Bank cashier speaks in a loud voice

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I thought that bank staff were supposed to be discreet when it comes to dealing with the financial affairs of customers?  We're clearly the young lady that I was served by today hasn't been on that particular customer care training course.

Like many businesses at the moment mine is suffering and I have found myself from time to time having to use the overdraft facility on my personal account.  Actually, I've practically been living there for the last couple of months and I'm sure I'm not the only person who's had to do that recently either.

Anyway, things are turning around for me at the moment.  This is probably not going to last, but for now I've received some money in the form of a personal cheque that I needed to pay into my bank account.

"Oh.. and are you using your overdraft?"

As I've been quite busy over the last couple of weeks this has been left until today, so at lunch time I decide to pop into town and do the deed at our branch of Lloyds TSB.  When I arrived I filled out a paying in slip and went to the nearest cashier who began processing my request.  "Is this your account?" she said to me.  I confirmed that it was indeed mine.  "Oh..  and are you using your overdraft?" she then asked.  At that point I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the man being served at the counter next to me was looking over.  I was embarrassed when I answered "Yes, I am."  She then said "It's just that you're being charged a monthly fee for using your overdraft, this is because you have a classic account and there's new type of account where you won't be charged this fee.".

The whole bank knew I was in the red...

I'm sure under different circumstances I would have been grateful for the financial tip, but as it was I was still mortified.  The whole bank knew I was in the red because she had one of those voices that carry well.  This is probably great when your customers are the elderly folk paying in their pensions, but not so good if you don't want others to know your business.

Anyway, I declined assistance with my account for the moment as I was only 'temporarily using my overdraft', and would be closing the account soon anyway.  I scuttled from the bank as quickly as I could all the while hoping that I wouldn't be recognised in future.

A bit of discretion isn't much to ask though is it?  The banks have already stripped us of our incomes, and by that I'm referring to the financial crisis a few years ago and the following recession.  The very least they could do is leave is with some dignity and not broadcast to everyone in the room the state of your finances!

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genesis

if you want privacy - try asking for it first....
do you order pizza then say it has the wrong toppings ?
banks like all customer service operations will deal with a situation how presented.
if you don't like having an overdraft discussed - try adding up and not going overdrawn in the first place - its not your money so in effect when a bank talks about your overdraft - its actually talking about its own money. go figure

01/08/13 genesis

-4

Andy

Well, there's nothing to be ashamed of if you are in red is there? because there are all these dole scroungers not feeling the tiniest bit of shame so why should you be?

22/05/13 Andy

-3

Dave

This happened to me at the bank yesterday too. I don't want all and sundry to know the gory details of my financial position. I know it's just a job to this girl but surely banks send their employees on courses about customer relations?

06/09/12 Dave

-10

MikeP

I agree with this gripe. I went into a bank in Vaduz recently to open an account and in order to be discreet, I spoke in a low voice. The cashier answered me quite loudly : "You don't need to whisper Sir, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you are only opening your account with 6 million Euros.

18/08/11 MikeP

-12

David

In a similar situation, I once said: "Is there anyone else available to assist me?" and when the person acted wounded and said "Why?" I said, "Because I find your loud volume unnerving. I do not wish my personal details broadcast to an entire room, that's why." They immediately became discreet as they should have been in the first place. It is unfortunate that we are subjected to this kind of treatment, and we should always teach them that we won't accept their bad behavior by insisting on seeing someone who will treat us with respect.

25/06/11 David

-4

Tubeofglue

Many banks do not have the 'private' room anymore. We had to discuss the financial affairs of my late father in the middle of the branch, in one of those stupid 'pod' things. The Assistant Manager decided that shouting the details out loud was clearly the best policy for handling a grieving family. She also decided to have the PC screen visible to anyone who walked past, despite our asking for discretion. Her obnoxious behaviour made us feel dreadful, particularly when she tried to sell us life insurance for my mother! When we tried to close the accounts, and take the balance elsewhere, she put up as many barriers as possible, wanting to change the account to my mother's name. It took three hours to finally convince this cow that all we wanted was to close the accounts and withdraw the balance. The HSBC branch (Llandudno) ignored our letter of complaint, because we closed the accounts.
Bank staff should realy be called Sales Agents, which would be more honest.
But the Nationwide, Inland Revenue, Dept of Work & Pensions, and many others, were all equally disgusting in their treatment of my mother, wanting to shout out personal details into a busy room, with no offer of privacy, discretion or respect.

14/06/11 Tubeofglue

-10

Dom

Banks, post offices and even reception at a doctors all lack discretion mainly due to the cashier or receptionist speaking too loudly.

12/06/11 Dom

-1

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