Paying bills at the counter?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

DCFC79 wrote: »

Whats wrong with paying by DD, can be cheaper doing so,

My council tax isnt cheaper by direct debit - nor is waste water. We have a private spring so have no fresh water costs thankfully.

I dont get a discount in interest for paying my credit card by DD

JacksterD

tazwhoever wrote: »

I used to pay bills at the bank’s ATM machine, and bank removed this facility from the ATM, and this was done last year. They said I can pay the bills at the counter, and this was fine by me.

Now the bank is saying, paying bills at the counter has stopped, and I should use the telephone or online banking. I am against using telephone and online banking! I can’t remember passwords and info about my accounts, etc, due to my poor health and writing down passwords.

I think they are lying, because how do they deal with people who can ill, have short memory, or are against telephone and online.

The bank is well known in the high street, (sorry, no name)

What do I do?

Thanks

What bills are you paying? Have a look at the Giro credit on the bill - if it says Transcash on it, or has an Alliance and Leicester or Santander logo then it can be paid fuss-free at the Post Office.

Alternatively, I'm sure some of our customers have told us they can take a bill to a bank and pay, even if they don't have an account there.

Azrael_1701

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

You can pay bills over the counter and withdraw cash with a cheque made out to cash! I know I do as do other old biddies.

That's all changing soon too.

tazwhoever

I asked the bank today, they said paying bills set up on my current account (issued by the same bank) can not be paid. Only telephone and online banking.

But surprisely, Giro can be paid by cash at the bank, but not the bills set up on the current account.

For those who want to know, bills I am talking about are gas, electricity, rent, council tax, credit card. I do not want DD.

jennifernil

I don't understand what these "bills set up on the current account" are?

If they are "set up" then is this not DD? I see no reason you cannot take, e.g. your CC bill with payment slip attached, to your branch and pay it. Indeed this is one of the payment methods given on the reverse of my CC bill.

JuicyJesus

I think the OP is talking about payments made by bank transfer (i.e. BACS or FPS). Halifax did indeed stop offering such services at their ATMs not too long ago.

jennifernil

But the OP is saying that the bank has refused to accept payment of these bills at the counter.

Naf

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Halifax are the biggest pile of pants going.

Agreed, their service as atrocious.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

I feel ashemed Lloyds even got involved with them.

TBH, I have been told it was because they were asked to by the government.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

My advice would be to dump them and go to a proper bank - Lloyds. You can pay bills over the counter and withdraw cash with a cheque made out to cash! I know I do as do other old biddies.

Lloyds treat their customers with equal contempt as Halifax the moment you get into a little bit of difficulty.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

These once-upon-a-time building societies like Halifax, Santander that pretend to offer current account facilities are just financial clowns.

Aren't they just. I worked for Santander up until recently, and banked with Halifax a number of years ago. Its unbelievable the ineptitude. Although, even Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC (/Midland) had to start somewhere too...

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Abbey National were the same I think. Tried to charge people £3 to pay a bill over the counter.

Really?! How long ago was this? Now they just aren't on the GIRO system at all, so can only pay bills at the counter when details are given for telephone/internet banking to send it by BACS. They're so much of a joke, even the GE money accounts they have taken over cannot be paid in branch, yet their slips still say on them "Santander", and "at any bank counter". Totally ridiculous. I'm in the process of moving my accounts away now I'm no longer employed there.

tazwhoever wrote: »

How secure is Online Banking? I guess many people are put off by this method?

Online banking is very secure. Even Santander use industry-leading security on their site (although they are still unacceptably cautious with the transactions they allow). There is little to worry about; even less than there is if when you enter your card details online to make purchases.

jennifernil wrote: »

But the OP is saying that the bank has refused to accept payment of these bills at the counter.

Apparently Halifax refuse to allow customers to use their 'Bill Payment' options over branch counters and ATMs. Basically this allows you to store particular recipients details (could be gas/electric bills, your rent, or just someone you give money to now and again), but without making it an automatic payment like a SO would be. Its very useful. All banks are limiting more and more transactions at the counter; just 18 months ago Santander limited counter withdrawls: minimum £30 in cash (increased to £50 3 or 4 months ago) and minimum £1000 in a counter cheque. Ultimately branches don't make an awful lot of profit, especially compared to internet options; I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more branch closures across the board.

tazwhoever

JuicyJesus wrote: »

I think the OP is talking about payments made by bank transfer (i.e. BACS or FPS). Halifax did indeed stop offering such services at their ATMs not too long ago.

You are correct 'FPS' for rent, council tax, gas, ele, and normal for CC.

jennifernil wrote: »

But the OP is saying that the bank has refused to accept payment of these bills at the counter.

Yes, the bank has stopped taking these bill payments. How do they deal with old people, who have short memory? I remember the local post office has queues from 8am on monday!

Naf wrote: »

Apparently Halifax refuse to allow customers to use their 'Bill Payment' options over branch counters and ATMs. Basically this allows you to store particular recipients details (could be gas/electric bills, your rent, or just someone you give money to now and again), but without making it an automatic payment like a SO would be. Its very useful. All banks are limiting more and more transactions at the counter; just 18 months ago Santander limited counter withdrawls: minimum £30 in cash (increased to £50 3 or 4 months ago) and minimum £1000 in a counter cheque. Ultimately branches don't make an awful lot of profit, especially compared to internet options; I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more branch closures across the board.

Sorry, for not remembering the key words, you are correct 'Bill Payments' is the issue I am talking about.

jennifernil

So, you are saying, if I take my CC bill, with Bank Giro attached, to my bank, they would refuse to take the payment from my account and send it to my CC provider?

(I do have a DD set up, so hypothetical, but let's assume I do not have a DD set up)