Difficulty changing sole to joint account

expatasia

After their behaviour so far why would anything drive me insane? The letter (currently post takes four days, Japan - UK) I sent by recorded delivery (!) was formal, typed, signed & hanko-ed and included an email address and all documentary evidence imaginable.

The last person I spoke to at the call centre the other day took pity and promised to compensate me 15 quid for having to make an intl phone call ('within 2-3 days it will be in your account') upon hearing that my annual statement had the interest paid net not gross! Not that it was much, just a current account of course. She then arranged to have tax exemption form sent to me. :wall:

I so wish I could change current account provider.

expatasia

opinions4u wrote: »

Some banks don't accept R105s in any circumstances. Lloyds for example.

How come? Why so some banks accept R105s then? For future ref, do you happen to know the names of any banks or building societies that deffo do accept them? Thanks.

opinions4u

expatasia wrote: »

How come?

There is no compulsion on a bank to accept the forms. The can pay interest net and the saver can reclaim directly from HMRC.

By accepting them, they are then required to comply with a raft of HMRC regulations which run the risks of fines if they get it wrong.

Why so some banks accept R105s then?

They probably thought it was a good idea at the time the forms were introduced (early 1990s).

For future ref, do you happen to know the names of any banks or building societies that deffo do accept them? Thanks.

Halifax certainly do accept them, but Lloyds TSB don't. I'd hazard a guess that Halifax will probably stop doing so shortly as well.

Don't know about anybody else though.

expatasia

opinions4u wrote: »

There is no compulsion on a bank to accept the forms. The can pay interest net and the saver can reclaim directly from HMRC.

By sending them some form or other, from outside the UK I presume. Thanks.

'No compulsion to bla bla bla' - no compulsion to alienate their dear customers either....

Does that Halifax bank account for non-resident customers still exist? No, I'm not talking offshore.

expatasia

opinions4u wrote: »

One option would be to email the CEO. That doesn't mean he'll reply personally, but most banks have an executive complaints team where the delegated authorities have a bit more clout to make things happen. Take a look at the link below.

http://www.!!!!!!/

Perhaps a short email along the lines of "Here's a copy of my complaint. It was sent 3 weeks ago. Please can you acknowledge receipt and arrange for a speedy and acceptable solution". Include a phone number so they can easily contact you - they can pick up the international dialling costs.

A useful site, thanks. May email them if I get no joy in June. The ONE time they ever phoned me here was on a member of staff's own mobile which kept cutting out, I just managed to hear her ask me if I could supply her with my 'UK mobile' so she could text me. Using email on a computer was evidently too much for her. Such quality employees, wouldn't last 5 minutes here working in the bog of a bank.

expatasia

opinions4u wrote: »

The lack of acknowledgement would drive me insane. It really is poor. A simple "we've got it, we've just not got round to reading it" message would at least reassure.

[URL="http://"][/URL]

With banks claiming to be snowed under with complaints at the moment, how long should be needed to get a reply in writing, a couple of weeks? How long is it taking, anybody? PPI more of a priority? Thanks.

expatasia

opinions4u wrote: »

The lack of acknowledgement would drive me insane. It really is poor. A simple "we've got it, we've just not got round to reading it" message would at least reassure.

[URL="http://"][/URL]

Just had a 'we've got it and will deal with it within 8 weeks' letter dated May 27. Progress!

expatasia

A lady from the customer service centre just called, said she was in the middle of composing a long letter to me and intimates a one off payment of 150 quid is on the cards for my being given the runaround over the changing the account to joint (still cannot be made though due to ID checks on my partner not being possible when outside the UK) and that the fixed term deposit rate I was given in error cannot be changed now but they'll make some kind of payment to cover the shortfall. Couldn't explain why the call centre put an interceptor on my setting up of a standing order, except that possibly some people fraudulently impersonate real customers and make initially small transfers of money. Will send me tax certificates for my current account for last three years so I can claim back directly from the UK taxman.

Seem fair?

izools

expatasia wrote: »

Seem fair?

I think so, sounds like good service and a good deal.

What are the real world expenses involved in going through the ID checks for your misses again?

expatasia

Letter has arrived, they are offering me 775 Pounds in compensation made up of a payment of 525 to cover the loss of interest on the fixed deposit over the three year term and 250 goodwill payment for the 'poor service and failure to respond or provide an explanation in response to your requests'

Unfortunately the period from June 15 when they got my original fax to August 25 when they actually opened the fixed term deposit should have also yielded me 381.93 - am I entitled to claim this back from the bank do you think?

They do have a sense of humour though;

"You found that trying to contact your branch during the summer of 2010 was sole destroying"