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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be sick of the bank staff doing this?

56 replies

Waltons · 28/03/2011 21:23

I work freelance, so my bank account goes up and down like a yoyo during the year. After a biggish project it can have quite a bit of money in it for several weeks until I get the time to spend it in a frenzy pay the bills or invest it sensibly.

About 3 years ago I got fed up with my bank trying to sell me stuff over the counter whenever I had more than the usual amount into the account, asking me loads of financial questions in full hearing of everyone else. We live in a small town and there is always someone I know or recognise in there. They promised to make a note on my account that I didn't want them to ever try to sell me anything over the counter again.

I recently had a big project pay up and the money went into my current account to wait for April 6th when I can stick it in an ISA for next year. Every time I set foot in the bank the staff harrass me about it. "If you can pay in £1,000 a month you could have an account that pays a better rate of interest which is still crap." (Er, no, some months I don't have anything to pay in, and I can't cut a cheque for £3k into 3 parts and pay it in monthly.) "Have you invested in an ISA this year?" (Er, yes, but do I want everyone standing behind me to know that?) "Ooh, Mrs Waltons, do you know what your balance is? It's a lot of money to keep in a current account ..." (Hey, why not shout a little louder into the microphone? Someone at the back may not have heard you.)

Every time I say to them "I don't wish to discuss my financial affairs over the counter, and please could you note that on my account". In reply I just get more of it: "We can make an appointment with one of our financial advisors about investing lump sums if you wish." (Well now everyone knows that, at least this month, Mrs Waltons is filthy rich and catflap.)

It is absolutely driving me mad, and I've got to go in there again tomorrow. AIBU to feel that it is a huge invasion of my privacy? (Any bank staff out there who know how I can shut them up, please?)

OP posts:

orienteerer · 28/03/2011 21:59

First Direct NEVER try and sell you anything by phone (or post for that matter).

mickeyjohn · 28/03/2011 22:04

I get paid mostly in cash and small cheques...I have to queue up and pay in at least once a week too as my local branch doesn't take cash in the automated pay-in things (only the bigger branches do that round here!) so there ARE people that still need to actually go into banks and see the counter staff!! Sadly we don't all get sophisitcated BACS payments into our accounts!!!!

messagetoyourudy · 28/03/2011 22:16

I also add my voice to the brilliance of First Direct. You can do everything on-line or by telephone - they are really friendly and helpful. You can pay your cheques in at HSBC.

I work for another bank - (a spanish one that's taking over the world) yet I still bank with First Direct.

I would imagine that even if you ask for them to put a note on your file - the system probably isn't sophisticated enough for them to do that. You will have a 'profile' that prompts them to talk to you about other products/services that they can offer you. I would have a word with the Branch Manager she/he has the power to tell counter staff (if you are well known) not to approach you about other products.

fairtradefloozy · 28/03/2011 22:24

YANBU. I hate this and have told them so too. You're not with a black horsey one are you?

A month ago... I have just been paid (somewhat modest salary) went in to do something.

"ooh, thats rather a lot of money to have you in your account have you thought about doing something with it?".

"Yes" I replied. "I am going to pay the Mortgage".

"Same as I do every blardy month".

I was in last week with a cheque for a couple of grand after liquidating a crappy ISA they sold me which was a bit rubbish to say the least and which is off on its way somewhere more sensible (Sri Lanka over easter, I know, I know!).

"Now what I am going to do for your Mrs Fairtrade is just pop this directly into an ISA account for you so you get a lot more interest, isn't that good?". I am like . I went BALLISTIC. I have officially complained.

swingingcat · 28/03/2011 22:27

Cooee another First Direct fan here!

I love my bank!

Original poster

Waltons · 28/03/2011 22:57

ROTFL laughing, fairtradefloozy ROTFL laughing. "Just look at my account for more than ten seconds please? You will then see that I am quite clearly not rich and I pay a lot of regular bills. Is that NEWS to you?"

I know FirstDirect are good overall, but I fell out with them over something very, very bad a few decades years ago, and I can't quite get over it. And I can't put cheques in the post - I need a paying in book. Stoopid Waltons or DH's accountant to blame.

OP posts:

Original poster

Waltons · 28/03/2011 22:59

fairtradefloozy - forgot to say, yes, it is the black horsey one.

OP posts:

nijinsky · 28/03/2011 23:54

Much the same here. Except they do it by phone. "Do you realise that you have £xxx in your account?" Well yes, its there because I have to pay for something costing £xxx or have just paid in £xxx. "Do you need financial advice, we can get one of our financial advisers to give you a call?". If I've got £xxx in my account of a level to trigger them phoning me up specially, does it like I need financial advice? More like I should be giving them financial advice!

nijinsky · 28/03/2011 23:55

sound like

stressheaderic · 29/03/2011 00:04

I absolutely hate being flogged their shit products over the counter when I just want to pay a cheque in. Our bank has had a makeover and is all open counters and stripped pine panels (it looks cheap) so the upshot is every bugger can hear your business. Criminal it is.
And no I don't want to pay £12.95 a month when I can bank for free, you've got more than enough money, thanks.

startail · 29/03/2011 00:59

If You, or any one else are with the black horse please be as shirty as possible with them Please!!!
To late for long boring story suffice to say that had it been a private account and not a society one it would have been closed

Original poster

Waltons · 29/03/2011 11:00

Temporary fix: Went to the blue bank to pay in instead. Can't use my paying in book with them, so wrote down on a piece of paper what the cheques were (so silly Waltons doesn't forget) and then came straight home and stuck the paying-in slip stub on the piece of paper. Have filed piece of paper safely to keep DH's accountant happy.

