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Post by Spruance on May 6, 2009 13:22:42 GMT
Yesterday my mum (Mrs X for the sake of argument) went into the local branch of Halifax to get a cheque to buy some premium bonds. How difficult can that be? Well despite the fact that she goes in every week and all of the staff know her by sight, it appears that counts for nought. Do you have any identification Mrs X? they said. Now this is where the fun starts as officially my mum doesn't exist as she has no passport, driving licence, debit card or utility bills in her name. Is this really necessary she said. Oh yes I'm sorry Mrs. X those are the rules. You couldn't make it up.  The upshot of all of this nonsense is that she had to go back again today armed with a pension notification letter and her credit card and then, no doubt begrudgingly, the cheque was finally handed over. I can understand financial institutions taking precautions with new customers, but mum has been with Halifax since 1986!!! What it will be like if the ill conceived ID card scheme ever sees the light of day I can only too well imagine. |
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Post by Missredhead on May 6, 2009 13:38:24 GMT
Annoying isn't it? My son lost his bank card a few years ago and he went into the Halifax to withdraw some money, he took his passport and driving licence with him as requested but they refused to give him any money as his passport pic and his driving licence pic were taken years ago when he first passed his test, he doesn't look like now, he has renewed both pics now but he had been going into the same branch since he first opened the account when he was 16. Nothing he could say would change their minds...so Mum here had to lend him the money until his new card came through. |
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Post by Dr Bill on May 6, 2009 18:15:04 GMT
Oh the Halifax! My mother-in-law needed a new cheque book - onne should have been sent automatically but wasn't. Mrs Bill rang to request one be sent - no chance, Mum had to do it herself, she had to read the details from her account details - despite the fact that she is virtually blind! Nothing else was acceptable. They wouldn't even acknowledge the mistake and simply send a cheque book to Mum as the account holder which they should have done anyway. Useless organisation, no wonder they went under.
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Post by Spruance on May 6, 2009 20:33:05 GMT
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Post by Auricula on May 6, 2009 21:43:27 GMT
It's not just the Halifax - they're all the same  We had to go back 3 times to the Nationwide, with different bits of paperwork to prove who we are.......crazy!! |
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Post by Amo on May 7, 2009 7:07:05 GMT
Yes but having been defrauded several times in the past, I'm rather grateful my banks are now curious as to my actions and question anything unusual. I also have a wonderful 24/7 manager whom I just call or drop a line to if I am doing something out of the ordinary (going abroad or buying a camel or something) and he watches over things for me.
Isn't it better to know that not just anyone can walk into a bank with a bill they found blowing down the road and attack your own savings? Better that than the alternative. It's not a nice place out there any more and anything can be forged.
I've also been with Nationwide since 1986 (Nationwide Anglia then I think) and they've always been on the ball. I wouldn't have touched Halifax with a barge pole after the instant repossessions they were doing on mortgages in the recession of the early '90's!!!
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Post by Spruance on May 7, 2009 10:47:23 GMT
Yes I can understand the need for caution Amo, and I welcome the fact that banks take identity theft seriously, but it's when they address you by name because they already know you that the situation develops into a farce. I have been with Lloyds TSB since school bank days in 1963, so 46 years (am I really that old? i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif ) and yet the other day felt compelled to take my driving licence with me when paying something in to my account. Fortunately it wasn't needed but I was still pulled off the counter as if I was a criminal and had to explain what it was about. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/angry.gif |
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Post by Jardack on May 10, 2009 18:45:30 GMT
I went into the bank recently to request a statement as needed one with bank address on it. They asked me for bank details and a copy of my signature which I gave them, only to be told that it didn't match their records! The girl then said can you remember what your old (maiden name) signature was like as they'd not updated it since I got married even though I had been in with copy certificates to change my name on the account So all the cheques I have written the signature on them won't have agreed to their records cos it was in the wrong name! Hohum |
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Post by Missredhead on May 10, 2009 20:25:38 GMT
But did they still cash them JD?
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Post by Jardack on May 18, 2009 20:23:51 GMT
But did they still cash them JD? Unfortunately yes they did! MAybe I should complain that they're not checking the signature! |
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