TICTH freecyclers who say yes they want the thing, and then don’t respond to messages in a timely fashion. I am trying to give you a free piece of furniture stop making it so bloody difficult, I don’t believe you haven’t got access to your email !
Yesterday it hurled me into 2020s banking. It was not a pleasant experience.
The last time I went into a bank was 2019, just before the last nearly-local branch closed (the local branch closed the previous year), the vast empty space of the Brighton branch was a shock to the system, like stepping into a SciFi film set.
All I wanted was to transfer money from my overfull, non-interest-paying current account into my less adequately stocked savings account which after several years when it didn't make much difference had suddenly started paying interest at a useful percentage.
The last time I had moved money between accounts all I'd had to do was hand over my banking card to a cashier and say what I wanted, and it was done. This time, after traversing the vast acreage of the banking hall I approached a cashier, only to be told that all they did was handle cash transactions, and to go to the enquiry desk - which turned out to be a large doughnut shaped counter in the middle of said vast acreage, unmanned at that moment, and with various potential customers standing in its general vicinity. No discernible queue, and nothing for a little old lady to lean on as she waited for assistance.
When eventually I stated my request to an employee I was told that if I didn't have electronic banking I needed to do it by telephone. At my various incredulous objections I was told, on at least 3 occasions, that Times Have Changed". Having submitted to the changing times I was escorted to a cubicle (of the kind in which one used to discuss private banking matters with a more senior bank employee) where there was a desk, a couple of chairs and a telephone.
I was required, while in an actual bank branch, to telephone their customer service centre to arrange the transfer of funds.
I knew the banks were trying to rid themselves of actual physical customers, but had hoped the pace would be slower, and and that I would have shuffled off this mortal coil before it reached me. I've had this account for 60 years, I did not enjoy being treated like waste of time and space in their shiny galactic style cathedral to mammon.
We had almost the identical thing happen to us in Bank of America a year ago.
It was maybe even worse, as they required us to make a freaking APPOINTMENT before we could even talk to anybody, and come back in a week--at their main office.
Ah yes, I was told I could make an appointment to come back another day to see someone presumably more qualified.
Walking is difficult, and standing around painful, so a return visit is not something I ever want to do again.
That's ridiculous. I'd be looking at changing my bank and I'd tell them so if they tried that on me. You're doing them a favour by entrusting your money to them, they're doing you a service. They seem to have forgotten that.
Our local RBS still clings on (Mrs Feet works there) and is something of a time warp in banking terms. Pretty much all transactions can be done at the counter (there is no ATM) and there's roughly 1/3 chance you'll be served by the manager.
If walking to a branch is a problem, surely electronic banking is a solution? Just a thought.
That was pointed out to me as one of ways "Times Have Changed" in modern banking.
Trouble is, I don't want my bank details available to any internet savvy fraudster.
No way I'd ever have online banking. I speak as someone who has lost their phone twice. I've never trusted it. I know we're all on databases now whether we like it or not but I'm not inclined to want to make it any easier for any criminals.
Phones are actually pretty secure (especially Apple), as are banking websites. Almost all banking scams involve fraudsters phoning up and impersonating your bank and conning you into handing over money or login details. Actually hacking into banking systems is as close to impossible as makes no difference. Physical bank robbery is orders of magnitude easier to accomplish. It's not internet savvy criminals who can perpetrate these frauds, it's old fashioned con artists.
I find that having online banking, but only on the laptop, not my phone, provides a good balance between convenience and peace of mind. Having to sit at the desk and log on with a secure key dongle gives time for pause for thought. Mind you, the bank (HSBC) keeps trying to persuade me to switch from dongle to a phone app.
My one experience of using Barclay's bank in our town wasn't pleasant either. I was in a queue behind a lot of confused people who didn't know how to use the app they insisted they needed. The branch has since closed. I bank with Santander and the branch here has always been brilliant when I turn up with a query.
I'm with Nationwide and do my banking online via my laptop. I've always found they offer good service, including answering queries. I only use the branch in town for paying in the occasional cheque so can't comment on the services being offered there.
