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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Now it's a "requirement" that I attend my bank for an "annual review" ? (during working hours)

62 replies

AnyFucker · 09/06/2014 10:01

I don't want to, I don't need to. There is no problem with my account. I get an unsolicited call on my mobile asking can I attend next week. No, I cannot, I say and I will not. So, Mrs AF, you do not want any assistance ?. No thankyou, I shall decline and if you make it a "requirement" I shall be changing my provider. Thank you.

AIBU ?

OP posts:

Gingermum · 09/06/2014 11:41

Interesting AF, as Lloyds was recently fined £28 million for pushing advisors to sell 'unsuitable insurances' and threatening 50% sales cuts if the staff missed their targets.

Lloyds fined

I've known a couple of people who used to work in the banking industry, low level who have said they left because they were fed up with being pressurised to do the hard sell on customers all the time.

Gingermum · 09/06/2014 11:45

Sorry I meant the Lloyds staff had their PAY CUT by up to 50% if they missed sales targets. Really shocking.

CheeryName · 09/06/2014 11:45

I got so sick of being pestered for this I took my then-toddlers in with me for a review with a bagful of noisy toys, pens and Maltesers and let them run riot. The bank couldn't save me any money on what I was currently doing and I was never invited back!

Original poster

AnyFucker · 09/06/2014 11:46

That makes sense, ginger. Interesting choice of words he used too. "Requirement" makes it sound compulsory. Telling me an appointment slot has been booked and can I make it. When I declined he said "well if you don't want our help..." then letting it trail off implies something bad might happen.

Nasty

OP posts:

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/06/2014 11:49

Oh I can tell a few stories about working for Lloyds!

I had a collegue who had breast cancer and we were told in a meeting to use her story to highlight the need for critical illness cover.

I put up with constant demands to follow dubious sales practices. I was a walking compliance rule book and would not compromise my integrity.

We were once told by a line manager that if a customer hasn't ticked the payment protection box on a credit card application form they have obviously forgotten and that we should do it for them!

I refused and advised my younger and more naive colleagues to do the same. Sadly they didn't take my advice and two of them were sacked for gross misconduct for doing it. The manager who had told us to do it was shipped out to a branch in the suburbs with a promotion.

I was able to stick to my morals and integrity because I had a very highly paid husband and didn't really need my job that badly so I wasn't scared of the threats of disciplinary action or of being "managed out" if I didn't hit my sales targets.

Terrible company to work for and yet I managed 20 years!

sausagefortea · 09/06/2014 11:50

I had exactly the same with lloyds. They made it sound like it was a requirement but when I got there it was just for them to have the opportunity to sell me their accounts and insurance. It felt a very underhand way of doing business and I was pretty cross. One of the impetuses for me to change my bank.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 09/06/2014 11:51

I get this quite often with Lloyds. I am unfortunately normally overdrawn (sometimes over my limit but not often) and have a credit card with them too. When I did agree to speak to them after much assurances that they basically said they couldn't do anything. I now get monthly calls to discuss my account where they tell me there's nothing they can do to help but they're thinking of me. Ummm, thanks that's really helpful Mr. Bank Manager.

Once my overdraft is paid off I'll be changing banks.

eurochick · 09/06/2014 11:52

Just decline. I'm with Lloyds and get these calls too. They just want to sell you stuff. I like to keep my finances simple (current account, ISAs, cash savings). I don't want a load of fancy complex products.

SunnyL · 09/06/2014 11:54

Natwest phoned me and tried to tell me it was a requirement. When I challenged them on the phrase they admitted it wasn't a requirement but was a recommendation. I once took them up on the offer and they tried to sell me a bunch of insurances that were more expensive than the ones I already had. Waste of time IMO.

ToFollowJulie · 09/06/2014 11:55

I heard Martyn Lewis talking on the radio the other day about things he wished he'd known when he was 18. He said when you see the title "Adviser" in a bank you should always think "Salesperson" - they're not there for your benefit!

Original poster

AnyFucker · 09/06/2014 11:56

us savvy people here know the score, but there are vulnerable people out there

bloody shysters

OP posts:

ClaudetteWyms · 09/06/2014 11:56

I left Lloyds a few years ago after I (politely) asked them to stop sending me promotional stuff for loans/ccs etc. and to stop with the sales calls.

