It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YoungBlueEyes

My sister was once caught out with one of those card scanner things that had been attached to the cash point.  The bank were good about it and refunded her, but I'm never happy using one. So when I go into the bank now and they tell me I can do xyz at the machine outside I always say "righto, and can you guarantee that there's no scammer scanner thing on it? No. And that's why I've queued up". Interestingly not one of them have ever said "yes they're checked daily I can assure you it's safe".

We have a Bank Hub now. It was LLoyds when we moved here, closed a couple of weeks later and reopened as a Hub. So the desk is Post Office and there's an office at the side that has a different bank person each day. TSB Monday, Santander Tuesday etc. It's only open mon-fri 10-3, so I expect it'll close soon for lack of footfall.... 

I'm dead against being told to do my banking at the post office. The banks are making squillions on our money and not paying any interest rate to us (ok they are now but haven't for years), all the while jacking the actual work of it onto the post office. Double bubble. That's not right I don't think, and I'll look for an actual bank when I need one.

sarahj1986

My local HSBC no longer has the counters where you can speak to a human and get cash out or pay it in, or the coins etc. they still have staff there they’ve just removed the counters where you could do a lot of banking with. They also shortened the opening times too. I’m “only” 36 so 90% of my banking is done on the app but occasionally I’ll need the counter for something and it’s frustrating because the closest is Leamington 10 miles away so I’d have to incorporate that with visiting family. 

YorksLass

CKhalvashi said:

Yorkslass, that's fine until you're in a town that technically has a branch but is only open on a Tuesday and Thursday morning.

I had a cheque that needed to be paid into somewhere a few weeks ago and was told they 'can't do it to protect the branch'. That's presumably the same branch that wasn't open.

Footfall may be down in many branches, but I'd also wager a bet (matched of course) that what they're dealing with is the higher value stuff (companies, mortgages etc) in general, which in theory should be enough to subsidise the service for others.

Yes, it's yet another problem when branches have reduced opening hours.  I'd also agree that banks value business banking more than personal banking - after all, there's more profit in it.  And no, the PO isn't always the preferred choice of many but it's getting to the point where it's the only option for some.  Backdoor way to a cashless society springs to mind.  

Grocery delivery arrived a little earlier than expected (only 10 mins or so) and all P&C, including a bigger than expected leg of lamb.  It'll not go to waste though.     I don't think the delivery driver likes his job very much - at least that's what his face said!

Lovely start to the day weather wise but back to dull and drizzle by early afternoon.  Looking good for the BH weekend and then rainy days again until mid-month - ah well, they do say April Showers.

Jacket potato and chicken Kung Po for tea today.  Not sure about afters, it may just be some grapes that need using up.

marycanary

I admit to being part of the problem as I haven't been inside a bank in years. I wouldn't be impacted if every bank in England closed its doors.

Auntycaz

Double check your receipts when buying anything with a reduced sticker on the shelf rather than the product. I bought some sweets today which had a red reduced label on the shelf but when I was on the bus coming home I saw I had been charged the full price of £2.50 instead of the red sticker price of £1.40.  If it had been 5 or 10p I would have probably put it down to experience but £1.10 is a lot to lose.
Customer services were good when I rang them up and said to bring my receipt next time I am instore and they will refund me the difference, but I wonder how many people this happens to who don't notice it, especially if they have a large shop or because they have the children with them because of the holidays.
It is not the first time I have been overcharged in this way but I usually notice it before I leave the store, but i was hurrying so I didn't miss my bus.

Brambling

Having been caught myself I try to remember to always check either the receipt or watch as it goes through the till, it is usually because they have not added YS barcode over the back of the original one.  This is why unless it is a very small shop I ignore the option to go paperless and not have a receipt

Auntycaz

@Brambling It wasn't a yellow stickered item the sweets are ok until march24 they were hung on a strip with a red label at the top saying £1.40 but there were lots of them so I bet I'm not the only one who was overcharged. Embarrassingly I went through the self service and didn't notice, but I was in a hurry. Fortunately I always click to get a receipt.

Slinky

I got caught last week in Tesco with Colmans Tartare sauce - £1.50, £1 with clubcard Bought 5 jars and got charged full price. I've got the receipt and will take them back. Forgot to do it today, but I'm not being stuck with 5 full price jars!

CKhalvashi

Auntycaz said:

Double check your receipts when buying anything with a reduced sticker on the shelf rather than the product. I bought some sweets today which had a red reduced label on the shelf but when I was on the bus coming home I saw I had been charged the full price of £2.50 instead of the red sticker price of £1.40.  If it had been 5 or 10p I would have probably put it down to experience but £1.10 is a lot to lose.
Customer services were good when I rang them up and said to bring my receipt next time I am instore and they will refund me the difference, but I wonder how many people this happens to who don't notice it, especially if they have a large shop or because they have the children with them because of the holidays.
It is not the first time I have been overcharged in this way but I usually notice it before I leave the store, but i was hurrying so I didn't miss my bus.

Had this tonight. The shop assistant noticed it and rectified it.

The problem comes when the barcode isn't properly covered, we both agreed that they should really be covering them fully, not leaving part exposed as it causes problems with the scanners.

I had that a few month ago too, the shop worker actually asked if I'd bought 2 of the same item despite having served me a few seconds before. She was more than welcome to look in my bag (I'd been literally out of the store 2 seconds before feeling something wasn't right with how much I'd just paid).

Didn't get to look in the Post Office tonight (operated by a large store chain) on the way home (not where I live, I stop generally in a small town on the way home) as I don't trust the man working in there tonight. He was adamant I gave him a £10 note one evening when I didn't actually have one on me, definitely it was £20. I don't have cash on me often so generally know what I do have.

Edit: Should probably clarify that I sorted it out with the manager the following day.

Longwalker

Slinky said:

I got caught last week in Tesco with Colmans Tartare sauce - £1.50, £1 with clubcard Bought 5 jars and got charged full price. I've got the receipt and will take them back. Forgot to do it today, but I'm not being stuck with 5 full price jars!

Dont forget to make sure they follow the double the difference - so £5 refund