My wife has a savings account with the Principality Building society and has experienced problems logging in which branch staff struggle to resolve. It's interesting that another Welsh building society has recently opened a branch in town as they never had one before!
Phones are actually pretty secure (especially Apple), as are banking websites. Almost all banking scams involve fraudsters phoning up and impersonating your bank and conning you into handing over money or login details. Actually hacking into banking systems is as close to impossible as makes no difference. Physical bank robbery is orders of magnitude easier to accomplish. It's not internet savvy criminals who can perpetrate these frauds, it's old fashioned con artists.
This is true. Along with MFA it's pretty much impossible to break online banking. To hack mine for example you'd need to nick my phone, know my phone PIN and also my 6 digit banking PIN.
Much easier to use social engineering.
Online purchases using my debit card often require confirmation in the banking app anyway.
I've often felt that the process which offers the greatest potential for fraud/theft is when you buy something from a firm where you have to phone up and give your bank details to the person answering. You have to trust them not to divulge these. Some firms operate a "half-way" house system: you speak to someone but type the details (which they can't see) into your phone.
I've often felt that the process which offers the greatest potential for fraud/theft is when you buy something from a firm where you have to phone up and give your bank details to the person answering. You have to trust them not to divulge these. Some firms operate a "half-way" house system: you speak to someone but type the details (which they can't see) into your phone.
Yes. I avoid that like the plague. My debit card never leaves my sight at restaurants either.
I agree, Baptist Trainfan. I use my credit card rather than debit card over the phone.
I do all my banking online, but always on my laptop via we sites, never the app. In fact I failed the facial recognition test for one bank’s apps and had to jump through a few hoops to get out of that.
My bank has tried to dissuade me from depositing cheques in person, in the bank. The snag is that the only person who writes me cheques is my mother. My mother writes in a beautiful cursive. The bank computer thinks her ones look like sevens, and is confused by her actual sevens, which it thinks might be fours. If the computer is going to misread a cheque, I'd rather it did it while I am in the bank on hand to sort it out.
When our local branch of Barclays closed we switched to Co-op who were early on among banks in working through the Post Office. Now we bank through apps using separate passwords for our bank and building society accounts and for our phones.
As Arethosemyfeet says, the risk is not much at all in the app itself, and mostly with the risk that one of us will fall prey to a con of some kind. If in doubt it’s always worth checking with the bank in the phone number they have provided. And, if you think you’ve just had a scam call, either use a different phone or be completely sure that the suspected scammer hasn’t stayed on the line.
We have also found the Co-op very diligent about checking transactions they’re unsure of.
Some years ago I had a call purporting to be from the Co-op Bank. "You haven't paid off your credit card this month. Do you wish to pay it over the phone?"
I was immediately suspicious and said, "I'm sure I've paid it". I checked my current account and cheque book. I had indeed forgotten to pay it and the call had been genuine!
I do all my banking online these days, as it's difficult for me to get to the one and only branch of my Bank still open in Our Town, but, so far (touch wood, and whistle), I've not had any problems.
I use only my PC, though some online transactions do require me to consult my mobile phone for an authentication code, which is fair enough.
My debit card was scammed some years ago, but the Bank contacted me only a few hours after it had happened! I used the card in my local Co-Op's ATM, and a little later some malefactor then tried unsuccessfully to use it to pay for restaurant, cinema, and taxi in Leicester, a considerable distance north of Arkland. It's possible, though not proven, that someone had tampered with the ATM, unbeknownst to the Co-Op staff.
I lost no money at all, though I did have to wait a day or two for a new card, but the evil git in Leicester probably didn't have quite such a good evening and night out with his lady friend as he'd hoped...at least, that was the scenario I'd imagined...
With me, it was the chap who pickpocketed me at Ipswich station and then, after several unsuccessful goes at ATMs, forged my signature and got £500 over the counter in Nottingham.
