I have been on about this before, but some problems just don’t seem to go away. Abbey, my
Not only do the programmers have to build a robust application, but the existing database has to be transferred safely, and then staff need training. I know all of that; a lot of experience, skill and effort need to go into this mammoth task. And who suffers if it doesn’t work? The customers do. I am one of those.
The first time I noticed something odd was when there was a discrepancy between the printed and the online statement. Secondly the overdraft on one account just disappeared; the new system had changed our address for that account and consequently sent statements to the wrong address. That in turn resulted in a “return-to-sender”; they thought something was afoot and withdrew the overdraft facility. The system did not pick up the difference in addresses for our six accounts. Huh?
Later in the autumn when I had to cancel bank cards and internet banking details due to a theft, the real “fun” started. The cards took forever to be delivered, twice they failed in their attempts to deliver the two separate, secret pieces of information so I can start internet banking again. To make things worse, in order to communicate my frustration, I always have to make a phone call to the
The list is long. In December I rang to ask them to send me new internet banking details, to transfer money between accounts and also to pay a credit card bill, all of which resulted in the money being transferred, but the credit card bill not being paid and no internet banking details as yet. I realised it had gone wrong when I had the next credit card statement, and at the same time getting a partly wrongly-addressed letter saying there had been a problem. Houston or what?! A new phone call corrected a few of the mistakes, but I was advised to wait just a little longer for the internet banking details, since they might have been delayed due to the Christmas Holiday. Dodgy software, sloppy staff, bad management….? I don’t know. I only know that I have to make that phone call again and ask them to send the internet banking details for the third time. Wish me luck, I need it!
4 comments:
This gives me hope.. we have been trying to arrange our bank account here in Cairo for over a month now... they take my money, but NO CARD - NO INTERNET ACCESS.. they want a minimum of 2 phone bills (but in Cairo the phone bills have to stay in the name of the landlord.. and we have only been in the apartment for 1 month and the phone line does not call mobiles or overseas... so is no use to us...) nightmare - almost makes me feel better that it still happens in a so called 'developed' country like the UK!
Lynda, so maybe we all should go back to sticking the money under the mattress and communicate via carrier-pigeon? ;-)
Wow Swen, I can't believe that somehow I missed this post of yours.... I'll blame it on your bank guys for messing up!..
Seriously, from what I read in your dealings with online transactions, that just reaffirms my fears of doing any internet business.
If they want my information & money, give me a phone # & I will talk with them till I am blue in the face without worry. ~ I guess I just plain don't trust the system regardless of any assurances my friend. :)
Eric, phone is fine, but for the fact that I have to make an international call every time!
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