to be REALLY narked off at my bank?

[milknosugarplease]

just need a moan!

i opened a student account 3 years ago and have had nothing but problems with them over the last 14 months!

they have no idea what the flippin hell their talking about half the time...(they sent me a letter saying i'm apparently not eligible for a credit card as i have no credit history...ummm i didnt apply for one but thanks!) get completly, and i mean COMPLETLY different advice from each branch!,

they wont let me have on the phone banking (what the hell is the difference between that and asking qs to the bank?) because i dont have a card reader...ok can i order one?... no, you dont have on the phone banking?!?!?!?!?!?!

to top it all off i ordered a new card and they sent me one...then sent me a second...by sending a new one it cancels the first one...they did this 6 times!..one time the woman on the ohone said "ok we have pordered you a new card...let me just cancel that for you!?)

i get treated like an idiot ALL the time...just because im 21 doesnt mean i dont know what im talking about!!!!

theyve just tried to sign me up to a new account when i went into complain!!

i know i should change banks and BELIEVE me im trying but i dont have a drivers license or valid passport so few probs....

.sorry theyve just pissed me off today and someone o the other end of the phone just said "well if you hadnt have ordered the new card the first time there wouldnt be problems" god i flippin hate them!!...dont even know where to post this! just wondering wether any1 else has had nat-friggin-west issues!!!!!!????????????

There is a branch of Co-Op in walthamstow if that helps?

Mrs Muddle - I found it cos it is round the corner from Oddbins

I'm with Smile and have had no problems. I switched from First Direct when they introduced their blackmail charge if you only had a current account and didn't pay in at least £1000 every month.

Situation at Lloyds, certainly worth knowing. As for NatWest, well I've tied a knot in it to never touch them however much I may be tempted!

You might try this link to go straight into the Co-Op Branch locator

There are only 10 branches in the London area (not all have 020 phone numbers - the 10 include Croydon, Watford and Romford).

Wood Green seemed to be the most northern that I could find which is probably near the underground... Here are some others:

020 8365 8192 195 Wood Green, Wood Green, N22 6DP

020 8503 6400 151/155 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 3AN.

020 7404 1386 62/64 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4ND.

020 7837 8408 1 Islington High Street, Islington, N1 9TR.

thank you webdude

i work along islington high street and spend loadsa time in wood green...yet ive never seen either!!

really to need to take note of my surroundings

will pop in tomorrow

thank you!

xx

You're welcome. Just glad that you've a choice of two branches, as I was expecting them to be 'off the beaten track' or a tube ride away at the minimum!

Either I cribbed the info off the Co-Op site badly, or they have the address wrong - some other site shows (which makes sense, I could see no 'Wood Green' road when I wanted to see if Google 'Street View' would confirm the bank frontage)

195 High Road
Wood Green
London
N22 6DP

Anyway, I had thought the colour was different but on Street View I found this branch so you know what to look out for! (Same colours as for Southampton Row, but that was obscured by a big van!)

I looked for Islington High Street but seems like Street View van missed that one, and in Wood Green, the images went about as far as number 180 but not number 195...

thank you so much webdude!!!

milk x

POXY TWATS!!

couldnt get to co-op oir lloyds today as i had to go to work last minute...anywho

popped into sainsburys this evening to get a few bits, popped me card into the chip and pin...entered my pin.......WRONG PIN...theyve bloody changed my pin number and havent sent me a new 1!!!

cant get to the bank till tuesday as my branch isnt open on saturday then its bank holiday

to say i am mad is an understatement!!!!!!!!!

to top it off neither co-op or my local lloyds is shut today...would it be wrong to write general natwest hate mail?!?!?!?!?!

milk (which is now curdled cos im so peeved!)

xx

Can fully understand both frustration and embarrassment caused when card rejected.

If you're out in Wood Green, you may find Co-Op open and start the process of getting a new account. Incidentally, from 30 years of being ripped off using banks, I'd be tempted to set up a standing order from the NatWest to put 95% of the cash into the new account, and be able to have a few quid in the NatWest so you can keep that NW cashcard for emergencies.

Whenever I went on holiday abroad (hmmmm, distant memory, as I've not been away for 10 years) I took a couple of cash cards and two credit cards (one MasterCard, the other Visa). Normally hid one credit, one debit, in the bathroom somewhere that would not get cleaned (took some sellotape with me!) So if I was out and mugged, would not be completely without ways to pay for things, draw cash.

Rarely have I closed accounts (going bankrupt was different) and when National and Provincial were taken over, gave me a 750 quid lump sum... But keeping an account with a few quid in is rarely a nuisance (except to bank) and might keep you in touch with special deals on currency, savings accounts, etc, and provide that emergency second card.

I know you currently hate NatWest but if you can sort out standing order then it gives you breathing space to transfer any DDs in your own time. Have funds in both accounts so and switch a DD from NW to Co-Op, for example, then another month switch another. I simply don't trust banks to do those transfers for me, and once all are moved, you do have the option of giving the old account the elbow, or just being a pain by keeping an account with 25 quid in, for an emergency purchase for someone's birthday, or whatever, when funds in main account are a bit low.

Or, if you haven't got over yesterday yet, try to ignore banks and banking, curl up with a glass of wine tonight, and enjoy the Bank Holiday - I know I will... it's even been sunny here this morning, after rain yesterday, so may be warm enough for me to sit out enjoying the sun, and view, here in N Wales.

I'm still dumb about posting messages here... meant to say :-

being ripped off using banks

I'm with NW and they have been great; Dh on the other hand has had a nightmare with them, and when he gave up (about 4 years ago now) and closed the account they wanted to close my account (totally separate) as well- bastards. Fortunatel;y they let me remain (we are registered at different branches which is the key i think- you reamin registered at the one you start with reagrdless of where you end uo)

DH is with nationwide now, bloody fantastic.