My debit card was scammed some years ago, but the Bank contacted me only a few hours after it had happened! I used the card in my local Co-Op's ATM, and a little later some malefactor then tried unsuccessfully to use it to pay for restaurant, cinema, and taxi in Leicester, a considerable distance north of Arkland. It's possible, though not proven, that someone had tampered with the ATM, unbeknownst to the Co-Op staff.
Yes, I remember quite a lot of people being caught out that way in a supermarket in Oxfordshire some years ago, self included. It turned out that somehow a gang were siphoning off money from cards used at the checkouts - none of the checkout staff were implicated and we got our money back but it was a bit disconcerting none the less.
Anything electronic is potentially hackable. No matter what the security systems.
As someone who has bank accounts in two countries, online banking is essential. My HSBC and Nationwide banking apps on my phone both need my fingerprint to access, which is good. I also do online banking with Lloyds (for one of the church's accounts). They all work slightly differently but I think that they are secure enough. I also do online banking with RBC in Canada (after they took over HSBC Canada). I
Increasingly, local bank branches are closing, so online banking is often the only realistic option. And don't get me started on the hell that is trying to get anything done over the phone!
TICTH my apartment building's management company. My kitchen sink is not working. I have twice sent emails to their "maintenance" email address and gotten no response. Today I sent one to the general info address. Will that evoke an response? We shall see...
My bank. They are compensating me for my recent difficulties by refunding my service fees. Total is under $12. So much for a national complaint policy.
And their solution to the heavily scented hand sanitizer instead of the unscented was to remove the signs asking people to keep scent free. (Not the subject of the main complaint.)
I'm not sure whether I want to send the Royal Bank of Scotland to the nether regions or not. They've sent me a new bank card with a letter saying their anti-fraud system thinks my present one (which shouldn't expire until November) could be at risk.
I suppose it was good of them to be looking out for me, but now I've got to feck about telling my mobile what the new numbers are and trying to remember a new security number.
I'm not sure whether I want to send the Royal Bank of Scotland to the nether regions or not. They've sent me a new bank card with a letter saying their anti-fraud system thinks my present one (which shouldn't expire until November) could be at risk.
I suppose it was good of them to be looking out for me, but now I've got to feck about telling my mobile what the new numbers are and trying to remember a new security number.
There has been swearing. 😡
That is a perfectly good reason for swearing.
My bank recently had me change all my account numbers, I'm still not entirely sure why, but my G.P aid the same thing happened with a lot of her patients and they were as unhappy as I was. I know it was legitimate though because I went into the bank and talked to a teller.
The process was a utter nightmare as the teller said the two agencies paying money into my account had made mistakes. I went to the one paying my superannuation, who said the bank had made a mistake, so I went back to the bank and the teller said I had made a mistake setting up the account. I pointed out that one of her colleagues had actually set up the account I just asked for whichever account they had that suited my needs. Finally she admitted that her colleague had made the mistake.
The process wasn't an entire waste of time though as I discovered there was a small agency in a pharmacy nearer to home with tellers who explain things without that tone in their voice that says, "You are so dumb."
I'm not sure whether I want to send the Royal Bank of Scotland to the nether regions or not. They've sent me a new bank card with a letter saying their anti-fraud system thinks my present one (which shouldn't expire until November) could be at risk.
I suppose it was good of them to be looking out for me, but now I've got to feck about telling my mobile what the new numbers are and trying to remember a new security number.
There has been swearing. 😡
FWIW when Co-op replaced my card due to a fraud issue it updated in Google Pay automatically and I could use it before the physical card even arrived. Cool but kind of spooky.
With Apple Pay, you are effectively issued with a digital card with a different number from your physical credit/debit card, but which is linked to the account for your physical card by your bank.
I guess if a new card is issued your bank links it to the digital card, unless there is evidence that your device is compromised. I imagine it’s the same with Google Pay.
Are you absolutely 100% certain that the new card does come from the RBS?
I think it must have done; it's the same colour of purple as the background in their app, it's got their logo on it and when I took it to Tessie's this afternoon and used it with my PIN (which mercifully hasn't changed) the machine seemed perfectly happy.
