I need to vent

Blulu

I know this isn't comping related, but I need a space to 'rage' and I hope you lot will forgive me for doing it here.

Flipping HSBC!!!!! I just wanted to find out if my local branch was actually open today, as they have been closed a couple of times due to Covid, and I have a long walk to get there. Sounds simple huh? But no, it flaming well isn't!

There is no local phone number for any branch. You have to use their general, national number. Then you have to give them all your banking details, account number and so on. If you haven't got this, the auto service tells you to hang up, find the info and call back. So goodness knows what anyone with a general query who isn't an HSBC customer is supposed to do.

Then I got through to a poor wee lamb who I tried my best to be kind to, but I was so angry, that it was hard. When I explained, of course he told me that my branch was open. But what he was doing was giving me their standard opening hours, not whether they were actually open. It took ages to get him to understand. He then told me that he would be unable to give me that assurance as there was no way for him to contact my local branch either.

He said I could go online and do a live chat with someone who would help me. I asked him how that would help as they presumably wouldn't be able to contact my local branch either.

I then told him I wanted to raise a complaint about it, because I had wasted around 45 minutes and, if they're closed, I will be wasting over an hour walking to my bank and back.

During our 'chat' he disappeared a few times, probably to ask for help dealing with this angry and annoying customer. Eventually he offered me £10 in compensation to consider it 'resolved. I said I would accept this IF my complaint was passed on as feedback to the management. I don't suppose it will be, but at least I feel I have been paid for my time.

In the unlikely event that any of you are still reading this long and boring saga: my vent is over - and I am starting to calm down a bit.

Must dash, I have to go to the bank!

Blu XXX

pinkfairy27x2

 

I am on my break at work and needed a distraction.  I read to the end. 

 I think this is typical across all banks and services these days.

 Google seems useless, outdated and can only give general information such as normal opening hours that don’t reflect the reality.   I was looking for my nearest branch of Homebase and it directed me to the one that closed down two years ago.

Everything is set to one central number or an online chat which is normally as helpful as a chocolate teapot.

My bank closes randomly in the week as apparently there is  no call for an actual bank these days, yet on the days it is opened people are queued out the door.  

Oh well break is over, I hope you got it sorted, 45 mins is a long time to waste you could have done the daily mags 10 times over in that time.  

Bridger12

Blulu, I went through similar last year when my bank was opening those 10-2pm hours, you did really well getting the tenner. 

Blulu

Thanks Guys. LOL re the Mag Dailies comment. Thankfully, the bank was open

Blu XXX

libra10

Service definitely isn't what it used to be!

We used to have several banks and building societies in our village, now there are none.  We have to travel 10 miles if we need to go to the branch.  You need to be careful using ATM machines to ensure they haven't been rigged, also they're trying to get us to stop using cash.  How do I pay my mobile hairdresser or the local chippy, none of whom take cards?

I've been waiting all day for a new printer to arrive, and I have to give the driver a password when he delivers.  Unable to take the dog out until he gets here, which according to tracking could be 10pm!

And the curtains I ordered over a week ago have still not arrived.  No acknowledgement or replies to my emails from the website.  Just looked them up on Trustpilot and wish I hadn't!  The reviews are rubbish.  Going to have to contact Paypal to try and sort it out.

That's progress!

Blulu

Ooh, clearly there are a few of us 'ventees' out there. Feel free to add more, comping folk. It's kind've calming to feel 'it's not just me'.

Hate the 'have to use your mobile phone' thing. I mean, not everyone has a smartphone and even if they do, why should anyone have to use it for anything they don't want to?

Blu XXX

Ms_Chocaholic

Do you use FB. If so are you a member of local community FB group as that might be an easier way to find out in future. 

JamboDP

HSBC are closing more branches then any other bank, all they want you to do is online, how do you pay money in on line. I hate online banking, it is too risky.

Kymmie

Maybe it might be an idea to actually ask your local branch when you go in for the opening hours and a phone number for the branch. Instead of ranting at some poor lad on the end of a phone in a call centre. It’s a pandemic, everyone’s trying there best. Remember #BeKind every now and then. 

Blulu

Kymmie said:

Maybe it might be an idea to actually ask your local branch when you go in for the opening hours and a phone number for the branch. Instead of ranting at some poor lad on the end of a phone in a call centre. It’s a pandemic, everyone’s trying there best. Remember #BeKind every now and then. 

LOL - Might it be an idea to practice what you preach and #BeKind too? As I seem to need to justify myself to you, for some reason that I can't fathom, I will graciously explain that I didn't rant at anyone. I told the poor wee lamb that I wasn't angry with him, but with HSBC. I also told him that I appreciated his time and realised that he was trying his best to help me. As for asking at my branch, that would've meant walking to my branch in order to ask them if they were open to see if it was worth walking to my branch. I was venting here about HSBC having a system where neither I nor they can contact a specific branch to just check if they are open. It isn't my style to vent at anyone, as I hope comes across in my non-venting response to your vent at me.

Blu XXX

Edit: Just to add that it's prob not worth us getting at each other about this. Perhaps we should assume that we don't know each other well enough to judge one another?

Best wishes

Blu XXX

Blulu

Ms-Chocolate - thanks. Wish I'd thought of that. Will bear that in mind another time, and Jambo, you are spot on. I think it's all about saving money. Bet they pay their online staff peanuts, and yes, how does one pay cash in on-line?

I also got stung this weekend paying to cross the Dartford tunnel, there and back. You now have to pay online by midnight the next day - or else you get quite a hefty fine. We ended up paying twice (£3 x 2) for the outward crossing, because the first one didn't seem to go through. I don't get how they can accept payment twice when you pay by providing your car number plate. I had a brief look to see about getting a refund, but gave up quickly. Filling with diesel was fun too. Oh well, was worth it anyways.

Blu XXX