Why are people here quick to defend the 'rights' of the banking companies?

pochisoldi

deadendwaterfall wrote: »

Even when it is evident that the customer clearly isn't at fault or otherwise committed any wrongdoing?

For example, I bet that if there was a story where somebody had a prolonged stay in hospital of a month or more due to being in a coma, and their income stopped, causing direct debits to bounce or take their bank account overdrawn, and the bank account accumulates so many charges from being overdrawn or returning direct debits and their account ended up defaulting as a result and getting closed, many people on here would be very unsympathetic with them and quicker to defend the banks 'rights' than someone's who never asked to be in a coma and must find it hard enough as it was to get over the trauma of being in a coma and losing their bank account adding to the stress and frustration the bank refusing to let them have their account back, open a new one or if they are lucky, being made to feel like a peasant by only being allowed a basic account as a replacement account.

It's dead simple - a general going into battle always wants to know about their enemy - their strengths and weaknesses. The general can then choose the correct strategy to arrive at a desired outcome with the minimum expenditure in terms of men (= mental energy) and equipment (=time, money and effort).

[Deleted User]

I get the impression that a lot of contributors to this forum - and especially to this Banking thread - work in the finance sector and are therefore biased.

Zanderman

johnsmith1890 wrote: »

I get the impression that a lot of contributors to this forum - and especially to this Banking thread - work in the finance sector and are therefore biased.

Whereas I get the impression that the opposite is true...

eskbanker

I get the impression that some posters are intellectually incapable of grasping the simple concept that someone challenging or correcting misunderstandings or misconceptions in ranty bank-bashing posts may not actually be defending, and/or employed by, the industry!

Granted, some of us may have chosen ambiguous usernames that can be taken rather too literally by those who are minded to seek conspiracies....

K80_Black

JuicyJesus wrote: »

That's a bit of an extreme example that's not really reflective of most peoples' real experience. Or anyone's real experience, frankly.

Banks often are sympathetic when there are genuine medical circumstances that mean someone's account goes overdrawn. That's as it should be.

Exactly this. I was in hospital for months without my banking cards. No issues with going overdrawn, but I had no way to access any money. They were able to do a one off transfer to the hospitals patient account (or something similar - my nurse gave me the details and it was years ago!) after I answered a lot of security questions so I could withdraw money from the cash office at the hospital. They were incredibly helpful, even though I had disordered speech and had trouble following what they were saying sometimes. There's markers on my account now to say that I'm a vulnerable customer, and how best to help me if I call when distressed in the future. I really can't fault them.

badger09

Flobberchops wrote: »

Because that's not how the story usually goes. It's usually more along the lines of:

"I used my bank account in a reckless and probably illegal manner, now the bank say they are going to close my account, please give me free legal advice that I can present to my bank to force them to keep me as a customer"

or

"I used and abused my account's overdraft facility, both arranged and unarranged, for years and I've just realised that I have been paying fees for using debt. How can I reclaim these UNFAIR fees from my GREEDY bank?"

or

"The other day I was in my bank. First I had to wait ten minutes in the queue because it was lunchtime, and a Monday, and the first business day after a Bank Holiday. Then the cashier's till roll needed replacing which cost me another two minutes and great emotional stress. To crown it all the silly cow gave me a Twenty instead of two Tenners like I asked which is grossly incompetent and more or less fraud. How much compensation do you think I should ask for? I reckon I should demand £1000 as an opening gambit and let them haggle me down to £750"

or

"The bank gave my money away to fraudsters! (20 posts later) Well, they didn't stop me transferring my money to fraudsters. (Another 20 posts) Well, I mean, the cashier did try asking me why I needed fifteen grand in cash but I told them to mind their own business. How was I supposed to know the motorcycle courier wasn't really a CIA agent taking my money to release a Nigerian prince's multi million pound inheritance? Anyway, stop getting bogged down in the little details, guys, how can I force my bank to return my money to me?"

or

"Wednesday last, I wrote to my bank requesting a replacement cheque book with left-handed stub, spare carbons and RFID sleeve. What I received was a stubless cheque book with triplicate credit slips attached. I am incandescent and have as a first step escalated this to the Ombudsman."

Typical defence from a bank employee:mad:.

johnsmith1890 wrote: »

I get the impression that a lot of contributors to this forum - and especially to this Banking thread - work in the finance sector and are therefore biased.

Absolutely! You and the OP are onto something here. Most who post on the Housebuying board are biased Estate Agents, those on the Phones & TV board work for BT or Sky and posters on the Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning must be Travel Agents.

Its all one big FRAUD :eek:

Zanderman

badger09 wrote: »

Absolutely! You and the OP are onto something here. Most who post on the Housebuying board are biased Estate Agents, those on the Phones & TV board work for BT or Sky and posters on the Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning must be Travel Agents.

Its all one big FRAUD :eek:

Yes, yes. It's all true!! How could I have been so blind?? So naive?!! It must be the effect of the contrails!! And the fluoride!!!

[Apart from the Travel Agent, obviously, as they have to wear a hat that says 'Travel Agent' so you know they are who they are (If in doubt see this Marty Feldman sketch, co-starring Tim Brooke-Taylor and with John Junkin as the Travel Agent - link starts 49 seconds in when the hat bit begins....https://youtu.be/n326mhTfQr0?t=49)]

[Deleted User]

Zanderman wrote: »

Whereas I get the impression that the opposite is true...

Ah, you mean all those posters who are so clued up on the inner workings of a bank, don't actually work in one? Sorry, I don't buy it. On this particular thread a large majority of posters are so supporting of the banks, regardless of the issue being debated, that it's almost a given they're in the finance industry.

eskbanker

johnsmith1890 wrote: »

On this particular thread a large majority of posters are so supporting of the banks, regardless of the issue being debated, that it's almost a given they're in the finance industry.

Very kind of you to prove my point by demonstrating exactly the sort of warped logic and misguided paranoia that I was referring to!

So, of the 16 posters other than you on this thread, "a large majority" presumably means, say, 12 who are allegedly "so supporting of the banks" (as opposed to simply laughing at the laughable)? Name them....

Or for that matter name all those on this thread who you believe are demonstrating inside knowledge of the inner workings of banks - even the one who does work in a bank isn't actually doing that as far as I can see!

[Deleted User]

eskbanker wrote: »

Very kind of you to prove my point by demonstrating exactly the sort of warped logic and misguided paranoia that I was referring to!

So, of the 16 posters other than you on this thread, "a large majority" presumably means, say, 12 who are allegedly "so supporting of the banks" (as opposed to simply laughing at the laughable)? Name them....

Or for that matter name all those on this thread who you believe are demonstrating inside knowledge of the inner workings of banks - even the one who does work in a bank isn't actually doing that as far as I can see!

For thread read 'Board' (Budgeting and Bank Accounts), my mistake. As for naming them; you're having a laugh aren't you? If I did so I can guarantee every one of them would deny it.