Bank staff being pushy.

[PassingStranger]

Had an appointment today to open something at the bank.

I knew exactly what I wanted. I had researched and everything. Didn't expect all that evolved.

Bank member of staff was pushy and kept suggesting something else. I said I wanted to stick to what I went in there to open.
I could sense she didn't understand or like the fact I didn't want to take her up on her suggestion.
Several times, she asked me why I didn't want to take her up on her suggestion.
Twice she said is there any reason you don't want to go for her suggestion.
Then at the end she tried to flog.me life insurance.
I had researched what I wanted before I went. I wasn't expecting all the questions disappointment I didn't go with her suggestion.
AIBU.

That’s fine, but if you’ve gone into the branch to open an account then unfortunately, the colleague has a format that they have to follow.
It’s a pain for both customer and colleague when someone has their heart set on a certain product, but unfortunately I doubt the colleague would have been able to stray from the designated structure of the appointment.

Which bank @PassingStranger - I had an awful experience recently at an HSBC which totally put me off wanting to continue having an account with them. She was SO pushy and SO convinced her preference was the best choice even though I was explaining why what I wanted would work better for me.

Agree. Good replies.

It’s not arrogance or sales targets it’s to avoid being accused of misselling later. Banks have got into loads of trouble for selling unsuitable products in the past. Selling a 10 year bond to a 95 year old for instance, or a low interest product when a higher interest is available. They want to avoid being fined millions by the FCA. It’s that simple.

Take endowment mortgages in the late 1990s. Banks had to pay out hundreds of millions of compensation as for some people the products weren’t suitable. One thing banks work hardest on is avoiding this sort of thing in the future.

I had this once, also HSBC.

This is definitely one of those things where it's better to do things online if you possibly can, and if you're comfortable doing things online.

It's a bit like with shops like Curry's that use ultra high-pressure sales techniques - usually delivered by desperate employees who look truly crestfallen if you steadfastly resist their attempts to get you to take out a warranty, buy buttock-clenchingly expensive 'essential' accessories or otherwise agree to high-profit, dubious-value extras.

It's so much nicer online, when a box or two pops up asking if you want the extras, you click on 'No thanks' and you can just go ahead and make your intended purchase without any drama and without being made to feel like you've just boiled somebody's pet guinea pig.