The sales calls did not stop, so I left. They then offered me £50 to stay with them!

I recommend First Direct - I never hear from them, and when you do need them they are very very helpful.

IAmTheGodOfTitsAndWine · 09/06/2014 12:01

Someone should tweet/e-mail them this thread.

I bank with Santander, who can be cunts, but have never pulled the review crap on me.

HenI5 · 09/06/2014 12:01

It's the intense pressure that the powers that be put the customer facing staff under.

We have a business account and the account runs just fine online but from time to time we get a 'Business Manager' call up and want to 'assist' us with our business. I just turn the tables on them and ask them what they know and understand about our business and that instead of asking us how they can help us, we'll meet when they have some creative ideas of how they think they can help us. It never happens.

SadOldGit · 09/06/2014 12:05

I had this with Lloyds - at one point they also sent snotty letters which panicked me to think there was a problem. I was in branch one day paying a bill, was asked to attend review, and as I had some spare time said yes if you do it now. So a chap went through account, tried to sign me up for internet banking - declined, tried to sell me credit card - declined as I have 2, one being a Tesco one that gives me reward points so happy to stick with it. He started saying my account was very old - it is, but it is free, has debit card and cheque book - all I ever need. Finally he tried to flog me an account that I needed to pay for but had rewards such as breakdown cover etc - declined - with RAC already and don't want to pay for. He gave up. I still have my account - and ignore all requests for a review

Original poster

AnyFucker · 09/06/2014 12:05

I feel sorry for the staff if this is the pressure they are under.

OP posts:

Gen35 · 09/06/2014 12:07

I've had this exactly with lloyds too, and went in, they just wanted to flog me a personal loan when we had outstanding cc balance due to dh's employers taking ages to pay expenses. Even said to them on the phone 'this isn't just to try and sell us a personal loan?' And they said no! Moving accounts soon after 16 yrs.

Gen35 · 09/06/2014 12:08

Yeah, the pressure to sell in these jobs must be dreadful - it's one way the world has definitely gotten worse in the last 10 yrs.

SamG76 · 09/06/2014 12:09

Agree with Claudette Wyms - FD are excellent - never had a problem in almost 20 years. No hard sell, no videos, no branches - no accidental mistakes that happen to benefit them...

Cernabbas · 09/06/2014 12:12

I knew you must have been referring to Lloyds. My husband is with them and gets this every year. When he did used to go to them (before he met me) it was just an excuse for them to try and sell him loans, credit cards etc. It really annoyed me as he had run up huge amounts in credit cards previously and had taken out a loan to pay them off (and the bank knew this). He had got himself back on his feet again and they were just trying to tempt him!
I am with Smile. They are brilliant and I don't get any of this "annual review" bollocks.

ivykaty44 · 09/06/2014 12:16

It is plain and simple marketing yanbu

Anniegetyourgun · 09/06/2014 12:22

Another vote for First Direct. I've been with them for, ooh, a couple of decades now. Never a cross word. Just got off the phone a few minutes ago to a lovely lady who clearly wasn't that pressured taking calls at the time, as we had a splendid chat! (Presumably they get lights on their consoles or something that tell them when a call is queued.) A bank that has people like that working for them is doing something right at least.

LightastheBreeze · 09/06/2014 12:26

I also knew it would be Lloyds. They send me letters saying they need to speak to me about my account and also ring me.

Last time I got one of those letters, I rang them pretending to be in a dreadful state saying what is wrong, has someone stolen all my money as this letter sounds so serious . They said oh no, nothing to worry about, we just want to sell you something do a review. i said i didn't need one thank you very much and not to send me scary bank letters when there was nothing wrong.

i must be due another one soon.

AgaPanthers · 09/06/2014 12:26

Lloyds do this to me, I told them many times to fuck off.

Eventually I did go in for a review and I knew more about finance than they did and they basically conceded that they were wasting both of our time.

Are you carrying a large balance in your account?

Original poster

AnyFucker · 09/06/2014 12:30

nope

OP posts:

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