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How much compensation could I be entitled to for Bank Error?

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  • innovate
    innovate Posts: 16,217 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Caladan wrote: »
    I'll ask a simple question to end this - Should a business take on a client that will cost them money and bring nothing to the company?

    Simple answer - no. But seriously, I doubt you are in any position to assess whether someone could make such a decision based on an application for a current account.

    With your decision to turn down a customer's application for a current account, without even running a credit check, (as you said you would do), you have no "second opinion" on what the customer tells you. They may be brilliant revenue potential, but you may well have lost that customer's business forever by applying your personal judgement. Not just the current account but the entire financial dealings of that particular customer for life.

    As to you caring for the customer: you have made several posts now that suggest you don't really. So may be you aren't.
  • Caladan
    Caladan Posts: 378 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    innovate wrote: »
    Simple answer - no. But seriously, I doubt you are in any position to assess whether someone could make such a decision based on an application for a current account.

    With your decision to turn down a customer's application for a current account, without even running a credit check, (as you said you would do), you have no "second opinion" on what the customer tells you. They may be brilliant revenue potential, but you may well have lost that customer's business forever by applying your personal judgement. Not just the current account but the entire financial dealings of that particular customer for life.

    As to you caring for the customer: you have made several posts now that suggest you don't really. So may be you aren't.

    Unfortunately (and I make exceptions to this rule quite often) generally speaking if a customer does not bring the profit across within 3 months they never will. The 1 in 10 that actually does doesn't outweigh the cost of the 9 that don't.

    It's better to lose the potential profitable customer than support a dozen unprofitable customers on the off-chance they'll actually bring their main banking over. I know it sounds brutal, but even if that one customer can make the bank a fortune (think Richard Branson, who was turned down by most major banks), the potential for profit is too low to justify spending the money.

    I will add innovate, that I do my best for my customers regardless of what the bank wants, but I feel it's important to put the banks point of view fowards (indeed, I've helped customers raise a deposit with the banks money to pay for a new property even when the bank was repossessing, and I've done that because I felt it was right even though it just increases the banks risk).
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Bank employees who want to restrict accounts to those who will bank entirely with one institution have a large role to play in the perceived lack of competition in the current account market.
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pmduk wrote: »
    Bank employees who want to restrict accounts to those who will bank entirely with one institution have a large role to play in the perceived lack of competition in the current account market.
    Blame management for this employees just do as they are told.
  • Caladan
    Caladan Posts: 378 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    pmduk wrote: »
    Bank employees who want to restrict accounts to those who will bank entirely with one institution have a large role to play in the perceived lack of competition in the current account market.

    Very true, and it's a big problem in the industry, unlike other retailers banks have a product that is essential for most people, and because of credit ratings those people can be restricted in their choice of where to give their business. Therefore the banks put their conditions on it as they see fit.

    I do think the current account industry has a reasonable amount of choice and competition though (assuming your credit rating is ok). I get flamed a lot on this board but I'm open to arguments :p
  • jamesd
    jamesd Posts: 26,103 Forumite
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    Potty74 wrote: »
    As some have suggested, maybe I should open another account with another bank which would have made this situation easier to deal with.
    Additional current accounts tend to be easy to get for those with good credit, with a few exceptions. Similar for credit cards. At the moment I have current accounts with three institutions and credit cards with five. Takes a little time but it's worth it for the reduced chance of being adversely affected when something goes wrong.
    Caladan wrote: »
    Indeed, but you're playing the system, apart from your main bank you're probably costing the rest money. That's fine, don't get me wrong, but it's a good reason to demand primary banking surely.
    A good reason for a bank, but not for a customer. Consider just a few situations:

    1. Potty74's experience.
    2. The NatWest/RBS/Bank of Ireland issues.
    3. Issues with FD/HSBC or other security software or teams that can temporarily or permanently result in features being unavailable, even for customers acting completely lawfully and within account terms and conditions.

    Might be nice if it wasn't so but there's a balance of interests and risks here and the customer end doesn't favour customers having only one current account. There are just too many known ways that things can temporarily go wrong for it to be sensible.
  • dalesrider
    dalesrider Posts: 3,447 Forumite
    innovate wrote: »
    This misconception will be very much kept alive when that new switcher service goes live in September - - they even automatically close your old account. So people with a low level of initiative will continue to think one current account is all they can have.
    .

    There is a real good reason for the closing of the old account. It allows any debits/credits processed to the old account to now be transferred to the new account.
    Which is something that cannot be done now, when a account is left open.
    This does cause many complaints from people who forget to tell companies they have moved banks and then find they have charges for exceeding limits etc.
    As they have not been checking the old account.

    Of course people will still have the option of not using the new service. Just as many of us do now.
    Never ASSUME anything its makes a
    >>> A55 of U & ME <<<
  • dalesrider
    dalesrider Posts: 3,447 Forumite
    jamesd wrote: »
    other security software or teams that can temporarily or permanently result in features being unavailable, even for customers acting completely lawfully and within account terms and conditions.

    Just as it is in the T/C that banks have to have security systems in place as well as abiding by current FSA/Government legal regulations.
    If it is believed a customer is acting outside these then the bank has a duty of care to act on them. Which will result in a account lock down until it is proved one way or another.
    jamesd wrote: »
    Might be nice if it wasn't so but there's a balance of interests and risks here and the customer end doesn't favour customers having only one current account. There are just too many known ways that things can temporarily go wrong for it to be sensible.

    Its crazy to only have one account and after the number of system issues seen by several banks. I simply cannot understand why many of the people who use these banks and complained about it. Are still ONLY banking with them and have not opened a back up account.
    Never ASSUME anything its makes a
    >>> A55 of U & ME <<<
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 14 July 2013 at 9:15AM
    dalesrider wrote: »
    I simply cannot understand why many of the people who use these banks and complained about it. Are still ONLY banking with them and have not opened a back up account.

    It's because people like caladon see fit to deny them the opportunity.
  • Caladan
    Caladan Posts: 378 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    pmduk wrote: »
    It's because people like caladon see fit to deny them the opportunity.

    I'll decline them if there's nothing in it for the company (and why shouldn't I?), or only allow them to open a Basic Account (which should be sufficient anyway) doesn't mean they can't go elsewhere (most banks do actually allow split banking to a higher extent than mine).

    And for the record, I've got 2 bank accounts :p

    "A good reason for a bank, but not for a customer. Consider just a few situations:

    1. Potty74's experience.
    2. The NatWest/RBS/Bank of Ireland issues.
    3. Issues with FD/HSBC or other security software or teams that can temporarily or permanently result in features being unavailable, even for customers acting completely lawfully and within account terms and conditions.

    Might be nice if it wasn't so but there's a balance of interests and risks here and the customer end doesn't favour customers having only one current account. There are just too many known ways that things can temporarily go wrong for it to be sensible.
    "

    Agreed, although I find a credit card is usually sufficient to overcome temporary issues.
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