If they want you to sign the back though, I do wish they'd make the signature strip out of something that can be written on in a normal pen, as opposed to one which quite possibly needs unicorn tears where the ink should be ...
I do my banking often on my laptop but not my phone. It is a small community bank that serves 3 counties. When I switched to also paying bills online and was confused, no problem they said just bring your laptop to the bank and one of our tellers will walk you through it the first time. When I was selling my house and needed a notary I asked if they could refer me to one in town, no problem, and no charge we can do that for you. You have coins no need to roll them for the deposit we have a machine that will count them for you. I love my bank where the tellers now know me by name.
We were with the Yorkshire bank for decades. They were excellent. Then they closed the branch in our town, but kept open the one in the adjoining town. They then merged with Virgin Money and closed the local branch meaning a journey to the nearest city to use something called a Money Shop. Because I get organist funeral fees in the form of cheques I changed to the Nationwide with its local branch.
And now Nationwide have bought Virgin Money! Things going full circle.
I use online banking via the phone app, but my wife doesn't, though she pays for stuff online that she has bought. However we are being pushed towards phone banking as every online transaction nowadays seems to require verification on a smart phone.
Smartphones have gone from being a luxury to an absolute essential with nobody having any kind of a say, despite the financial costs to all.
Comments
Sunk without trace on the old Ship. We have to behave now. No devils. Not even a snigger.
Bugger.
Not sure how well this comes over... or this
and whether you can do it/them without hyperlink
I hesitate to ask, but why?
The last time I went into a bank was 2019, just before the last nearly-local branch closed (the local branch closed the previous year), the vast empty space of the Brighton branch was a shock to the system, like stepping into a SciFi film set.
All I wanted was to transfer money from my overfull, non-interest-paying current account into my less adequately stocked savings account which after several years when it didn't make much difference had suddenly started paying interest at a useful percentage.
The last time I had moved money between accounts all I'd had to do was hand over my banking card to a cashier and say what I wanted, and it was done. This time, after traversing the vast acreage of the banking hall I approached a cashier, only to be told that all they did was handle cash transactions, and to go to the enquiry desk - which turned out to be a large doughnut shaped counter in the middle of said vast acreage, unmanned at that moment, and with various potential customers standing in its general vicinity. No discernible queue, and nothing for a little old lady to lean on as she waited for assistance.
When eventually I stated my request to an employee I was told that if I didn't have electronic banking I needed to do it by telephone. At my various incredulous objections I was told, on at least 3 occasions, that Times Have Changed". Having submitted to the changing times I was escorted to a cubicle (of the kind in which one used to discuss private banking matters with a more senior bank employee) where there was a desk, a couple of chairs and a telephone.
I was required, while in an actual bank branch, to telephone their customer service centre to arrange the transfer of funds.
I knew the banks were trying to rid themselves of actual physical customers, but had hoped the pace would be slower, and and that I would have shuffled off this mortal coil before it reached me. I've had this account for 60 years, I did not enjoy being treated like waste of time and space in their shiny galactic style cathedral to mammon.
I bet you are sorry you asked now
We had almost the identical thing happen to us in Bank of America a year ago.
It was maybe even worse, as they required us to make a freaking APPOINTMENT before we could even talk to anybody, and come back in a week--at their main office.
Walking is difficult, and standing around painful, so a return visit is not something I ever want to do again.
I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Not banking, but this might be of interest: https://northernreader.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/27-newton-whs-2.jpeg. The shop, W H Smith in Newtown, hadn't changed much over the years and is kept as a living museum by the company.
Trouble is, I don't want my bank details available to any internet savvy fraudster.
My wife has a savings account with the Principality Building society and has experienced problems logging in which branch staff struggle to resolve. It's interesting that another Welsh building society has recently opened a branch in town as they never had one before!
This is true. Along with MFA it's pretty much impossible to break online banking. To hack mine for example you'd need to nick my phone, know my phone PIN and also my 6 digit banking PIN.
Much easier to use social engineering.
Online purchases using my debit card often require confirmation in the banking app anyway.
