Bank nightmare

neilmcl

Had to pop in to my local Natwest today to query a form and new mandate I needed to fill in for my business account. The letter I got with it said I needed to hand it over in the branch so off I went. The local branch said they didn't deal with business accounts so couldn't help with my queries so I decided to pop into the centre of town (Nottingham) and visit the main branch office, and this is where the fun started.

I don't think I've ever had a worse experience in a bank before now. I think this is the first time I've been in there since they got rid of all the tellers and changed they layout and now it's a complete nightmare to get any help. There were long, disorganised queues all over the place, typical of an open plan with no obvious instruction on where to go, I managed to jump onto the back of a "shorter" one only to be told after waiting in line for 20 mins that they couldn't help and I would have to queue again to pass my details on to another bank assistant who would then arrange for someone to see me. Another 20 mins go by and I eventually get put on their system and would need to wait a further 35 mins to see the person I needed, along with about 20 other frustrated customers huddled up to the side of a small seating area.

Eventually I got seen and my query was handled easily within a few minutes, which I'm sure any one of the original assistants could've done in the first place. It's no wonder why branches are closing, it felt like a deliberate attempt to urge customers to do all their business online instead. I know I won't be going into that branch again, if I can help it.

[Deleted User]

neilmcl wrote: »

It's no wonder why branches are closing, it felt like a deliberate attempt to urge customers to do all their business online instead.

Why aren't you conducting your Banking business online?

BorisThomson

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Why aren't you conducting your Banking business online?

Did you miss ...

The letter I got with it said I needed to hand it over in the branch so off I went.

BorisThomson

neilmcl, the little branch in Victoria Centre is pretty good. There's rarely anyone queueing and they can make an appointment for you at the main branch.

neilmcl

BorisThomson wrote: »

neilmcl, the little branch in Victoria Centre is pretty good. There's rarely anyone queueing and they can make an appointment for you at the main branch.

That was also pretty busy when I walked past, tbh I wasn't expecting to have had to make an appointment anyway, just simply hand over and check the forms that I had.

Manxman_in_exile

We've got several personal bank accounts and the best in- branch service in our local branches is from Santander.


We don't want to use online services but I frequently use telephone services. One bank in particular (I won't name them but they used to have connections with China) are completely hopeless. I don't want to be xenophobic but the main problem is it's an overseas call centre. Or was last time I contacted them.


Santander are also good on the 'phone, but the best in my experience is Coventry BS - they're really good.

Mrs_Ryan

BorisThomson wrote: »

neilmcl, the little branch in Victoria Centre is pretty good. There's rarely anyone queueing and they can make an appointment for you at the main branch.

I walked past there the other day and the queue was massive!