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Santander refused counter withdrawal

I went out in to the town yesterday, forgetting to take my wallet. No problem, I figured - I had my driving license with me, so I would take money over the counter from my Santander current account.

However, it seems that Santander are the bank who like to say "no". In order to take money without my cash card, I first had to "get ownership" of the account. What that means I do not know - after all, I was under the impression that it was already my account and my money being paid in to it, so how else would you "get ownership"?

I expressed surprise at this rigmarole,especially as I had official photo ID, and as I have been able to withdraw cash OTC in other high street banks (previously banking with Lloyds for example), and that it was a little OTT for the sake of £20. I was told that Santander "is very different". Yes, if "different" is a metaphor for "useless". And besides, you can't take £20 once you have ownership - you have to take £31.

So, with the clock ticking (I was in the town for an appointment) I asked the cashier to go ahead with whatever she had to do to "get ownership". It turns out that this is done at the discretion of the manager, who wasn't there, and the supervisor was with a customer with two more in the queue. What was I to do? Stating one last time how ridiculous this was, and that I would be back to close the account later, I walked down the road and took my £20 over the counter at Halifax.

Nice one, Halifax. :cool:
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Comments

  • darkpool
    darkpool Posts: 1,671 Forumite
    so you never had your cash card and you expect the bank to hand over money?

    why would you have to take £31 out?
  • Enfieldian
    Enfieldian Posts: 2,893 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Take your cards with you next time.

    !!!!!!.
  • Apples2
    Apples2 Posts: 6,442 Forumite
    In all my years I haven't, and don't think ever would, consider just ambling into a bank without my bank "stuff" and expect them to give me money.

    How have you managed to make it a "normal" occurrence?

    Maybe you should consider keeping your bank cards with your driving license.
  • dealer_wins
    dealer_wins Posts: 7,334 Forumite
    AS an ex bank employee with my wife still working for Barclays, I can tell you that cases of attempted withdrawals from accounts by fraudsters are a massive issue, and banks have to be extremely careful and cautious with all withdrawals these days.

    In the OPs case without his debit card, the branch would have to make absolutely sure that it is the actual customer, and not someone using a forged driving license made up with the details obtained in an identity theft (The fraudster may well know the standard questions like mothers maiden name, DOB and even have knowledge of the recent account transactions).

    There really are a lot of attempted frauds and unfortunately successful frauds happening now, compared to 5 or 10 years back.
  • LittleBoots
    LittleBoots Posts: 1,097 Forumite
    I've had the same happen in NatWest and Nationwide, yeah annoying at the time but it was ultimately my fault for forgetting my card.
    It's sooo easy, eat less and move more, don't spend more than you earn. Now to put it into practice...
    Debt - £2236.55
    Lbs to lose - 21
  • Azari
    Azari Posts: 4,317 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I too was unaware that it was possible to get money from a bank without the appropriate 'bits' nowadays.

    Things were different when everyone use the same bank for years and actually had to deal with a person to perform transactions - someone would know you and you could use a 'counter cheque'.

    But I'm amazed that it's possible nowadays unless someone at the branch from which you are trying to withdraw money knows you.
    There are two types of people in the world: Those that can extrapolate information.
  • ERICS_MUM
    ERICS_MUM Posts: 3,579 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I'd be a bit worried if I could easily get cash from my account over the counters of another bank with just a driving licence as ID.

    The thing I've noticed with Santander is that their staff seem badly trained in how their systems and procedures work, and face to face customer service skills.
  • When my purse was stolen and I needed cash I only had my passport as ID. There were a few questions like what was the last transaction, how much was the balance, and I had to sign a piece of paper which they then checked against the signature in the passport. I think they were a little amazed I had memorized the account number and sort code, which helped prove the account was mine.
  • chuckley
    chuckley Posts: 4,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    must b a new rule. ive done it many times in the past with my passport.
  • DD265
    DD265 Posts: 2,203 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    I'm always a bit concerned if I go in with my debit card and say I don't know my pin code (either new card has come through and I'm waiting on the pin or I stupidly managed to lock myself out on a cash point) and they don't ask for my photo ID as well!
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