would be with me within 28 days.

19 months later and getting a letter telling me to go to Abbey branch I was presented with my template..... a cheap bit of cardboard which I could have cutout from a breakfast box and made a better job of, the joke was on them though because due to so many errors happening on my account I had closed my account with Abbey, but they still insisted that I take the template.

So come on us lefties lets fight for our rights,

Joe_Bloggs

@keefyboy
Are there any computer utilities or features that you find helpful for exploring forums or the web ? I have knowledge of a partially blind student who could benefit from your input. Some links to external sites that have proved useful would also be appreciated.
Regards J_B.

Cheeky_Charlie_3

:A

As someone who works for Barclays I take great pride in getting things right for customers and am personally disapointed when we dont. I have taken on board the mail in realtion to the bill board in Dundee almost 100 miles from your nearest branch. I will be forwarding this on within the bank and will advise of the response I get. Barclays is at this very moment going through a re-branding programme amied at making us a more user friendly bank, injecting a little fun in appropriate places to help us achieve this.

For example we are replacing chained pens in branches with open boxes of pens asking people to take one to keep, the boxes have things like "Look Mum no chains" printed on the side , and the pens themselves have "Borrowed from Barclays" on them.

As long as I have worked there, we have had left handed cheque books and the current poster campaign is all part of the re-branding to highlight some of the services we offer that customer may not be aware of.

Did you know that Barclays is the fisrt bank in the UK to offer a DRIVE THRU ATM service, ( please note all ATM's are having signage udated to say "HOLE IN THE WALL" another way we are responding to customer speak).


Have fun and enjoy your banking,

Cheeky Charlie

GillM

I've had a left-handed cheque book for years - RBS. Mind you, as someone already said above, who uses them now? My cheque books last me ages now!

keefyboy_2

Joe Bloggs
can you let me have some way of contacting you please and I will willingly let you know what info I have, most was gained through the RNIB, who are extremely supportive,

It is nice to get some feed back from someone who works at a bank and that they are trying to do things that the customers want and not the shareholders. This has been a long long time coming, they have always treated the small minority of people who are disabled in one way or another as under dogs, take for example disabled access, it has been a long time coming and even now , as a wheelchair user, at some banks I have to stop someone outside to ask for a member of staff to get the ramp out, so I can get into the bank to get at MY money they are looking after for me. I have been left waiting in the rain for 30 mins at one bank !!!! NOT AMUSED

Anyway sorry I am getting off subject here and blowing my own trumpet.

So if anyone is ready at HSBC wait for my call in the morning for my LEFT HANDED cheque book. (do they do a left handed debit card as well I wonder)

Joe_Bloggs

@keefyboy
I don't work for a bank but I am sure many MSE contributors have experience as customers, and sometimes insiders with many financial institutions. You can send me a Personal Message through my 'name' where it is seen. I was aware of the RNIB and the RNID I have worked with the partially sighted in the past to a limited extent. Where has there been progress that is probably of most benefit to a university student ? I don't have any details regarding the student and I could not give them to you without their permission.
Regards J_B.