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Banks don't want my custom it seems
Comments
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While I agree with you about service, I also understand exactly the situation those branches find themselves in on a Saturday morning.I think its a shambles if the OP went into 5 institutions and could not open a "bread and butter" savings account
It makes no odds how much the OP is going to save its about providing a service with the hope that the OP can remain a customer for many years to come and invest a fair sum of money in that period.
A real life example I had (relating to mortgages, but could equally be applied to savings) was a lady wandering in to my branch wanting a mortgage. The receptionist established that she wanted to borrow £40,000. A moment later, a Premiership footballer walked in. He wanted a mortgage and the purchase price was in 7 figures.
One mortgage adviser available. One customer (at the front of the queue) was worth a day's target. The other (at the back of the queue) was worth a month's target.
Fair play is to get the first customer seen. But the most logical business decision was taken. Write the big loan at the risk of a complaint.
While unqualified staff were able to ensure that the first customer was looked after professionally and booked an appointment for the following week, I'd have preferred to get them both seen there and then. But 2 in to 1 doesn't fit. Equally, if I'd had no mortgage adviser available Mr Waxedchest Goalscorer would have been sent packing too.
It's nothing to do with the T&Cs. Book an appointment for the next Saturday if it's that important. If you go to the doctor's without an appointment on a Monday morning, expect to be kept waiting. If you go to A&E on a Firday night, expect it to be an unpleasant experience. If you turn up at a solicitor or dentist without an appointment expect to be turned away.I bet nowhere in the T&Cs that opening an account cannot be done on a Saturday, yet another case of poor service from the banking sector.
If you want to be seen without an appointment by a bank or building society on a Saturday morning, turn up before 10am - you are increasing the chances. Equally, wander in between 12noon and 2pm during the week don't expect to be seem immediately. Despite many branch staff taking lunch breaks between 2pm and 3pm, or many only taking 20 minute lunch breaks, you can never guarantee to meet demand 100% of the time.
Most of the branches I worked in had more staff in on a Saturday than at any other time in the week. If the branch is open 50 hours and the contracted hours of staff is 35 (and they get 10% of that off as holiday) you are never going to be able to get everybody in a the same time.Its not the OPs fault that the branches are lightly staffed.
A few years ago banks shut at 3.30pm during the week and weekend opening didn't happen. Oh, and 24 hour call centres and the interweb didn't exist either.A few years ago you could walk into branch to discuss accounts and make a choice and the clerk would sort it out for you.
Now they all seem to want to book for financial reviews.0 -
As to nilrem's point when they tried to open an account with a filled in application form; I'm going back to my doctor's analogy...
A poor analogy.
A doctor has 5 years or more university education and is someone I would trust to give me advice and is more analogous to an Independant Financial Adviser in that they give whole of market advice.
An adviser at a high street bank is more like a salesman for a drug company, very little training and his primary objective is to make money for his company and himself.
Thankfully it is still possible to open most savings accounts online rather than having to visit a branch and suffer the waste of time and annoyance of speaking to an adviser.0 -
A poor analogy.
A doctor has 5 years or more university education and is someone I would trust to give me advice and is more analogous to an Independant Financial Adviser in that they give whole of market advice.
An adviser at a high street bank is more like a salesman for a drug company, very little training and his primary objective is to make money for his company and himself.
As far as my point goes, though, it still stands. If the doctor gives you the wrong medication you hold him responsible for your condition worsening; if an adviser gives you poor advice and you lose out on interest vs. an account that would be better for your circumstances, you hold him responsible. I wasn't directly comparing the job roles, only the accountability.Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.- Mark TwainArguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon: no matter how good you are at chess, its just going to knock over the pieces and strut around like its victorious.0 -
harlequeen wrote: »
HSBC wouldn't even give me a savings account if I wasn't a current account holder!
I wouldn't bother with HSBC, they have very few counter staff, and seem to devote more staff to telling people how to use their automated machines.
Maybe you should go up to one of the members of staff training customers to use the machines, and ask if they have a machine where you can open an account.0 -
Most branches have 2 types: the express banking machine that can open the standard branch-based savings account and the internet banking terminals that can be used to open the online accounts. They also have telephone banking access points if you want to use them, though they may get you to just go into the branch, so are much more hit and miss.I wouldn't bother with HSBC, they have very few counter staff, and seem to devote more staff to telling people how to use their automated machines.
Maybe you should go up to one of the members of staff training customers to use the machines, and ask if they have a machine where you can open an account.
If you can't/won't use either of those, you'll need to either queue or get an appointment.
Most banks have more failings than I care to list, but this really doesn't seem like one of them.I am a Chartered Financial Planner
Anything I say on the forum is for discussion purposes only and should not be construed as personal financial advice. It is vitally important to do your own research before acting on information gathered from any users on this forum.0 -
As far as my point goes, though, it still stands. If the doctor gives you the wrong medication you hold him responsible for your condition worsening; if an adviser gives you poor advice and you lose out on interest vs. an account that would be better for your circumstances, you hold him responsible. I wasn't directly comparing the job roles, only the accountability.
Well no.
I would go to a doctor for health advice.
I would not go to a sales rep of a bank for advice on which account to open. From experience I wouldn't have any confidence in them to advise me correctly or to have much knowledge of the products they sell.0 -
Well no.
I would go to a doctor for health advice.
I would not go to a sales rep of a bank for advice on which account to open. From experience I wouldn't have any confidence in them to advise me correctly or to have much knowledge of the products they sell.
Still nothing to do with their accountability here...
Whether you would or wouldn't use them doesn't impact on their accountability for what product someone takes from them.Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.- Mark TwainArguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon: no matter how good you are at chess, its just going to knock over the pieces and strut around like its victorious.0 -
Still nothing to do with their accountability here...
Whether you would or wouldn't use them doesn't impact on their accountability for what product someone takes from them.
We are all accountable for our actions to some degree or other.
Doctors serve a useful purpose.
Bank salespersons interfering in opening savings accounts are an unnecessary annoyance.
I believe they should be available if "advice" is required but to enforce their involvement in the opening of savings accounts is a misconceived concept and generally will put off many from opening any accounts at all.
Thankfully accounts can still be opened directly online without any interference.0 -
We are all accountable for our actions to some degree or other.
Doctors serve a useful purpose.
Bank salespersons interfering in opening savings accounts are an unnecessary annoyance.
I believe they should be available if "advice" is required but to enforce their involvement in the opening of savings accounts is a misconceived concept and generally will put off many from opening any accounts at all.
Thankfully accounts can still be opened directly online without any interference.
Who do you suggest opens your account then? The cleaner?Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.- Mark TwainArguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon: no matter how good you are at chess, its just going to knock over the pieces and strut around like its victorious.0 -
Who do you suggest opens your account then? The cleaner?
No. If no advice is required you hand the completed application form to the counter clerk they then open your account same as it used to be.
If you wan't to continue your medical analogy it is similar to buying asprin.
As opinions4u detailed in his post earlier there are 3 ways that savings accounts can be offered.
Full advice,
Informed choice,
Non-advised
It appears that many banks, including the one you work for, have decided not to offer the non-advised option.
That is a policy decision of the individual organisation.
It is not done for the good of the customer.0
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