I did try and open one with HSBC when I started Uni as its the only bank in the village but they said no as I didn't qualify for a credit card- I don't WANT a bloody credit acrd or any other form of credit!.

Message withdrawn

Yes, Barclays has been pretty good over the years (I opened an account in the 70s when first becoming a student, and was with them until 2007).

Have had some financial difficulties but they were useful in that I could withdraw cash on same day as presenting a cheque, though had to point that out to young clerk who had gleefully written 'CANCELLED' across my withdrawal slip and put a big red ring around the balance of -2.50 (or whatever it was).

I asked him when Barclays had stopped their 'cash against a deposited cheque' policy, and then he after asking some colleague he was extremely apologetic.

It was a useful service, especially as bank transfers seem to take from 20 minutes (from Halifax to HSBC) up to a week from some others (!) but cheques are on their way out, and having faced some nasty charges and threat of debt collectors (I owed under 200 pounds) from Barclays

Demand for payment stopped when I asked for statements for last 6 years, so I would have evidence about excessive penalty charges. They did send the statements, over a year ago, and have done nothing more since, so I assume they know that I may get a sympathetic hearing and possibly counter claim for more than they were after. I didn't actually get as far as wading through the printouts they sent (chaotic order) but will if I ever need to face them on this matter.

As you might guess, loyalty even after about 30 years, doesn't get many favours from the banks, and therefore I speak my mind, and will give as good as I get (oh dear, sounding like a Victor Meldrew type now but when the other side are on unstable ground, I tend to knock 'em over - just had demand for 560 pounds from a firm of solicitors claiming I owe that for gas... Yes, I'm behind, by 60 pounds, but didn't tell them how much, just that they, or Brit Gas, or both have technical issues to resolve, if they think I owe 560 pounds! Buys me a couple of weeks to a month, maybe!)

I would love to go out to the pub and sit in the garden and have a glass of wine or three on this glorious day!...but i have no cash and no card!!

i literally have £11 in my purse!

Barcleys treated my nan really badly 2 years ago and out of principle i wont go there now....just in a bad mood now!!

a quite fed up milk!

xx

Know a little how you feel - went into town earlier, when it was lovely and sunny. Popped into Argos, ordered a 2 quid pizza, got some cans of pop in Poundland, and sat in the park about 4pm to have a late lunch... visited a shop owned by a friend and sat in their workshop chatting.

When shop shutting, was offered a lift home, happily accepted (faster than the train) and we all left. Should have struck me when leaving and it was spitting, but after getting home, and friend had driven off, realised my jacket (because of mixed weather) is still in back room of shop, with plastic, 30-40 quid in cash, and mobile phone, in pockets...

Had not known your card was kept by machine - I had hoped you had been able to cancel transaction and sign for goods as an alternative yesterday night.

Ummmm, know what it is like to have very limited cash, but not when in London (or any other big city) where you are suffering a higher cost of living for everyday things.

Have you anything in the fridge/freezer to enjoy, or will it have to be whatever fruit juice you have indoors and a tub of rum and raisin ice cream from Iceland if you feel able to 'waste' a quid?

Anyway, sounds like the weather might give some cheer...

Forgot to say - I came home with 2 quid in my jeans, more by luck than planning, simply 'cos some of the stitching has worn in the wallet and coins can fall out! Most of the coins were in the jacket pocket, too!

Any thoughts of a Chinese takeaway as a treat are out until the shop is open again, but at least I have enough for my cat's food!

luckily i still live at home with my parents (im only 21 and flat rentals prices are shocking!)so food isnt a huge problem. just feel a bit crappy that i wasnt able to go out tonight as planned or go out for lunch tomorrow...and its notting hill carnival weekend!!

im just moaning tbh! had a long week at work and was looking for ward to a good weekend!

luckily i now have the day off on tuesday so i can go into natwest then find another bank.

just annoys me, i still live at home etc so im lucky but what if i was a mum with 3 mouths to feed and they'd blocked my card? or someone who had loads of bills to pay?
(luckily i paid phone for the month on the 3rd august and dont owe any money.) they just think its no big deal but its a huge deal! the think money just grows on trees ???

(i mentioned this to a friend earlier her response? if money doesn't grow on trees the why do banks have branches?...made me chuckle!)

i baby sat for 3 hours tonight so the mum will drop £20 off tomorrow, still £29 (i went and bought a magazine and choccie...i felt sorry for myself!) untill tuesday is not alot....
slightly more depressing is i got paid today...i have money but cant get it!

i genuinally appriciate everyones help and comments...i promise you are not obliged to answer! im just in a bad mood!

thank you!!!

milk xxxx

True, situation could be a lot worse (for a lone parent with limited items indoors for food etc), and really annoying if you wanted to be at the carnival with a bunch a friends and not flinch at buying a round...

Still, the money is at least safe, compared with having had the card stolen along with keys, mobile, and so on...

With it being a BH weekend, I bet there's plenty keeping other MNers busy, with conflicts over what to do (given uncertain weather), decisions over what to eat (because one or other may be a fussy eater!) and some where 'going out with parents' is the last thing they want to do, wishing to Twitter, or use some games machine, or get drunk after 'A' levels, or chasing some place at Uni, perhaps.

(I left school and went to college while my friends were doing 'A' levels, so never followed that 'academic' path too strongly... ended up with an equivalent qualification in IT, in my twenties, after leaving college before the end of the course {to be a Merchant Navy Radio Officer})