Downgrading a Lloyds Platinum Account : A Lesson in how to patronise customers

riverdeep56

So I want to downgrade a Platinum account cos I don't need travel insurance etc etc, but I want to keep the account active as it has direct debits coming out of it. It's a joint account.

I am told it is impossible to do this without my wife and I going in to the branch and watching a video. I am not joking!!

I can however upgrade any of our other accounts - joint or otherwise either online or on the phone - without the pleasure of watching the Lloyds "your an idiot if you downgrade your account" video!

Apparently this is due to new legislation that has been brought in to safeguard me from myself, and the possibility I might make a decision that I don't want to make - like closing an account that costs me £17 a month that I don't need. It has nothing to do with making that process more complicated to the point where I can't be ar**d

Anyone think of way round this utter Lloyds !!!!!!!!!

Archi_Bald

Set up a new joint account elsewhere and switch your Lloyds account to it. Several banks will be pay you money for doing so.

Andypandyboy

Tell them you are immobile and cannot do what they ask. If you put it in writing I can't see how their "made up rules" can win out.

Ask them to send you the DVD! or, if it is so vital, why is it not online?

YorkshireBoy

Is the video only necessary for Club?

Herbalus

riverdeep56 wrote: »

So I want to downgrade a Platinum account cos I don't need travel insurance etc etc, but I want to keep the account active as it has direct debits coming out of it. It's a joint account.

I am told it is impossible to do this without my wife and I going in to the branch and watching a video. I am not joking!!

Who told you this? Was it over the phone or where you already in branch?

Whenever I get an answer that seems either wrong, or that the adviser guessed or just made it up because they didn't know, I always call back and speak to somebody else.

GingerFurball_2

You can't downgrade a joint AVA over the phone, has to be done in branch.

colsten

Ava ? ..............................

jennifernil

added value account?

pinkdalek

Sorry? You have a problem with a company that wants to explain how an account works to you?

Please remember not everyone in the UK is so highly knowledgeable in the world of finance and banking as you are.

At least you only watched it once, I feel sorry for the poor staff member who probably watches it numerous times a week.

JuicyJesus

This is what you get when MSE launches "reclaim packaged accounts" campaigns which encourage people to put in complaints on the basis of "I don't remember" or "I wasn't told". They make you watch the video because it ensures that all relevant information is given in a consistent, compliant manner so that years down the line when Martin Lewis or his ilk decide to start another campaign about missold whatever they know exactly what was said with no room for the information being incorrect.

If you want to blame anyone, don't blame Lloyds. Blame the idiots who started reclaim campaigns and encouraged spurious complaints, who Lloyds are now reacting to.

solentsusie

Just do an account switch as advised. Just because an account has direct debits coming out of it doesn't make it a good reason to keep it open if it is not what you require.

I just did a switch and it was totally painless. And as you have been told, banks pay you to switch. Surely that is incentive enough?