Halifax Problems. advice needed.

opinions4u

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

I have an EasyCash account and funnily enough they fell over themselves to allow me to pay in at the counter when I showed up with a compo cheque of 2.5k the last couple of HMRC cheques I've had they've let me pay in over the counter as well.

It won't be the size of the cheque.

It will be that they can't be bothered having a confrontational conversation about it.

Savvy_Money

pvt wrote: »

Hear hear!!

I recently bought an economy class ticket for a BA flight, and was similarly annoyed to find I wasn't entitled to the lounge access, size of seat, level of pampering, choice of movies, lobster thermidor, and vintage champagne, which all the passengers in First class received.

I too felt very third class. Quite literally in fact.

Except you pay for a service with BA, and the equality is there as everyone does have the right to go first class as long as you have the money - BA couldn't care less about your credit rating as long as you give them the dosh - there are plenty of people who are 'not profitable' to the banks and yet have full access to the counter - there's enough of them on this forum who quite happily spread money around to get their £60 or so from the 'free' monthly fivers.

I do not agree with the priniciple but I will happliy accept that there many others who do.

Savvy_Money

Naf wrote: »

Yes, they usually can.

What Savvy seems to be missing is my point above; that if it were solely up to the banks they wouldn't do business with these people at all. People that 'require' these accounts should realise the fact that they are lucky to be able to get them in the first place, not complain about the facilities or lack thereof.

EDIT: I realise that sounds a bit harsh, and its not intended to be. What I mean is that not so very long ago, people in the same situation would have had little choice but to take a savings account with access only at the counter - no ATM or debit card. And the terms on most (possibly all) of those accounts prohibit them being used for wages. No DDs or SOs either.

I have not missed the point - I accept banks are businesses (although a few are technically publically owned), and it was the last Government which ensured that banks offered these accounts for a variety of reasons - my view however is that people should be treated as people, not made to feel 'different'. Yes they can move their business elsewhere, but this is not always as easy as it sounds. It is very easy to state 'if you do not like the terms and conditions then tough' but I like to at least show some empathy with the OP.

innovate

Savvy_Money wrote: »

people should be treated as people, not made to feel 'different'.

There are always exceptions, but the majority of the people in question have chosen to be different so that's why they have access to different options only. Make your bed and lie in it.

pmduk

Remember a similar account at Cardone or Thinkbanking would cost you £14 a month and you still wouldn't have a counter to access. Banks have to pay their overhead still. Halifax have decided that cutting counter access for these customers is a way. Other banks choose different options. Eg, RBS group only allow withdrawals from their own machines, Santander & HSBC don't offer debit cards etc etc

Savvy_Money

innovate wrote: »

There are always exceptions, but the majority of the people in question have chosen to be different so that's why they have access to different options only. Make your bed and lie in it.

People choose to be 'different'! Oh yes people 'choose' to have a restrictive service - yes I'm sure people 'choose' to be unemployed, or made redundant. Yes some people recklessly spend, but actually Innovate choice is not open to everyone - some people have to really struggle to work, care for their families, and make ends meet - is it a choice - not really.

But I suppose the word empathy is not something you use often considering your last statement. What nonsense!

Savvy_Money

pmduk wrote: »

Remember a similar account at Cardone or Thinkbanking would cost you £14 a month and you still wouldn't have a counter to access. Banks have to pay their overhead still. Halifax have decided that cutting counter access for these customers is a way. Other banks choose different options. Eg, RBS group only allow withdrawals from their own machines, Santander & HSBC don't offer debit cards etc etc

Not disputing this for a second - I'm only stating that I don't particularly like it, and I can see why some people are put out by it. I am not suggesting for one second that I expect Halifax or the rest of the banking industry to suddenly revamp thier business practices on my say so. However I do not have to support everything they do either - There are things I don't like about Tesco's but that doesn't stop me from having a moan.

From a balanced point of view there are things I like about banks as well - I like the security it provides, I like the customer service at my own local branch (not Halifax), and I like the convenient access. I just think that there are too many people who in just state 'its in the terms and conditions' - terms and conditions believe it or not can be (and have been) challenged - T&C's is after all just a contract and like all contracts can be reviewed via a legal process - although I am not suggesting for one moment that the OP has a legal right to counter service before the all knowing banking guru's tell me that is the case - I already know

pmduk

We should, of course remember, that Easycash customers can use any of 11,500 Post Office branches if counter access is that important to them.

kerry87_2

Naf wrote: »

No debit card, no counter access and I don't even think withdrawals can be made through the Post Office anymore. I think the account balance limits are substantially lower, too.

Also, unless things have changed the account doesn't even count as a current account on their system: doesn't improve your credit rating or standing, and can't be upgraded - a whole new application is needed, which means you have to move all your own wages, benefits, DDs & SOs...

I have a santander basic and I can withdraw my money over the counter and can withdraw from the post office.

You are right in saying that the basic is not a debit card although direct debits can be set up

Naf

Savvy_Money wrote: »

People choose to be 'different'! Oh yes people 'choose' to have a restrictive service - yes I'm sure people 'choose' to be unemployed, or made redundant. Yes some people recklessly spend, but actually Innovate choice is not open to everyone - some people have to really struggle to work, care for their families, and make ends meet - is it a choice - not really.

But I suppose the word empathy is not something you use often considering your last statement. What nonsense!

I empathise with people not getting the service they want, sure. I complain on a regular basis when things don't come up to scratch. But what they are getting (exactly with the airline ticket) is exactly what they agreed to.
And they have absolutely had a choice before felling 'forced' into a basic account. Even someone with 'white credit' will generally pass a credit check for a current account, but might only get the equivalent of an electron card instead of a full debit card. So the only scenario that someone would be unable to get a current account and it could be claimed that it is through no fault of their own, are those who have not had a job ever since age 16. Anyone else has opted not to get a current account when they have had the opportunity.

kerry87 wrote: »

I have a santander basic and I can withdraw my money over the counter and can withdraw from the post office.

You are right in saying that the basic is not a debit card although direct debits can be set up

Well then you're lucky that your local branch do not abide by the T&Cs of the account. When I worked there it was claimed that head office monitored counter transactions on accounts that shouldn't have them, and it would affect audit, service & bonus scores so we were told not to do them. It was called Project Red, and it's sole purpose was to reduce transactions at the counter.
As far as I know, the same rules still apply, that branches are supposed to be penalised for doing it.