Banks are up to their tricks again, what South West MEP Giles Chichester describes as an ‘arrogant disregard for customers’ needs’. Cheque out (geddit?) what’s frustrating Giles…
What is it with banks and bankers? Seemingly not content with taking us to the edge of financial melt-down due to over-reaching themselves with very risky loans and then being bailed out by the long-suffering taxpayer while carrying on with a bonus bonanza of jaw-dropping proportions, now they want to stop two services that are actually useful to ordinary customers.
Am I the only one to be astounded at their arrogant disregard for customers’ needs and wants as demonstrated by their proposal to end payment by cheque and their refusal to put £5 notes in ATMs. These measures are to suit the banks’ convenience, not their customers and are typical of how out of touch they seem.
Let us fight back. I urge everyone to contact, write to or visit their bank to demand a reversal of the cheque decision or, at the very least, a detailed explanation of how those of us who depend on this means of payment are to cope without it. Are we to phone our bank with our debit card details when making every purchase? Will the banks expect small business and market traders to have computers available with BACS software when making transactions?
As for the hole in the wall machines and the lack of fivers, I urge people to take the tenners and twenties they get from the ATM in to a bank and ask for them to be exchanged for £5 notes. Then wait for the next pieces of churlish behaviour towards customers!
by Giles Chichester MEP
Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar
(image: Cheque from Annie de Winnie &… ‘s Public Gallery used under Creative Commons licence)
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