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Original poster

are home visits by the bank normal??

21 replies

auntyquated · 28/10/2007 16:58

my MIL mentioned last weekend that a lady was coming to see her from the bank (Lloyds TSB). She didn't know why she was coming.
DH has jsut spoken to MIL and asked how it went-- and what she wanted! MIL says that the lady didn't want anyhting in particular, didn't ask her to sign anyhting and that she was "non-committal". She was a nice lady and is coming back thgis week!!

Now MIL is 80 and is becoming very confused.
Do banks visit folk at home these days??
If it was your MIL what would you do?

tia

OP posts:
Original poster
auntyquated · 28/10/2007 16:59

she isn't infirm btw. she is very capable of getting to the bank for meetings.

it just doesn't add up to me.

OP posts:
Tinker · 28/10/2007 17:00

If it was my mil I would arrange for someone to be with her for next viist to find out what is going on

VoodooLULUmama · 28/10/2007 17:01

i had a home visit from the bank years ago, cannot remember wy, but she came to talk about savings accounts or soemthing...

i would see if the lady left any papers, a card, or any thing that would indicate she was bona fide or not.

Original poster
auntyquated · 28/10/2007 17:01

Thta would be the ideal Tinker but we rae miles away and there is no one we could ask.
If it wasn't such short notice we would make sure someone was there.

OP posts:
tissy · 28/10/2007 17:02

this sounds very dodgy to me

i would phone her branch and ask if this is standard practice, AND be with her next time the "bank" lady comes

Elphaba · 28/10/2007 17:04

We wanted to open a savings account a while back and the bank wanted to come to our home to do a visit to talk through all the options. I don't think there was anything dodgy about it but we didn't do it in the end anyway because I insisted I knew exactly what we wanted so we just went ahead and opened the account we thought was best.

This was with RBS.

Maybe it's just a new way of doing things?

Elphaba · 28/10/2007 17:05

Although, I agree, it may be best to make sure she isn't alone on a next visit.

Original poster
auntyquated · 28/10/2007 17:06

Hopefully someone who works in bank will be along shortly na dcan say whether this is now normal practice or not.

OP posts:
SatanGeorge · 28/10/2007 17:18

Might be a Personal Financial Advisor (PFA) or similar. They discuss any financial products the bank can offer, like savings accounts, insurance ISAs etc.

SatanGeorge · 28/10/2007 17:18

Oh, and I used to work in a bank and it was perfectly normal practice for PFAs to do home visits, I assume it still is.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 28/10/2007 17:21

I used to work for the Natwest. The only home visits I've ever heard of were Will or Mortgage related. Could possibly be a Financial Advisor I suppose; it's odd that she didn't know why they were coming though and that would concern me. How was this arranged I wonder - who approached who and did she check ID?

SueW · 28/10/2007 17:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster
auntyquated · 28/10/2007 17:27

As far as I know they approached her.
I doubt very much if she checked ID.
Do the PFAs work for the bank or are they independent?
If she signs something will there be a cooling off period for her to change her mind? Howver if she signs something that she feels unsure about I don't think she will tell DH.
If I rang the bank would they talk to me about it?

OP posts:
SatanGeorge · 28/10/2007 17:27

Sagger, I'm an ex NatWester too, working in the Loans/Overdrafts department. PFA's were attached to our dept so maybe you didn't have many dealings with them?

Spent too big a chunk of my working day sorting their bloody diaries out!

RustyBear · 28/10/2007 17:29

Every time I go into the Halifax atm I get asked whether I'd like to see someone to 'review' our financial position - not because there's anything wrong with our financial position, but 'because it's a long time since you had a review' Apparently this could be at home or at the branch, whichever we preferred.
As the last time we had a financial advisor come round, she advised DH to put his pension with Equitable Life, I think we may pass on this one.

I would guess that someone at the bank said something similar to your mum & she agreed because she didn't want to seem rude - they can be quite persistent.

Original poster
auntyquated · 28/10/2007 17:32

RB you have hit the nail on the head. She will do anyhting so as not to appear rude. Very worrying really.
We used to worry that she would pay ridiculous sums for a new drive/roof etc but now she is in sheltered housing.

OP posts:
bubblepop · 28/10/2007 22:27

hiya, used to work in the bank and i would say that this is not normal practice it sounds as if it could be perhaps one of the banks reps for insurance related products..only what the hell they would sell to an 80 yr old is beyond me

ScaryScienceT · 28/10/2007 22:29

Our personal banker sees us at home as a convenience to us.

dd666 · 28/10/2007 22:39

has she got a neighbour that could check the id, could you see if someone from help the aged could be with her or anyone else

Original poster
auntyquated · 29/10/2007 13:21

I have spoken to the bank this morning and it is one of their staff who visited MIL.
howver we are still concerned that she is returning this week when MIL feels that she doesn't need anyhting nor does she want to move any money about. we are going to try and presuade her to cancel this week's appointment and reschedule it for a time when DH can be there.
Ooooo, parents! They are a worry!

Thnaks for all the help.

OP posts:
dd666 · 29/10/2007 22:00

try not to worry to much tell her not to sign anything and next time your dh visits he will take her in branch if needed

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