unable to withdraw money from counter HSBC

stacey4415c

Today i wanted to withdraw £19, i only have £19 in my HSBC account, main account is Natwest. Wanted to withdraw it and put it into my Natwest account, firstly was told " we don't have any change"

I say "you don't have any change, why?"

Member of staff "we don't have any change, do you have a pound?"

Me: "No i don't have any change"

MOS: "If you withdraw £20 from the cash machine we can give you a pound back" (if i wanted to do this i would have)

Me: "It's not possible for me to withdraw £20, i asked to withdraw £19 and that's what i'd like to do"

MOS: (holding card up and waving) "this is only for people who have lost their card"

Me: "Sorry i don't know what you're talking about"

MOS: "Only people who have lost their card can withdraw at the counter"

Me: "Okay well i will tell you i've lost my card , please give me my card.... i've lost my card can i withdraw £19"

MOS disappears into the back and comes back five minutes later saying no, i say, this is ridiculous why can't i withdraw money?
MOS disappears again and then returns allowing me to withdraw money


I asked for a receipt and was told " we don't give receipts"


Is this normal? I cannot understand why he said i couldn't withdraw any money, he obviously DID have change as he gave me four pounds, with a five and ten pound note.

I'm so shocked, i regularly withdraw £3.50 from my Natwest account to pay for my laundry, never assumed other banks wouldn't allow counter withdrawals?? Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

FullTimeBadMan

That is truly bizarre. The only thing I can think of is that he had to go to the backroom to get more change, which does beg the question why he didn't just do that immediately.

Lokolo

The fact is, there are options available and they don't want people wasting their (HSBC) and other customers (who have the only choice to use a counter) time with people who won't do a BACS transfer online (or in other cases, withdraw cash using machines or pay on card depending on the situation).

stacey4415c

I was unable to do a transfer online, as i haven't used the account in so long i needed to call. I also wanted the money as soon as possible, in my opinion it is an appropriate request. He didn't even get the change from the back, he came back empty handed so must have had change all along...

Lokolo

stacey4415c wrote: »

I was unable to do a transfer online, as i haven't used the account in so long i needed to call. I also wanted the money as soon as possible, in my opinion it is an appropriate request. He didn't even get the change from the back, he came back empty handed so must have had change all along...

HSBC have faster payment system fully integrated which means your money will transfer to your other account in 2 hours.

I suspect the change thing was a bit of an excuse, the money is most probably used for other reasons (such as those who don't have a card), and in small branches especially, they have limited cash available.

Personally, I don't think it's a reasonable request given the other options available. For example, HSBC branches have telephone banking sites in them, so you can phone and unlock your account from there which will then enable you to transfer money across.

You can also most probably transfer money across via telephone banking.

This is the reason they put these services in, it's so that queues are shorter (so they don't have to hire as many staff), and only serve customers which only have the choice of branch service.

ses6jwg

Banks are 99% sales operations now, basically shops which masquerade as providing a service.

c-m

Lokolo wrote: »

HSBC have faster payment system fully integrated which means your money will transfer to your other account in 2 hours.

I suspect the change thing was a bit of an excuse, the money is most probably used for other reasons (such as those who don't have a card), and in small branches especially, they have limited cash available.

Personally, I don't think it's a reasonable request given the other options available. For example, HSBC branches have telephone banking sites in them, so you can phone and unlock your account from there which will then enable you to transfer money across.

You can also most probably transfer money across via telephone banking.

This is the reason they put these services in, it's so that queues are shorter (so they don't have to hire as many staff), and only serve customers which only have the choice of branch service.

How is it reasonable? Say that is your only account and it has £9 which you need. You could only be able to withdraw £5 at the cash machine. Does you find it reasonable that you'd be denied the other £4 until you get some more money in your account? It's a nonsense

Lokolo

c-m wrote: »

How is it reasonable? Say that is your only account and it has £9 which you need. You could only be able to withdraw £5 at the cash machine. Does you find it reasonable that you'd be denied the other £4 until you get some more money in your account? It's a nonsense

Because 95% of the time you can pay on card without the need for cash. Which you can't do without a card - which is why the service is available for those who do not have a debit card.

tagq2

ses6jwg wrote: »

Banks are 99% sales operations now, basically shops which masquerade as providing a service.

It often seems so, but why? Weren't retail banks in the past able to make a profit by providing a service?

smartiedriver_2

The cash is the receipt.

And emergency withdrawal slips are just that - for emergencies.

simax

I say if you want to go into a branch for £19 of *your own* money, they should get off their fat backsides and get you £19!!