abusive account handling

moneysavingallday

someone at my bank commented on the fact I've never had any bounced cheques or unpaid DDs/SOs and never incurred any charges or gone over my OD limit. She said this like it was some kind of achievement that I'd not done any of these things. But I'd have thought that unless something terrible happens (like you get made redundant and have no savings maybe) any sane adult is going to handle their bank account properly and not bounce cheques, go over the OD limit etc. is it that times are so hard it is now the norm to misuse current accounts?

Tally-Ho_2

I think it what the banks want - ie to make money out of their customers by imposing charges for such as going a few pence overdrawn and getting a whacking penalty for the privelidge. If you run your account properly, you actually cost the bank money in running your account (ie statements, bank cards, paying DD's etc etc) so they would prefer you did go overdrawn etc.

Just my view anyway.

Tally

Kavanne

Well it is an achievement because it means she can try and sell you loans and credit cards as you have good accounts!

moneysavingallday

that's very cynical!

jonesMUFCforever

moneysavingallday wrote: »

that's very cynical!

Yes it is but also unfortunately true!

~Beanie~

moneysavingallday wrote: »

But I'd have thought that unless something terrible happens (like you get made redundant and have no savings maybe) any sane adult is going to handle their bank account properly and not bounce cheques, go over the OD limit etc

There must be plenty in insane adults out there then

I have had bounced cheques and DD's etc in the past and I consider myself sane. I have never had any savings and even before I ran up debts, I have never been good at budgeting/managing my money and I worked for a high street bank for 18 years.

I think that suggesting that anyone who ever forgets about a cheque or DD going out and therefore has it bounced or goes over their OD limit is not sane is a bit of a sweeping statement.

ShelfStacker_3

Tally-Ho wrote: »

I think it what the banks want - ie to make money out of their customers by imposing charges for such as going a few pence overdrawn and getting a whacking penalty for the privelidge. If you run your account properly, you actually cost the bank money in running your account (ie statements, bank cards, paying DD's etc etc) so they would prefer you did go overdrawn etc.

Just my view anyway.

Tally

Sadly, your view is wrong. If that was truly what banks wanted, then they would not close accounts for abuse of overdraft facilities, would not enforce repayment on people always up to their limits and would be begging for badly off customers, which is simply not the case - banks prefer safe, "predictable" customers who maintain a consistent cashflow. Simple as.

To reply to the OP's point, it's not so much "surprising" or an achievement, but there are a lot of people who feel it's their god given right to ignore any limits they've agreed to and suffer no consequences as a result. Witness the furore over bank charges - yes, extortionate and disproportionate, but the banks cannot do nothing and there has to be some dissuasion from just withdrawing more than you're allowed.

masonic

moneysavingallday wrote: »

that's very cynical!

Being even more cynical, it is generally a good tactic for salespeople to flatter their customers.

robpw2

moneysavingallday wrote: »

someone at my bank commented on the fact I've never had any bounced cheques or unpaid DDs/SOs and never incurred any charges or gone over my OD limit. She said this like it was some kind of achievement that I'd not done any of these things. But I'd have thought that unless something terrible happens (like you get made redundant and have no savings maybe) any sane adult is going to handle their bank account properly and not bounce cheques, go over the OD limit etc. is it that times are so hard it is now the norm to misuse current accounts?

oh how wonderful it would be to live in your world......
things happen unexpected bills come in - for more than you was expecting
you suddenly have to go to hospital x number of times a month

just because someones account is in the red doesnt mean they have been abusive or they are not sane .

ShelfStacker_3

robpw2 wrote: »

oh how wonderful it would be to live in your world......
things happen unexpected bills come in - for more than you was expecting
you suddenly have to go to hospital x number of times a month

just because someones account is in the red doesnt mean they have been abusive or they are not sane .

Bills taken by Direct Debit have to be prenotified to you in some way, usually post or email. Unless there's a screwup, they're not unexpected, and the onus is on you to ensure you have enough money available. Do that and you're sorted.

robpw2

actually most companies if they take by dd dont send a bill till after its taken