Stupid Banks —
Ok, check this out… I got paid today, so decided while waiting for my lift to work to ring my banks automated phone system and check my balance. So I ring the number, listen to the introduction blurb (you can’t skip it). Then, press 1 for current account enquiries, listen to some more blurb, enter my account number, listen to some more blurb, then enter the requested digits from my password with a bit more blurb in between each digit.
Normally, at this point I get given my account balance, but today I was told by the system that they have changed the number for their automated banking system and that I would have to call a different number!
Firstly, I was on my mobile, with no pen or paper handy so I couldn’t write down the number and there was no transfer option. So I had to wait until I got to work to do it online.
Secondly – why the hell did I have to go through five minutes of time wasting bollocks only to be told the number had changed? Telephone calls cost money! Surely it would have been more sensible to make the announcement at the start of the call rather than dragging it out for so bloody long? FFS!
Thirdly – why would they need to change the number in the first place? It’s not like they’re a small establishment – surely they can afford to keep a number active with a redirect in place, or failing that not change it at all? I can’t see for the life of me why they can’t just keep the same number even if they’re changing the underlying phone system.
I’m sorry, but it just stinks ofÃ? unprofessionalism! These people clearly aren’t putting their customers first or even applying some common sense to their actions. Alliance and Leicester – you fail. AGAIN!
Categorised as: Moans
Perhaps you should have paid attention to the “blurb” they sent you throught the post on numberous occasions advising you of new numbers and you wouldn’t have been ringing the wrong number then. Regards phone numbers I know from the company I work for that all companies are being FORCED to replac 0870 numbers becuase of these stupid websites, so everyone now has to ring a different number at same or greater cost. So this time it’s not there fault I’m afraid!
OK, your whole point is moot since the number I’ve been using for several years is an 0845 number. I have never received a letter or email from A&L informing me of number changes either.
Nobody is forcing the 0870 companies to change their numbers – the campaigns are trying their best, but they can’t FORCE anything. Not that a change to 0845 for other banks is a bad thing, it’s just not relevant in this case!