Top Saving Gripes

KeithEssex_2

reformedEffortMaker wrote: »

when your waiting in branch, in a busy loooooong queue, and the cashiers are making things worse by trying to sell car, travel, home, pet insurance to every customer

Best one is when someone stands next to the queue offering to help you but can't because of the type of transaction.

Why can't they just sit behind a counter and offer the full range of services ?

Our HSBC only has one counter position and a desk now !!

LucyTheDwarf

Try to apply for an account online, get the message "Please visit our helpful staff in branch..." Go to branch. Queue for 15 minutes as they are understaffed. "Helpful staff" then point at a phone in the corner, and tell me to apply by phone. Why not give me a phone number in the first place? Why did I have to make that trip to the branch, only to have to open the account by phone anyway?


New account, with a headline grabbing rate, advertised. I apply. Days later, the rate falls by 0.5%!!! Yes HSBC, I mean you!!! Every time there's a good rate, it seems to fall the minute I apply.


Also hate the way banks describe their products. "If you need flexibility with a great rate, take a look at our Flexible Saver for easy access with an interest rate of up to 2.80% AER, 2.76% gross variable." Does anyone else call that a "great rate"?


I could go on forever.

whu

simply the fact that different people in the same institution giving you different answers to the same question ( and then you having to tell them the correct position because you have done your own digging around/used websites like this)- KNOW YOUR PRODUCT!!!

LucyTheDwarf

whu wrote: »

simply the fact that different people in the same institution giving you different answers to the same question ( and then you having to tell them the correct position because you have done your own digging around/used websites like this)- KNOW YOUR PRODUCT!!!

I hate that. When you go into a branch and you have to tell the staff exactly what their offer is. :mad: Perhaps it saves them money in that customers train their staff!

KeithEssex_2

LucyTheDwarf wrote: »

I hate that. When you go into a branch and you have to tell the staff exactly what their offer is. :mad: Perhaps it saves them money in that customers train their staff!

I think that they all have a high turnover of staff these days and many experienced members of staff (who were presumably more expensive) have decided to retire. The customer service in Halifax and HSBC is not as good as they were.

I don't really use counter services for too many other places but I hear terrible things about Abbey !!

On a positive note - my local Yorkshire BS branch here in Essex has very helpful staff which seems to be a welcome exception.

LucyTheDwarf

I try not to use counter service too often. I prefer the convenience of online banking, because I am lazy. However, the Kent Reliance has excellent customer service, in all the branches I have used. Friendly staff, and plenty of them. Perhaps it's a building society thing.

reformedEffortMaker_2

-when you enter all your details on your phone keypad and then have to go through security again when you get through to an advisor

-when they request authorisation on your card on Christmas Eve for 'unusally high activity on your account'!!