The Top Easy Access Savings Discussion Area

phillw · 6 August 2023 at 1:38PM

nic_c said:
Did say politely. No point ranting.

Yet the things you suggested saying, were not polite.

Well, if you don't know, then how do I know I'm talking to my real bank?

Presumably you phoned them and they are trying to protect against you sending 50.00 but some software on your PC hasn't changed it to 5000.00 with a different recipient. You come across as being difficult, faced with your question my answer would be "I'm sorry, if you don't feel comfortable to continue this conversation then please hang up". They may be more polite to your face, but you will have lost their desire to help you.

Making a complaint is a sales task.

Because the savings rates you have are insulting. Do you not know what the BoE base rate is? Have you not read what the FCA have said about unfairly low savings rates.

It's nothing to do with the person you are speaking to, the honest and polite answer is "I'm transferring to an account with a higher rate."

Yes, you. You, the bank, are making me call up and go through a set of ridiculous questions just because I want to move my money to somewhere the savings rate isn't an insult.

You aren't even answering the question they asked, the correct answer is "Nobody has asked me to make this transaction"

masonic · 6 August 2023 at 1:45PM

S_uk said:

crumpet_man said:

I presume they are checking the accent matches the nationality/region of the caller.

Why would it be a problem if someone's accent didn't 'match' their nationality?

This would indicate a record of Bridlington1's voice print had not been stored by the bank, so any such analysis would be based on the adviser's assessment of voice vs subjective records. Ideally there would be data to objectively match against the caller, but this isn't always possible. It is worth remembering that physical characteristics of an individual are lawfully allowed to be used to identify them. If the only records held by the bank were that the customer was British, then it would be acceptable to consider that such an accent was consistent with the customer's profile and could be counted in the favour of a caller when profiling them.

S_uk · 6 August 2023 at 1:46PM

phillw said:

S_uk said:
Why would it be a problem if someone's accent didn't 'match' their nationality?

Most peoples accent will match where they were born.

"Age = reasonable, gender and accent good"

Is obvious what it means.

You obviously didn't read my question. I'm not referring to those that have an accent 'matching' where they are from. Given the Equality Act of 2010 I'd be interested in all the legalities of this.

I actually had no idea banks would profile someone based on their accent. I think parts of the media might be interested in this given recent events in the news.

And Halifax wouldn't know my accent as I've never been into a branch or contacted them by phone.

jpsman · 6 August 2023 at 1:53PM

Zaul22 said:

Just saw this morning that Shawbrook have proposed a merger with Co-op bank. It's probably many months away from affecting their savings in any way but just potentially interesting.

So that's why Co-op savings rates remain abysmal - they're shoring up profits to make themselves look more attractive to buyers!

masonic · 6 August 2023 at 1:55PM

S_uk said:

phillw said:

S_uk said:
Why would it be a problem if someone's accent didn't 'match' their nationality?

Most peoples accent will match where they were born.

"Age = reasonable, gender and accent good"

Is obvious what it means.

You obviously didn't read my question. I'm not referring to those that have an accent 'matching' where they are from. Given the Equality Act of 2010 I'd be interested in all the legalities of this.

I actually had no idea banks would profile someone based on their accent. I think parts of the media might be interested in this given recent events in the news.

And Halifax wouldn't know my accent as I've never been into a branch or contacted them by phone.

As mentioned above, absolutely legal. In fact, the police often use descriptions of identifying characteristics such as age, gender, race and physical markings in their investigations.

S_uk · 6 August 2023 at 2:01PM

masonic said:

S_uk said:

phillw said:

S_uk said:
Why would it be a problem if someone's accent didn't 'match' their nationality?

Most peoples accent will match where they were born.

"Age = reasonable, gender and accent good"

Is obvious what it means.

You obviously didn't read my question. I'm not referring to those that have an accent 'matching' where they are from. Given the Equality Act of 2010 I'd be interested in all the legalities of this.

I actually had no idea banks would profile someone based on their accent. I think parts of the media might be interested in this given recent events in the news.

And Halifax wouldn't know my accent as I've never been into a branch or contacted them by phone.

As mentioned above, absolutely legal. In fact, the police often use descriptions of identifying characteristics such as age, gender, race and physical markings in their investigations.

But that's just descriptions of someone, not making assumptions that someone cannot be "from" somewhere because of them.

masonic · 6 August 2023 at 2:03PM

S_uk said:

masonic said:

S_uk said:

phillw said:

S_uk said:
Why would it be a problem if someone's accent didn't 'match' their nationality?

Most peoples accent will match where they were born.

"Age = reasonable, gender and accent good"

Is obvious what it means.

You obviously didn't read my question. I'm not referring to those that have an accent 'matching' where they are from. Given the Equality Act of 2010 I'd be interested in all the legalities of this.

I actually had no idea banks would profile someone based on their accent. I think parts of the media might be interested in this given recent events in the news.

And Halifax wouldn't know my accent as I've never been into a branch or contacted them by phone.

As mentioned above, absolutely legal. In fact, the police often use descriptions of identifying characteristics such as age, gender, race and physical markings in their investigations.

But that's just descriptions of someone, not making assumptions that someone cannot be "from" somewhere because of them.

Nobody is suggesting that, but it is fair and reasonable for a bank to assume that your accent will be consistent between calls. There is no suggestion that notes as described above are anything other than that.