If I can keep it up I only need to visit the horsey a couple of times a year. Hope they miss me.

OP posts:

agedknees · 29/03/2011 11:30

First direct just send e-mails to your on-line account telling you about services/offers etc. I just delete them before I read them.

Another very satisfied First Direct customer here.

Love putting cheques in the cash machine and getting my little copy of the cheque as a receipt (sad emotion).

abenstille · 29/03/2011 12:32

I would hand over your paying in book with chqs inside and a laminated chq sized note on top with your mesage attached
NO selling or discussions re balance, thankyou

Margles · 29/03/2011 13:17

The blackhorsey one wanted me to take out a bond with them at a 'competitive rate of interest'. I felt very smug when I told them xxx did better than that and I promptly went off and invested there.

But I do sympathise with the counter staff - I worked briefly in a bank once, and many of the staff are just as unhappy being expected to be salespeople instead of offering a banking service.

femalevictormeldrew · 29/03/2011 16:43

I worked in a bank and while our bonuses were performance related (i.e. if you don't get people to invest in these accounts, in bonds etc you don't get a bonus) the reasons we HAD to try and "sell" (as it was so nicely put) was because we had targets. When your apprasial came around you were asked why you didn't reach these targets. Hauled over the coals and if you were interested in a banking career (which I was not) this would have a big effect on it.

I absolutely loved the people coming in to do their daily business, but no way was I going to sell things to people that they didn't need, which is why I was never cut out for bank work! Elderly people who had money in an account - we were told to sell them ten year bonds. A lot of these people would never even see the end of the ten years. I bloody hated that part of it, and the pressure from the top to reach these targets is horrendous. I agree that it is annoying but I do have some sympathy with the bank workers who are really just trying to keep some fat cat shits off their back.

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 16:53

Yes, I've had this occasionally.

"This is a lot of money to be in a current account".

"There won't be next week when all the bills have come out".

MrsTumbles · 29/03/2011 17:05

First Direct is brilliant, but they don't have 'branches' as such which is why DH can't use them (his accountant likes his book being stamped too!)

I think I could have written femalevictormeldrew post word for word! I loved working for a bank, but the pressure to sell to every single customer ended up seeing me off with stress. As annoying as it is, trust me the cashiers hate selling more than you hate being sold to! The only advice I can give is writing in big black letters on the front of your paying in book NO SALES most cashiers will get the message from this :)

CheeseEnforcementAgency · 29/03/2011 17:15

Nationwide are good. Although if I go in with dd3(5m) they try & sell me life cover.

I feel this shows initiative though!

EssexGurl · 29/03/2011 18:20

I hate this as well. I had to pay in a cheque today and even though there was no queue, just did the deposit point thing, which I worry about in case the money doesn't get in my account.

Now, if I have to go into the bank I make sure that it is about 2.55pm so that when they ask me this, I say I am late for the school run and just leg it.

larakitten · 29/03/2011 18:22

Another ex-bank voice here. The pressure to sell is unreal, I was career minded and progressed up the ladder until it just got too much and I was really ill with stress. Ended up working part-time, then left after having my daughter.
I can assure you, the counter staff have ridiculous targets and are often observed to ensure they are asking every single customer about their finances. We too were an open plan branch, and you could see how uncomfortable it makes the customer. We were also appraised on using scripted phrases, sentences that we HAD to say to the customer. No compliance = no bonus/pay rises.
You have the right to ask for no marketing at the counter: at the bank I worked at it would flash up in big red words to the cashier was aware not to ask you anything at all. I did this as an employee so that none of my colleagues would see my finances if I transacted at my branch, but left it in place when I left as it makes me uncomfortable.
I would ask to see the manager next time you are in, and put your request in writing. It should be duly noted on your file and if it's breached, complain, complain, complain!!

Pixel · 29/03/2011 19:56

I never get any problems at Nationwide. Perhaps it's because I never have any money.

mintsauceandgravy · 29/03/2011 20:32

Can I just say that as someone who works in a building society....
I had a customer that was a regular for years and I asked him if we could review his life cover so many times as I knew he had none, always to be met with the same nasty remarks about how I was invading his privacy and to keep my nose out of his business..... well he dropped down dead from a heart attack and his wife come in begging us to help her with the cost of the mortgage as she had no way to pay it fully and 2 kids to feed.
I was distraught and it was the worst afternoon of my entire working life.

Yes I have targets, and yes I have to ask you questions, but quite frankly if I dont ask and I dont hit target every month then Im out on my ear and I got mouths to feed and a mortgage to pay.

I hate asking as much as you hate answering.

mintsauceandgravy · 29/03/2011 20:33

*dead (soz)

3littlefrogs · 29/03/2011 20:36

First direct. I have been with them since they started. I never go into the bank. EVER.

I can do absolutely everything on line or over the phone. I can talk to a very nice real person at 2 o'clock in the morning and pay all my bills if I want to.

Why does anybody bank with anyone else? seriously???

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