Why do these muppets need me to have a chequebook?

AndyT678

Deleted_User wrote: »

I went to my bank who gave me a certified copy of my debit card and Nottingham happily accepted it for retention and the problem was solved.

I commend Nottingham Building Society for management who are prepared to adapt the rules using their common sense and thereby save significant time, cost and inconvenience.

I don't think I get the logic there. Going into town and queuing up in a bank to get a copy of a card certified doesn't sound like much of a saving in time, cost and inconvenience to me compared to just waiting for a cheque book to arrive in the post...

dunstonh

Debit cards display the Sort Code and Account number on the card.

And how does that work for an online application or postal application where there isnt someone in front of you to look at the card and take a copy for the file?

Recipients of Standing Orders and Direct Debits certainly can find out who the originator was.

No they cant as the system uses numbers. The names do not need to match the account being opened in.

Nottingham Building Society is one such who insists that incoming electronic payments must come from a known linked account only and will return any payment not meeting this.

And notice your wording "known linked account". They have gone to the effort of verifying the account. A cheque is the easiest way. Some others offer other methods. Such as bank statement that shows sort code, name or address or a letter from the bank on their headed paper verifying the details.

I had a query last year with Nottingham Building Society. Their T&Cs stated clearly that I needed to supply them with a cheque to prove my bank Account Number / Sort Code. I explained that I didn't have this but counter staff claimed that rules are rules and must be adhered to. I referred the matter to a senior manager and explained I did not have, and did not want, a chequebook. He understood my problem and agreed that my debit card will show necessary details. I went to my bank who gave me a certified copy of my debit card and Nottingham happily accepted it for retention and the problem was solved.

There you go. Face to Face copy taken and certified by the issuer.

However, look at all that unnecessary work you had to do when a simple thing called a cheque would have been much easier.

I commend Nottingham Building Society for management who are prepared to adapt the rules using their common sense and thereby save significant time, cost and inconvenience.

Although in your case it created more cost, time and inconvenience by having to travel to the branch and get the copy.

Are you perhaps cutting off your nose to spite your face here? A little invention called a cheque would have avoided all that.

[Deleted User]

dunstonh wrote: »

And how does that work for an online application or postal application where there isnt someone in front of you to look at the card and take a copy for the file?.

No problem, been there, done it online and fully accepted for verifying my bank details.

dunstonh wrote: »

However, look at all that unnecessary work you had to do when a simple thing called a cheque would have been much easier. Although in your case it created more cost, time and inconvenience by having to travel to the branch and get the copy.

Poppycock. I was walking past a branch of my bank which I had never visited before, saw no one in the queue, I explained my request and got service with a smile and I was out within less than 5 minutes. Job done!
Compare that with waiting a week or more for chequebook to be printed and hoping it isn't lost or delayed in the post. Then completing it for £1 and hoping the post won't be lost or delayed. Then shredding the unwanted chequebook and disposing of waste. The whole job taking around 3 weeks as against 5 minutes. No contest!

dunstonh

Poppycock. I was walking past a branch of my bank which I had never visited before, saw no one in the queue, I explained my request and got service with a smile and I was out within less than 5 minutes. Job done!

So, you have no problem doing something that even fewer people do nowadays and go to a branch but wont use something that millions use daily.

Compare that with waiting a week or more for chequebook to be printed and hoping it isn't lost or delayed in the post. Then completing it for £1 and hoping the post won't be lost or delayed. Then shredding the unwanted chequebook and disposing of waste. The whole job taking around 3 weeks as against 5 minutes. No contest!

Of course, most people have a cheque book already. So, going to the drawer (thank you xylo), pulling out the cheque, writing the cheque and posting it would take less than going to a town where your bank is, paying for parking, going into a branch, waiting, having it referred to another member of staff as the first didnt have the discretion.

Your arguments dont stack up as you hope the cheque wont be lost in the post or delayed but then the copy of the debit card was sent the same way.

[Deleted User]

dunstonh wrote: »

... writing the cheque and posting it would take less than going to a town where your bank is, paying for parking, going into a branch, waiting, having it referred to another member of staff as the first didnt have the discretion.

Poppycock. I passed the branch on my way to a meeting. No hassle waiting around 3 weeks for a chequebook which needing to be shredded immediately after completing the £1. I still had time to enjoy a cuppa as I joined the meeting.

dunstonh wrote: »

Your arguments dont stack up as you hope the cheque wont be lost in the post or delayed but then the copy of the debit card was sent the same way.

I've had too much experience of items lost, stolen or delayed in the post so your assumption is wrong. No snail was burdened.

polymaff

Deleted_User wrote: »

One or two savings institutions insist on my having a thing called [FONT=&quot]chequebook before they allow me to open a savings account. I have a current account with Sort Code, Account number, credit and debit card, direct debits, standing orders and everything needed to run a current account in the 21st century. Yet they refuse to open a savings account because I don't have what they call a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]chequebook[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. My grandfather tells me that, back in the olden days before credit and debit cards were invented, people used to use a [/FONT][FONT=&quot]chequebook [/FONT][FONT=&quot]but they are of no practical use now. Yet Birmingham Midshires and [/FONT]ICICI Bank, to name two demand sight of them. Why don't they move into the 21st century and why doesn't MSE campaign for financial institutions to stop demanding such arcane instruments before they will open a savings account?

If that is the most pressing issue in your life you are truly blessed.

colsten

Deleted_User wrote: »

Been there, done that and I now need a savings account for the rest of my cash.

I am intrigued - why do you need more than £50K in instant access accounts?

Loughton_Monkey

Out of interest, I went to my safe and noticed no less than 14 chequebooks. Most of these are on accounts long since closed. If you like, OP, I could send one to you as a museum piece. Mrs LM puts shredded paper into the compost bin, so she's glad I have just plucked these things out. They do have a valid use after all.

I use my main chequebook once or twice a year. There remain a couple of 'dinasaur' tradespeople [say plumbers] who don't trust you with electronic transfer, and always charge more than the cash you have in your wallet.

However, my main point is this: We all find it extremely difficult, these days, to make an honest buck here and there. We 'launder' money through current accounts purely to get high interest by pretending to be a 'real' current account customer.

So if a little bit of "hassle" is involved, then I will just deal with it. Like buying granny bonds. It's not my fault the NS&I online application is (was) flawed. I complained. But it didn't stop me gnashing my teeth and spending 45 minutes on the phone setting them up manually. I am not going to throw away excellent interest rates out of spite.

When I save £200 by swapping gas supplier, they insist on a meter reading. I do not complain but simply go to the garage, take out the stepladder, put on my hard hat, write it down, and send it to them on the correct date.

If ICICI were to offer a 5% one-year bond but insisted the deposit was sent from another Indian-owned bank, then I'd open an Indian owned bank account.

Live with it.

Radiantsoul

To be fair to the OP I am sure have all had times when we are madden by bureaucracy.

But you probably do have to live with it.

colsten

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Live with it.

Wise words indeed.