Yes. I avoid that like the plague. My debit card never leaves my sight at restaurants either.
I do all my banking online, but always on my laptop via we sites, never the app. In fact I failed the facial recognition test for one bank’s apps and had to jump through a few hoops to get out of that.
As Arethosemyfeet says, the risk is not much at all in the app itself, and mostly with the risk that one of us will fall prey to a con of some kind. If in doubt it’s always worth checking with the bank in the phone number they have provided. And, if you think you’ve just had a scam call, either use a different phone or be completely sure that the suspected scammer hasn’t stayed on the line.
We have also found the Co-op very diligent about checking transactions they’re unsure of.
I was immediately suspicious and said, "I'm sure I've paid it". I checked my current account and cheque book. I had indeed forgotten to pay it and the call had been genuine!
I use only my PC, though some online transactions do require me to consult my mobile phone for an authentication code, which is fair enough.
My debit card was scammed some years ago, but the Bank contacted me only a few hours after it had happened! I used the card in my local Co-Op's ATM, and a little later some malefactor then tried unsuccessfully to use it to pay for restaurant, cinema, and taxi in Leicester, a considerable distance north of Arkland. It's possible, though not proven, that someone had tampered with the ATM, unbeknownst to the Co-Op staff.
I lost no money at all, though I did have to wait a day or two for a new card, but the evil git in Leicester probably didn't have quite such a good evening and night out with his lady friend as he'd hoped...at least, that was the scenario I'd imagined...
Again, no problem in getting a refund.
Yes, I remember quite a lot of people being caught out that way in a supermarket in Oxfordshire some years ago, self included. It turned out that somehow a gang were siphoning off money from cards used at the checkouts - none of the checkout staff were implicated and we got our money back but it was a bit disconcerting none the less.
Anything electronic is potentially hackable. No matter what the security systems.
Increasingly, local bank branches are closing, so online banking is often the only realistic option. And don't get me started on the hell that is trying to get anything done over the phone!
And their solution to the heavily scented hand sanitizer instead of the unscented was to remove the signs asking people to keep scent free. (Not the subject of the main complaint.)
I suppose it was good of them to be looking out for me, but now I've got to feck about telling my mobile what the new numbers are and trying to remember a new security number.
There has been swearing. 😡
That is a perfectly good reason for swearing.
My bank recently had me change all my account numbers, I'm still not entirely sure why, but my G.P aid the same thing happened with a lot of her patients and they were as unhappy as I was. I know it was legitimate though because I went into the bank and talked to a teller.
The process was a utter nightmare as the teller said the two agencies paying money into my account had made mistakes. I went to the one paying my superannuation, who said the bank had made a mistake, so I went back to the bank and the teller said I had made a mistake setting up the account. I pointed out that one of her colleagues had actually set up the account I just asked for whichever account they had that suited my needs. Finally she admitted that her colleague had made the mistake.
The process wasn't an entire waste of time though as I discovered there was a small agency in a pharmacy nearer to home with tellers who explain things without that tone in their voice that says, "You are so dumb."
FWIW when Co-op replaced my card due to a fraud issue it updated in Google Pay automatically and I could use it before the physical card even arrived. Cool but kind of spooky.
I guess if a new card is issued your bank links it to the digital card, unless there is evidence that your device is compromised. I imagine it’s the same with Google Pay.
I think it must have done; it's the same colour of purple as the background in their app, it's got their logo on it and when I took it to Tessie's this afternoon and used it with my PIN (which mercifully hasn't changed) the machine seemed perfectly happy.
If they want you to sign the back though, I do wish they'd make the signature strip out of something that can be written on in a normal pen, as opposed to one which quite possibly needs unicorn tears where the ink should be ...
And now Nationwide have bought Virgin Money! Things going full circle.
I use online banking via the phone app, but my wife doesn't, though she pays for stuff online that she has bought. However we are being pushed towards phone banking as every online transaction nowadays seems to require verification on a smart phone.
Smartphones have gone from being a luxury to an absolute essential with nobody having any kind of a say, despite the financial costs to all.