Halifax - Arrrgh!!!!

M_Thomson

Paul_Herring wrote: »

My only comments here regarding this are either (1) you're lying, (2) you think you know but you don't or (3) you've learnt policies from places other than directly from your bank.

Bank staff rarely know the ins and outs of their banks products. Witness the inability of LTSB staff to deal with their widely promoted (outside of the bank, naturally) STC campaign before it started, and during it's execution.

Wide brush? Most certainly.

I think you are being unfair in assuming that the poster does not know about the banks products. Yes there are some people who work for banks that don't know about products, but there are lots of people that do take the time to learn about things and are aware of procedures.

wyebird

[QUOTE=Next day? I don't think so.


If there aren't enough funds, Joe's bank WRITES to Jane's bank (by first class post).

Clearing banks computers can "talk" to each other! The postal bit comes in if and when someone has to return the physical cheque to the person who paid it in. A bank will know if the transaction has failed long before that.
I don't think it's a conspiracy theory, I just think that it costs banks money to process cheques and " low value" (their value system not mine) customers don't earn them any, so if they hold onto the funds for longer then then can get some of the money back.
There will always be exceptions e.g cheque fraud which may come to light later, but that is the case with electronic transactions as well.

SallyUK

So basically, they're putting us all in the same boat and treating everyone with a Cardcash account as though they're going to present bounced cheques and commit fraud every time, instead of treating each account on it's own merits?

I've been with that bank for years (had a current account with them, before my ex husband did what he did and that affected my credit history) so because of that I had to reapply to open a different account with them, in my sole name and that's why they gave me the Cardcash account!

I've never ever committed fraud and never presented a cheque that's ever bounced. Up until recently I had a fair amount of money in that account too, much more than they probably expect someone with this type of account to have, to be honest! But I've had enough of them now.

Sally

wyebird

I don't blame you.

Probably worth checking what other providers can offer on their basic accounts.

I had a Smile card based savings account for a while (same cheque clearance as their current account, I think) and after having the account for six months or so didn't have a problem getting a full current account as I had some history.

mad06

i have been with halifax for 7 years and cannot get an upgrade from my basic account, recently they've brought in the silly rule of paying yr cash into an envelope, then depositing it in a hole in the wall which i am not happy about doing! i actually reported them to the x-ray programme and had a call from them to say they are investigating! they said it is discrimation and that if you pay the same charges as everyone else, you should be treated the same.

RichyRich

SallyUK wrote: »

So basically, they're putting us all in the same boat and treating everyone with a Cardcash account as though they're going to present bounced cheques and commit fraud every time, instead of treating each account on it's own merits?

Yes they are. My car insurance is more expensive than a female driver's would be; even if we both passed our test on the same day, bought the same type of car, had the same No Claims History, were exactly the same age etc., my premium would still be higher. Fact is, statistically I'd be more likely to crash the thing than she would be on the basis of my gender. Same thing: a Cardcash customer is, statistically, more likely to commit fraud on his/her account than a non cardcash customer. It's ok saying do everything on its merits, but the numbers won't lie. Do men cry discrimination and accusation every time Norwich Union send them their insurance renewal? It's the way of the world, and just because you're an honest customer it doesn't mean every other Cardcash customer is, similarly, just because I drive sensibly it doesn't mean every other male driver does too, so unfortunately, we need to make some concessions.

I've been with that bank for years (had a current account with them, before my ex husband did what he did and that affected my credit history) so because of that I had to reapply to open a different account with them, in my sole name and that's why they gave me the Cardcash account!

I've never ever committed fraud and never presented a cheque that's ever bounced. Up until recently I had a fair amount of money in that account too, much more than they probably expect someone with this type of account to have, to be honest! But I've had enough of them now.

Sally

By your logic, because you've never presented a dud cheque, they shouldn't allow any time for clearing. Taking that to it's logical conclusion, I've never ever crashed a car, so why do they charge me anything for insurance!?!?!?!?!

I hate the banks as much as everyone else, but the bank is quite within its rights to restrict the facilities on offer on certain types of accounts as it sees fit. After all, it's running the risk of losing its own money (e.g. if a bouncy cheque was presented then money withdrawn before true clearance). I understand it's your x-husband's fault what happened on the account, but you chose to have a joint a/c with him - that makes you financially linked and that makes you responsible, regardless of which one of you was careless. It's ok running to the bank saying "It wasn't me, it was my husband, give me a proper account", but if they'd do that for you they'd have to do it for everyone who wanted an account and could blame their husband/wife/girlfriend/cat/dog/etc. Put yourself in their shoes. If someone came to you with a poor credit record and asked for the ability to withdraw money not yet cleared (or whatever) would you give it to them or the person with a better credit record? Regardless of the explanation, you'd go with the numbers. Numbers don't lie. People do.

Rich.

Paul_Herring

RichyRich wrote:

Fact is, statistically I'd be more likely to crash the thing than she would be on the basis of my gender.

I seem to recall the reason was not that men are more likely to crash, but the resulting payout from incidents is larger for men than for women.

regularsaver1

Paul_Herring wrote: »

My only comments here regarding this are either (1) you're lying, (2) you think you know but you don't or (3) you've learnt policies from places other than directly from your bank.

Bank staff rarely know the ins and outs of their banks products. Witness the inability of LTSB staff to deal with their widely promoted (outside of the bank, naturally) STC campaign before it started, and during it's execution.

Wide brush? Most certainly.

I think this is quite unfair - do you realise what a cashier/customer adviser has to do? - and they really get thrown in at the deep end

they do not need to know about every product - things change frequently

thats what the banking advisers are for

regularsaver1

HBOS has 3.6 million basic/social bank accounts - 3 times the amount of its nearest competitior. This is why they need to cut the queues

Its not all bad:

Actually, this week HBOS has published its first financial inclusion report. - first of a kind from a UK bank.

http://www.hbosplc.com/community/financial_inclusion.asp

In report:

"1 - Report confirms HBOS's target of 15% market share for its 2007 social; bank account openings this year. - no other bank has set a target.

2 - It discloses HBOS's social bank accounts, and gives a commitment to publish quartley figures - no other bank had made this commitment.

3.It gives information about the Halifax Saving gateway polit on behalf of the HM Treasury - no other bank piloted the savings gateway.

HBOS has therefore been praised by the Treasury for social and basic accounts.

HBOS also set up mobile branches for areas that didn't have a bank. & villages, schools, retirement homes, community groups, worksite. These units also visit the homes of disabled customers.

HBOS has also worked with its foundation to open 900 Easycash accounts for ex-offenders that would not have got an account otherwise

In 2006 HBOS contibuted 2.5m to organisations providing free debt advise servies to individuals and small businesses "

regularsaver1

and from the HM Treasury regarding financial inclusion:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/financial_services/financial_inclusion/Financial_inclusion_index.cfm

and British Bankers Assocation:

http://www.bba.org.uk/content/1/c4/64/95/financial_inclusion_leaflet.pdf