Pushy sales people in bank

jonesMUFCforever

If any product has been missold to OP's elderly relative they need only make a complaint and it would be investigated.
We do not have enough information to begin comment on the how and why's here.
I do not work in a bank but have a close relative that does.

OP if going into a TSB branch annoys you so much can you do your banking a different way? eg Online, through a post office, depositpoint, telephone etc etc. I understand there is nothing that annoys bank staff more than advising them that you have 'purchased' a product online that they could sell to you¬!

Tixy

Never happened to me in my bank (HSBC). Never been asked in they can save me money or approached as I'm leaving.

When I've set up meetings with them they've suggested products they have available but I've never felt they were pushing me to take anything on.

Just asked the 2 people in the room with me - 1 said it used to happen sometimes about 10 years ago (Natwest) but always backed off when told not interested. The one person says once it happened to them a few years ago.

_Andy_

Oh !!!!!! - I hate this 'oh they're old therefore they're stupid' gambit. Christ if you don't want a product don't take it.

Elvisia

To answer the original post - this is why I left Santander. Every time I went in there I was hassled and they'd go through all their products. I was sold a credit card which they said was free and it was only when I got home and read the small print there was a £24 charge; they were very insistent I had their rotten 123 account even though I have no direct debits/standing orders so I would have been paying £2 a month for an account I didn't need. I had clearly explained what I spend my money on, and nothing I could get cashback on. When I went in to say I wanted to shut my account they did all that, then the lady started going through their choice of current accounts again...argh!! I am under 40 and I've managed to be hoodwinked by their sales tactics, so it's not just oldies who get done. In fact my 80 year old mother is far better than me, she just says "I'll stop you right there young man, the answer will always be no".

opinions4u

Strange.

When flogging PPI to the masses "back in the day" it was impossible to sell it to an OAP. The bank's systems wouldn't allow it.

It was always possible to sell a loan to consolidate debt. Some would want lower rate, same term, slightly lower payment.

Others would want lower rate, longer term, much lower payment.

Some would need longer term and lower payment. Even if the rate on offer was more expensive.

bargainbetty

miduck wrote: »

Do you assume all OAPs lack mental capacity? :eek:

My 72 year old mother can still run rings around me. If the person concerned did not want or need a loan, the salesperson can always be told to sod off.

Halifax/Lloyds/TSB are struggling, and their staff are told to offer reviews, new products etc to try to drum up business. Banks are businesses, they are there to make money. Politely decline. Then less politely decline. Then ignore them until they go away.

~Brock~

Oh bejesus, here we go again......

1. I have been with the same bank for 25 years. We get along just fine.
2. Last time spoke to my 'relationship manager' at the bank I ended up saving a considerable sum in interest in the long term on my borrowings at the time, which resulted from restructuring products within their own group.
3.. He didn't come across as a robot or as the type of guy that falls asleep to the sound of 'can I save you money etc'.
4.. I have been a customer of this bank long enough for them to appear to genuinely appreciate my business, and this comes across to me in many of my dealings with them.
5.. When it comes to my own dealings with my bank I do not act like a neurotic imbecile who lacks the capability to influence my own judgement. I also possess the power to say 'No' occasionally.
6. I prefer to form my own judgements based on my own opinions and experiences, and if my opinion does not go along with the herd then that's just fine with me. For this reason I do not subscribe to the rather pathetic 'bank bashing' populist mentality for the simple reason that it breeds an unnecessary level of mistrust that does not fit with the reality of my experiences. I am also intelligent enough not to blame the excellent staff in my local branch for every worldwide evil that has taken place in the last decade. I also have the firm view that those who regularly point the finger of blame should look at where their other fingers are pointing.
7. I understand the concept of taking some responsibility for my own actions and decisions.
8. I am not an OAP myself, but am unaware of any policy at my bank to offer 'bad deals' to this group of people. I too would be interested in questioning any assumption in the OP that OAP's in general lack decision making capabilities and therefore (we assume) should not be allowed out on their own.
9. I am pretty confident that I am a member of a silent majority on this subject....a category of people who, strangely enough, do not go generally to the trouble of spreading their views all over the internet.
10. I can confidently state that if I wasn't happy with my bank I would move.

Ahhh, that's better...

Osarkon

I don't get bothered at all in my local branch, I'm with lloyds as well.

They rang me a short while after opening a joint account to pop in which I forgot about, and was then reminded when I was in next.

To be fair they were extremely polite, we had a good discussion about my requirements and as a result of how helpful they were and genuine I've moved all my banking to them.

I guess a lot of it depends on what mindset you're in when you walk in.

~Brock~

Osarkon wrote: »

I don't get bothered at all in my local branch, I'm with lloyds as well.

They rang me a short while after opening a joint account to pop in which I forgot about, and was then reminded when I was in next.

To be fair they were extremely polite, we had a good discussion about my requirements and as a result of how helpful they were and genuine I've moved all my banking to them.

I guess a lot of it depends on what mindset you're in when you walk in.

Careful mate, you can get banned from some discussion forums with that ridiculous attitude !!:rotfl:

triticale

I have been with first direct for about 7 years now, never been approached by any staff, I read their available offers online when logging into online banking and make my own decisions on products and services in my own time.

This is the way forward in my opinion, surprised other banks haven't followed their lead - unless they are subsidised by HSBC or something, and wouldn't be viable as a standalone bank?

Anyone have any info/views on this?