Claiming charges back

[Guest Lueeze]

They are very greedy with OUR money!

 

It cant do the economy good, if all these profits they make from us go to the 1% at the top instead of filtering through to us....

[Tinkerbelle]

The banks are used to the money and wont want to lose it so they will regain it anyway they can

 

Sewer Rats that they are

[Mystery M]

That is business!

[Guest Lueeze]

Yeah its true, but once apon a time, the banks were kind, considerate to our individual needs, now they are monopolies and call centers in India that you can never get appropriate answers from!

 

I have had some appaling service from them and maybe if they had treated us with respect not taken us for granted, we would never have fought back!

 

Lou x

[Don Quioxte]

I think the key thing is Shareholders....

 

The banks are used to the money and wont want to lose it so they will regain it anyway they can

 

all true, and fair observations.

 

so their shares might drop off somewhat in the short term (allianc and Leicester's dropped by about 6% immediately following the OFT announcement as they rely quite heavily on charges as a profit stream).

 

but still, so what.. the banks will,you are right, regain the money by more legitimate means such as slightly, slightly higher interest charges perhaps - but this is a cost that can be absorbed across the consumer and quite easily- it's like an airline adding a 50cent fuel surcharge to a ticket to cover inflated oil costs... no one notices.

 

And, god forbid, the banks might actually have to work to make some money.. they might actaully have to think about making what money and revenue streams they have, work harder for them..

 

Good.

 

That's business.

 

That promotes growth, stimulates competition, and ultimately benefits the market place, and the consumer.

[Mystery M]

I think it would be unfair to imply that they can't make money legitamately. It is also easy to forget that the people at the end of the phone or in the branch are just like everybody else with families and bills. The bank i worked for wasn't concerned with the charges that were refunded so much. They wanted every customer to have the best service that they could provide. Don't forget no customers no money!

[Guest Lueeze]

Some banks are "generally" good, the problem here is that alot of us have suffered at the banks hands, and this makes us annoyed with them.

 

Theres just NO excuse for call centres in India though! When i talk to a UK person I usually get good customer service, but the call centres in India are AWFUL for my bank...

 

I hope in time you will understand our views a bit better, we are not vindictive, we just want whats ours....lol!

[Mystery M]

Indian Call Centres a dead cheap. Also they are still fairly new they will get better with time. But I do know what you mean I had to speak to them nearly every single working day!

[Don Quioxte]

I heard rumours that the poor guys and girl in these call centre in Mumbai, Bangalore wherever.. all get given english sounding names (so we relate to them?!?), extensive voice coaching, lessons in culture, even to the extent where they are given iformation about cities, football teams and results... and the weather every day? This cannot be for real?

[Tinkerbelle]

Aren't they made to watch Eastenders as well I heard/read somewhere

[Mystery M]

No never heard them being told to learn about Easterenders and all that stuff but yeah their names were changed just cos its easier to say their names and stuff

[Guest Lueeze]

Its for real I saw a TV program on it a couple of years ago...

 

If they are being difficult I always try to catch them out on those things, UK companies should deal in the UK for chrissakes!

 

Sorry rant over

[Don Quioxte]

No make them watch Eastenders.. it's so god-awful.. i want them to suffer..

[Tinkerbelle]

I must say that my Parachute account is with A&L, and so far I have found them efficient and brilliant. I had reason to call them only once (needed to change a date on a standing order), and the lady I spoke to was in the North of England and she could not have sounded lovlier and been more helpful

 

Mind you that was during he day. Don't know if they use Indian call centres or not in the evening though. I'm sure I'll find out one day.

[Movingon]

Don't forget that a lot of Indians are still Christians - a legacy of The British Empire. Christian Indians have English sounding names ANYWAY. I worked with a guy whose name might as well have been "John Smith"... but he was Indian through and through.

