BR yesterday, Coop bank acc but concern

MicheH

Well we went BR yesterday and I have to say I found the whole process stress free with lovely, friendly staff and judge but the same cannot be said about my new bank account staff.

We went to the Coop for a basic account which we got no problem. The problem I have is the assistant we talked to and her attitude towards newly made bankrupts and treated us as the latest bit of gossip, made us feel very uneasy and I left there thinking the bank account and visa electron card were hopeless and were going to cause us countless problems.

She said visa electron cards were hopeless and were no longer accepted as payment online or in stores which I'm devasted about if this is true. Could anyone shed any light on this, how do you find visa electrons?

Also I enquired about setting up a simple savings account to save a little money if we have it for the future (now don't get me wrong we have nothing left to pay creditors and doubt we'd have to pay anything to help payback our debts) but what I was thinking if I could save on some shopping, or not buy the girls clothes or save on petrol when DH has a week off on holiday, i'm talking saving spare change and £20 amounts here. She scoffed (ih yes she did) and said how can we possible be asking to save when we're walking away from owing money under the pretense we couldn't pay. I was furious on two levels, one she hadn't a clue about BR and the process or the rights of individuals and two she implied that we'd be better off getting a savings tin at home if all we could afford was small change.

If I wasnt desperate and needed to bank there i'd have walked out and made an official complaint. As it is im shattered, tired of writing and telephoning large companies so i'm going to have to let her have her digs at us and rise above it. We want to change our ways, we want to save, we want to LEARN to manage our money and proide a stable future so I will not let her bother me.

She can go home to her little life and live on the edge of her means and get a kick out of hitting people when they're down but I hope to goodness she doesn't go under because if she ever had to go through the day we went through yesterday I doubt she'd want to have a prissy madam subjecting her to the treatment we recieved yesterday.

I did only want to ask about Visa Electron cards lol

skibadee

Try to rise above the stupid uneducated mare!!.....gets on my nerves how people think BR's are below them!...I'm not BR yet....but have no doubt I will be treated the same by a minority ......that minority having no right to judge as they don't know the facts!!

peachyprice

Miche, that's disgusting, I'd complain if I were you.

Co-op usually have really good customer service and very few complaints. She clearly knows nothing about the account, there's nothing wrong with an electron card except a few places don't accept it online, like Tesco, John Lewis, M&S, some cinemas and trains, other than that it's fine.

You probably won't be accepted for a savings account though, they don't like giving them to BR's for some reason, but you can open another Cashcard account in your own name if you've just opened a joint account or vice versa if you opened single accounts.

If you do want a savings account Yorkshire Building Society gives them to BR's and you can apply online.

Sorry you had such crap service at the Co-op, when you're feeling up to it definitely take it further, she had no right to sepak to you like that.

the-muffin-man

Yep - try and rise above MicheH - you obviously spoke to the branch idiot!

My experience of the Co-Op has been excellent, very helpful staff and a bank account that does all I need it to do.

I've used my Electron card many times on-line and not had it rejected yet. Even if one retailer won't take it there'll be a similar one that does.

MicheH

Aw, thank you. So Visa Electron is ok, see I'm not a 14 year old who can't be trusted with money just yet!

Thanks, and thanks for the heads up on Tesco online.. Asda it is then.

Angiepange

Hi MicheH

Ive just got back from our local Co Op branch to open our account as going BR next week and my experience was the opposite to yours. Im sorry you were treated with such lack of respect, you are vulnerable right now and you dont need or deserve to be treated like that. Disgusting!

My assistant opened us both Cash Isa's as well as the joint cashminder. She said its no problem to have these isa's to save in, and being BR does not at all mean that you arent entitled to save along with everyone else. i was thinking maybe when your account is up and running you could ring up about the isa's rather than go back into the branch again?

Angie x

what_happens_now?

I had a great experience with the co-op. I appreciate that your fed up of writing to companies, but the co-op are one of the few remaining BR friendly banks, and i don't think they would be happy with the way you were treated. Maybe you shouldn't complain but just give them feedback on the member of staff in question, so they can act on it.

I've never had any issues with my electron card, in fact sometimes it can be of benefit - for example ryanair although a very cheap airline always charge people for paying with a debit/credit card. The only people they don't issue this fee to is people with an electron card.

As for a savings account, after being with the co-op for 2-3 months i applied online for a savings account, received a letter a couple of days later saying there was a problem and to give them a call. I did this, the chap i spoke to said because of my BR it needed to be referred to a different department. A week after that i received news that it was up and running.

shirleymarye

I have always found the Co-op to be very helpful with my Electron card, I said I was thinking of going BR when I opened the account and they were very good about it. Tesco do not accept Electron,I had a problem with online delivery of groceries but got round it by opening a Paypal cash card and just transfer money onto it every time I order from Tesco,they are quite happy with that one.
Asda will accept Electron for online deliveries,no problems there and I have found lots of other places accept it online,Amazon,Petplanet,Zooplus,Green Metropolis,VetUK ect;

Lost2

Hi Miche, If I where you I would complain. :mad:
First of all she is not paid her minimum wage to comment on customers
and Secondly she should keep her opinions to herself, and do her bloody job.


On savings accounts quite a few of us on here opened savings accounts with on-line Yorkshire Bank.
I put £50 a month away for my Car Tax/Insurance and my MOT.

MicheH

Lost2 wrote: »

Hi Miche, If I where you I would complain. :mad:
First of all she is not paid her minimum wage to comment on customers
and Secondly she should keep her opinions to herself, and do her bloody job.


On savings accounts quite a few of us on here opened savings accounts with on-line Yorkshire Bank.
I put £50 a month away for my Car Tax/Insurance and my MOT.

Fantastic, thanks

Lost2

Hi Micheh, Found a link for Yorkshire Bank
Hope it helps

http://www.ybs.co.uk/index.html

You will see in the top left hand side for savers