Lloyds TSB Platinum card

Life_is_expensive

Hi all this is my first post ever on a forum so please be nice!

I need some advice. On wednesday my mother (74 years old) was visiting her local Lloyds TSB branch to deposit a small amount of money into her account. The advisor told her she needed to update her debit card (she doesn't know anything about cards as she's from the old school so doesn't even use her debit card) her debit card however doesn't expire until 2011.

A gentleman took her into a side room and told her that this card she was updating to was a card that she would never use but would be handy to have in emergencies in case she ever lost her debit card and all the banks were shut! She felt rather intimidated and flustered so signed the agreement!!

She has only just told me about what happened to her as she got a letter in the post this morning thanking her for her recent "application" for her platinum credit card and giving her the pin number!

I cancelled the card immediately as my mother is on a fixed income and has never bought anything on credit or used a credit card in her life!! Surely the way they railroaded her into getting this card breaks some sort of moral/ethical code?

Can I do anything about this? If so what would be the best procedure and who should I complain to?

I cannot believe this has happened. If she had of used this credit card mistaking it for a debit the consequences to someone on a low income could be dire!

cifpower

Follow the complaints procedure

http://www.lloydstsb.com/contact_us/complaints_procedure.asp?link=va_application&VAQuestion=Help%20Centre.Contact%20us

Life_is_expensive

cifpower wrote: »

Follow the complaints procedure

http://www.lloydstsb.com/contact_us/complaints_procedure.asp?link=va_application&VAQuestion=Help%20Centre.Contact%20us

Thanks for that. Is there any specific grounds I can mention in my complaint? I mean is what happened against any ethical/ banking code/ law etc?

cifpower

Its definitely unethical. It sounds like she was missold a credit card and, in effect, lied to which may breach the Banking Code too

IcklePickle_2

That is AWFUL.

Some bank staff work to targets (per branch or per staff member) of how many sales they make (sales are things like getting a customer to open a new account, loan, credit card.) They get more 'points' or maybe commision based on added extras like loan insurance (PPI). Their job performance can be assessed by looking at whether they're meeting their targets or not.

Sounds like they were low on sales this month and just decided to railroad her into getting a credit card to help them meet their targets. The fact that you said,

"this card she was updating to was a card that she would never use"

leads me to think he thought she'd be an easy sell.

Sickening and misleading. Definitely complain!!

Life_is_expensive

cif_power wrote: »

Its definitely unethical. It sounds like she was mis sold a credit card and, in effect, lied to which may breach the Banking Code too

You have been most helpful. I was feeling rather annoyed tonight so I wanted to do some research and calm down before I complained. I think they saw her as an "easy target" and if that is the case I find it sad to think that's how older members of our society are treated.

You have been most helpful. This looks a great site and I only found it by mistake as well!

Life_is_expensive

IcklePickle wrote: »

That is AWFUL.

Some bank staff work to targets (per branch or per staff member) of how many sales they make (sales are things like getting a customer to open a new account, loan, credit card.) They get more 'points' or maybe commision based on added extras like loan insurance (PPI). Their job performance can be assessed by looking at whether they're meeting their targets or not.

Sounds like they were low on sales this month and just decided to railroad her into getting a credit card to help them meet their targets. The fact that you said,

"this card she was updating to was a card that she would never use"

leads me to think he thought she'd be an easy sell.

Sickening and misleading. Definitely complain!!

Ah that explains what may have happened! I shall spend the weekend trying get as many facts together as possible and then follow their complaint procedure If it stops the same happening to another vulnerable person it will be worth it.

Thank you both for your replies.