The bank that won't let its customers withdraw less than £300 over the counter

Asheron

Banks are driving customers from branches by raising the amount of cash that can be taken out over the counter.
The move is another nail in the coffin of the traditional bank branch, which is rapidly being supplanted by transactions through call centres and over the internet.
Customers with an Alliance & Leicester basic bank account will have to withdraw at least £300 over the counter from July.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1281452/The-bank-wont-let-customers-withdraw-300-counter.html#ixzz0p3YNpsAS

Cleaver

Why the thumbs down? It makes perfect sense. I believe I heard A&L's Chief Exec talking about this on Radio 4 and he said that if the elderly or disabled wanted to withdraw money from the counter because they felt uncomfortable at the cash machine then they would of course still be welcome to do so. But for the rest of people there was a perfectly good cash machine outside that they could use, thus freeing up counter staff to deal with proper issues. Again, it makes perfect sense.

Unless... hang on... wait a second... THIS IS THE ILLUMINITI CRACKING DOWN ON US THROUGH INTERNET AND CONTROL ISN'T IT??!?!? THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE!!! FIRST IT'S FORCING YOU TO WITHDRAW CASH, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU'RE FELLATING A GIANT LIZARD WHILST A GLOBAL CURRENCY REIGNS DOWN ON YOU!!!!

LilacPixie

Cleaver wrote: »

THIS IS THE ILLUMINITI CRACKING DOWN ON US THROUGH INTERNET AND CONTROL ISN'T IT??!?!? THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE!!! FIRST IT'S FORCING YOU TO WITHDRAW CASH, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU'RE FELLATING A GIANT LIZARD WHILST A GLOBAL CURRENCY REIGNS DOWN ON YOU!!!!

PMSL.

Back to the subject, I believe halifax have had this policy for a while

nickyhutch

Cleaver wrote: »

Why the thumbs down? It makes perfect sense. I believe I heard A&L's Chief Exec talking about this on Radio 4 and he said that if the elderly or disabled wanted to withdraw money from the counter because they felt uncomfortable at the cash machine then they would of course still be welcome to do so. But for the rest of people there was a perfectly good cash machine outside that they could use, thus freeing up counter staff to deal with proper issues. Again, it makes perfect sense.

Unless... hang on... wait a second... THIS IS THE ILLUMINITI CRACKING DOWN ON US THROUGH INTERNET AND CONTROL ISN'T IT??!?!? THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE!!! FIRST IT'S FORCING YOU TO WITHDRAW CASH, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU'RE FELLATING A GIANT LIZARD WHILST A GLOBAL CURRENCY REIGNS DOWN ON YOU!!!!

So I can't feel uncomfortable at the cash machine if I'm not elderly or disabled? The counter staff are going to be allowed to judge who should and should not feel uncomfortable? "Sorry, you're not old enough, go to the cash machine" or "sorry, you don't look disabled enough to me, go to the cash machine"?

MrsBartolozzi

While halifax may have had this for a while, the RBS, my bank doesn't have a limit...yet.
I have a basic account, seperate from my current a/c, which my paypal and quidco goes into (never £300, I'd be lucky lol!). It's never a round £10 either so there's no way I could empty the account unless over the counter. How do I access this money? Or if you are down to your last sub £10 how does one access the money to buy food etc? It's not very fair for those with little money, and having read the article again, it's only £300 for the basic a/c holders, £30 for others. Definately being unfair to those who'd need to access smaller amounts of money, or be able to withdraw the last £2.51 from their a/c .

Cleaver

nickyhutch wrote: »

So I can't feel uncomfortable at the cash machine if I'm not elderly or disabled? The counter staff are going to be allowed to judge who should and should not feel uncomfortable? "Sorry, you're not old enough, go to the cash machine" or "sorry, you don't look disabled enough to me, go to the cash machine"?

Woah, calm down. I'm sure if you feel uncomfortable using a simple piece of equipment, and you have a word with your branch, they will be happy to serve you over the counter too. The CEO was just using the example of the elderley and disabled as people who may have difficulties using a cash machine.

So no, the counter staff won't make you use the cash machine. They'll probably recommend you do, you'll tell them you don't want to, and they'll say fine. I imagine that's the scenario that'll play out anyway. Do you feel uncomfortable using a cash machine then?

Cleaver

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

It's never a round £10 either so there's no way I could empty the account unless over the counter. How do I access this money? Or if you are down to your last sub £10 how does one access the money to buy food etc? It's not very fair for those with little money.

The CEO covered this is his interview too. If you need, for example, £6.35 then you can't get that from the cash machine so you'll go in and ask for it at the counter. And they'll give it to you without any problem.

jackieb

I feel uncomfortable using a cash machine if i'm taking out quite a few notes and there's someone standing nearby. Not so bad if someone's with me. Also, I like to count my money to see if it's all there.. Something you can't do on the street.

lolarentt

What is it about the British and queuing up! Why do people want to trot into particular bank branches these days? There's no personal service, no manager in the cupboard just worried bank staff with quotas to fill on new sales. For people who don't like external cash machines most larger banks have them inside as well. I find I use cash less and less anyway, mostly for the odd pint down the pub (and that's taken on a new meaning after the last episode of Ashes to Ashes!)

StevieJ

it said customers who want a personal service to withdraw smaller sums can access their Alliance & Leicester account at post offices.

At the moment I guess there are more post offices than A&L branches, so a big thumbs up for A&L for this one (BTW I have withdrawn cash at PO and it is a very simple process).

Another non story from the Mail you can't get the staff these days.

Cleaver

jackieb wrote: »

I feel uncomfortable using a cash machine if i'm taking out quite a few notes and there's someone standing nearby. Not so bad if someone's with me. Also, I like to count my money to see if it's all there.. Something you can't do on the street.

Again, if you have a word with your branch then I'm sure they'd make an exception for you. I think the reality is that in this day and age most people pay for stuff on card and withdraw £50 or £100 from a cashpoint every week or so without any bother.