[mcuth]

I heard rumours that the poor guys and girl in these call centre in Mumbai, Bangalore wherever.. all get given english sounding names (so we relate to them?!?), extensive voice coaching, lessons in culture, even to the extent where they are given iformation about cities, football teams and results... and the weather every day? This cannot be for real?

 

It's for real (at least the English names are, not 100% sure about the rest, but I've heard the same) - the company I work for gives our Indian call centre guys English names, and their real names are anything but

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[dave]

If the banks start charging monthly fees etc... then surely the law regarding who has the choice over wage/benefit payments has to change back to what it was prior to 1985?

 

If I don't have a choice in how my wages are paid to me, and they get paid into a bank, then I am being forced into 'buying' a 'service' that I perhaps don't want...and I don't.

 

Surely this is a monopolistic abuse of the system? If Tesco MADE you buy something or they wouldn't let you out of the shop then surely there is some law forbidding this.

 

In Europe the individual has the right to choose how they are paid money that they have earned, so in the countries that DO make charges similar to this, it's fine - if you don't want to pay the fees, then don't use the bank - fair enough. Here, we don't have that choice and I, for one, don't bloody want to use a bank - the fastest way of depleting your wealth is to use 'free banking'.

 

Yet, I am effectively forced into having this 'service'.

 

The service from banks is usually appauling, the condescending tone you get from them when THEY c*ck up is one that I could do without; yet, sadly they have got my money before I have - meaning that they are in a privaliged position. A position that they abuse on a regular basis.

 

Why, if anyone had a choice, would anyone use such a service? They wouldn't - or if they recieved goods of the same quality as the 'service' provided by banks, they would take the goods back to the shop (same as the roads for that matter, but that's a different story).

 

Especially a service from a collection (cartel?) of business that have been caught out acting outside of the law - if a builder in my town was caught acting illegally, if would finish him - hardly anyone would use his services anymore. Why, then am I effectively forced into having a service from an organisation that is less than honest (IMO) and participates in dubious business practices?

 

The law should be changed to allow people to have the choice of how they are paid.

 

..and for me - I'll take the shoebox under the bed and take my chances with the honest theives.

[Spiceskull]

yet, sadly they have got my money before I have - meaning that they are in a privaliged position

Now THAT is a very interesting observation...we get paid, but we do NOT have control over our own money...

 

See the steps I took to get my bank charges back.

Spiceskull v HSBC.

Thank you Consumer Action Group.

Read my blog.

 

[dave]

..and, in my opinion, one that should be addressed urgently.

 

I think I may draft a letter to my MP (and maybe suggest that others do the same), in light of the revelation that banks are going to start making charges for their 'services'.

 

Although, I'm not sure what to ask him to do about it?

 

What do you think? What about a petition to get the law changed back?

[Guest Lueeze]

A petition would be good! You could deliver it to No. 10!!!

 

Can you do an online one?

[Spiceskull]

Although, I'm not sure what to ask him to do about it?

What do you think? What about a petition to get the law changed back?

I suppose a good starting point would be freedom of choice - although how a government keen on removing this right will deal with that (see ID cards) is anyone's guess.

 

I think the simplest approach would be to change the employment discrimination law, whereby you would not be able to turn down a recruit for NOT having a bank account. This leaves everyone free to make their own choices, although businesses would still need to manage payroll in a slightly amended way...

 

See the steps I took to get my bank charges back.

Spiceskull v HSBC.

Thank you Consumer Action Group.

Read my blog.

 

[Guest Lueeze]

I dont know anyone who asks, "do you have a bank account" at the interview, so what would companies do if they employed someone, and found out afterwards?

[dave]

Probably just sack you - if you've been there less than a year, there's not a lot you could do about it.

[Guest Lueeze]

Surely they should have checked? Or am i being a numpty thinking that someone would have any rights? Lol!

[MrAngry]

I would expect that the banks will offer a basic bank account- no DD, No SO, just a cash withdrawal card for an ATM. No charge for such a service.

 

Anything more than that they will charge for.