HALIFAX Service - Can it get any worse... probably

maz7

The Halifax is starting to really annoy me now.

Moved to Halifax from Lloyds TSB after poor service from them, does bad service just follow me or is it just in every bank now?
Went to pay £100 cash into my current account today and after getting past the 4 members of staff in the lobby (more in front of the counters than behind them!) got to the desk, handed my card over with the £100 as I have done on numerous occasions, to be told the Halifax has now changed.... it is a "paying in bank", whatever that means. Any ideas?
Staff said people can now pay their electric bills there now as well! So filled out a paying in slip, handed the money over, counter staff member asked me would I like a receipt (well of course I want a receipt for giving you money).
She got my details up on screen and asked me would I like a Reward Account? Already having a Reward Account I assumed she wanted me to upgrade to the Ultimate Reward Account (£12.50 per month? I think not). Told her I wouldn't pay for a current account. "Oh no, since you pay in over £1,000 per month we could give you £5 per month and there's no monthly cost". "But I already have that account" I told her.
Well done for the attention to customers!
Thank goodness I try to do all banking online but occasionally I do have to enter a branch and when I do it just amazes me.
I'd change bank.... but is it worth it?
After managing to bypass the 4 staff hanging around the lobby, I escaped! My only worry is that I'll have to venture back in to a branch in the future.....

Am I just grumpy(er) or do they not have a clue what customers actually want ie. Friendly attentive service, cut the "advisors" between the door and counter? And no, I don't want to move my mortgage to you!

Sorry, rant over. Any other Halifax customers with experience of bad service?

Siouxsie32

I just moved from Santander to Halifax and it's not gone as smoothly as I was let to believe it would. First off, I had problems with 3 DDs which Halifax assured me had been switched to them-they hadn't so I incurred fees as there was no money in my old Santander account. I opened the account in November and still haven't received my debit card (they've apparently sent three to me!). I also was offered an upgrade to the Rewards Account in branch (which I already have). And, when I opened the account I was promised a £50 switching bonus. I called last month since I still hadn't received it and the call centre person hadn't a clue what I was talking about so he said he's get a branch member to call me...still heard nothing.

WelshRarebit

maz7 wrote: »

Moved to Halifax from Lloyds TSB after poor service from them, does bad service just follow me or is it just in every bank now?

No....you just moved from one brand to another....all owned by the same big organisation. Each one the same on the inside just a different wrapper on the outside!!

MME_2

I can't really see any major examples of poor service in your post. Ok for the time being you've got to complete a paying in slip - takes 20 seconds of your time. Are you sure with regard to the URCA account/£5 reward they weren't saying you could offset the £12.50 monthly fee slightly? It might save you money if you are paying for the benefits the accounts offer separately. Who knows, the staff certainly don't without asking you.

I sort of agree that Halifax branches seems to employ a lot of staff compared to other banks I have been in but then you'd be complaining that there weren't enough of them when you went in for something you DID want.

Branches nowadays are targeted heavily (more so than on service) on sales so the pendulum tends to swing that way. However service tends to bring you sales. Banks do not know what you want so it's right of them to ask. If you're not interested a polite no thanks is all that is required.

rb10

I'm slightly unclear from reading your post as to exactly where this 'bad service' was, but I think it seems to come down to:

1) You do not like having to fill in a paying-in slip in order to deposit cash; and
2) You do not like the fact that they offered you another account whilst at the counter.

The solutions:
To (1):
Either -
(a) Use the immediate deposit machine in the branch - pay in cash and/or cheques, credited instantly, you get a receipt with an image of the cheque on it, no need for a paying-in slip; or
(b) Ask the bank to send you a paying-in book - just means that you don't have to fill in your account details each time, and just the amount; or
(c) Wait until August, when you'll be able to pay in at the counter using Chip and PIN (you might have noticed that they already have Chip and PIN terminals at the counter, just not active yet.

For (2):
Either
(a) Use the immediate deposit machine. If you don't speak to anyone, they won't have the opportunity to do this; or
(b) Ask them to stop marketing at the counter. If you ask them to stop, they have to put a mark on your account that will do this; or simply
(c) Say 'Thanks, but I'm not interested in that at the moment.'

opinions4u

maz7 wrote: »

Moved to Halifax from Lloyds TSB after poor service from them, does bad service just follow me or is it just in every bank now?

You have moved your account from one part of Lloyds Banking Group to another.

Went to pay £100 cash into my current account today and after getting past the 4 members of staff in the lobby (more in front of the counters than behind them!) got to the desk, handed my card over with the £100 as I have done on numerous occasions, to be told the Halifax has now changed.... it is a "paying in bank", whatever that means. Any ideas?

Many Halifax branches have now changed the way they transact. This involves changes for customers. By having 4 staff in the lobby, they are ready to assist customers with the changes. There is nothing I find worse that being stood in a queue at a reception desk where only one person is available to answer questions. It sounds like this branch is set up quite well.

Staff said people can now pay their electric bills there now as well! So filled out a paying in slip, handed the money over, counter staff member asked me would I like a receipt (well of course I want a receipt for giving you money).

Are you moaning about being given a choice?

She got my details up on screen and asked me would I like a Reward Account? Already having a Reward Account I assumed she wanted me to upgrade to the Ultimate Reward Account (£12.50 per month? I think not). Told her I wouldn't pay for a current account. "Oh no, since you pay in over £1,000 per month we could give you £5 per month and there's no monthly cost". "But I already have that account" I told her.
Well done for the attention to customers!

Well maybe she's new. I have seen numerous reports over the years where banks are criticised for NOT telling their customers about new products and services. At least this cashier is attempting to give you and other customers an extra fiver a month.

Thank goodness I try to do all banking online but occasionally I do have to enter a branch and when I do it just amazes me. I'd change bank.... but is it worth it?

I'm intrigued to understand how what happened is different to Lloyds TSB where you banked previosly.

Am I just grumpy

Yes.

or do they not have a clue what customers actually want ie. Friendly attentive service, cut the "advisors" between the door and counter?

The staff between door and counter were there for exactly that reason. You appear to be advocating fewer staff in branches to serve customers.

Other than somebody suggesting a product to you that you already have, what is the problem?

paulmcerlean

You really just sound like you are moaning for the sake of it to be honest. Cant see any overly bad service from your post. Get a grip of yourself, there is more to life!

pvt

This is because they have now become a proper clearing bank; they were just a toy savings bank before.

My experience was different when I went to pay cash in yesterday. Teller patiently and clearly explained to me what the change was because of, and that paying in slips are now required. She helpfully filled it in for me while she clearly explained the reason for the changes with a polite smile.

I agree with other posters replying to you. I don't think you like changes, and enjoy moaning about them.

pvt

jen245

Sorry, but nothing you have outlined in your rant, is what I would call bad service

Stalkdog

I advise giving Santander a go, then you'll really see what bad service is!

And yes, I agree with the others... you are grumpy!!

Andystriker

I too fail to understand what your problem is.

I went to my local LloydsTSB yesterday and tried to pay a chq into my vantage account through the machine outside. It failed so I went inside and I was happy that there was a member of staff there who sorted it out quickly. This meant I did not have to wait behind people at the counter.

When I go into Halifax I never have any problem. All the staff take no for an answer without any problem, and they are all polite. In fact I never have a problem in any bank.

Perhaps I'm lucky???