Firms Using the Virus Excuse

[bad company]

I made a complaint to my bank on 28 April. I’d visited a branch to withdraw cash but was initially prevented from entering. The woman at the door said entry was for essential stuff only and I should get the cash from the ATM. I told her that I needed a larger amount than the ATM limit. While still outside in the street in hearing of passers by I was asked how much I wanted and what I wanted it for!!! That was my complaint. Yesterday I got a text from the bank saying due to caronavirus they can’t deal with my complaint until around 23 June.

I had a cruise booked due to depart 15 March, on 12 March it was cancelled for obvious reasons. The cruise line offered a full refund which by law they should make within 14 days. They said it’d take them 60 days which ABTA seems to agree with. Anyway 60 days came and went then they said they’d try to deal with the refund ASAP. My patience was exhausted so I made a Section 75 claim from my credit card company which was dealt with within 24 hours.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a product online which turned out to be faulty. Guess what, it’s going to take a while to deal with the issue due to coronavirus, really??

Is it me or is using the virus excuse just too easy?

[LHRFlightman]

Not just you.

Take my industry, aviation. Air travel is still expected to double in the next 20 years. So why are airlines, airports and others making thousands redundant?

They're doing it to slash cost, make redundant staff on who are on older, more lucrative contracts, and then replace them with new staff on cheaper contracts.

[HTP99]

Don't know if you were aware but a fair few people have been furloughed, which means there are less people in their place of work to deal with things, coupled with many more complaints, enquiries, requests for refunds etc, which have to be spread out through a vastly depleted workforce!

Just get a grip, it's a difficult time for us all!

[DoubleD]

LHRFlightman said:

Not just you.

Take my industry, aviation. Air travel is still expected to double in the next 20 years. So why are airlines, airports and others making thousands redundant?

They're doing it to slash cost, make redundant staff on who are on older, more lucrative contracts, and then replace them with new staff on cheaper contracts.

Double?! I find that hard to believe.

That industry has some very very tough years ahead, so its no surprise that they are cutting staff.

[bitchstewie]

bad company said:

Is it me or is using the virus excuse just too easy?

As excuses go I'd say a global pandemic is a pretty good one.

Are some companies milking it? Yes I'm sure they are.

Are many companies suffering from reduced staffing levels or people working from home possibly to different working patterns and dealing with suppliers who are having similar issues? Yes I'm sure they are.

I think most people accept there's going to be some issues right now.

[Stay in Bed Instead]

Given that banks were not required to close, I fail to see why they have reduced opening hours, services or should have longer timescales to deal with complaints.

They certainly didn't delay collecting my commercial banking charges or issuing my credit card bill.

[vikingaero]

bad company said:

I made a complaint to my bank on 28 April. I’d visited a branch to withdraw cash but was initially prevented from entering. The woman at the door said entry was for essential stuff only and I should get the cash from the ATM. I told her that I needed a larger amount than the ATM limit. While still outside in the street in hearing of passers by I was asked how much I wanted and what I wanted it for!!! That was my complaint. Yesterday I got a text from the bank saying due to caronavirus they can’t deal with my complaint until around 23 June.

Is it me or is using the virus excuse just too easy?

I went to the bank on Thursday to pay in some cash that my Uncle owed me. It was the same experience for me. I was asked what I was here for. I replied to pay in cash. I was told that I could only use the paying in machines. Yes, that's what I was going to use. Stop shouting and presuming otherwise. There seemed to be no discretion from the staff and lots of shoutiness. Poor lady in front of me wanted to transfer some money. The bolshy NatWest lady said that she could do that online! How does a 80 something year old suddenly get online?

[Stay in Bed Instead]

HTP99 said:

Don't know if you were aware but a fair few people have been furloughed, which means there are less people in their place of work to deal with things, coupled with many more complaints, enquiries, requests for refunds etc, which have to be spread out through a vastly depleted workforce!

Just get a grip, it's a difficult time for us all!

Why would a bank need to furlough employees?

[bad company]

HTP99 said:

Don't know if you were aware but a fair few people have been furloughed, which means there are less people in their place of work to deal with things, coupled with many more complaints, enquiries, requests for refunds etc, which have to be spread out through a vastly depleted workforce!

Just get a grip, it's a difficult time for us all!

They’re all quick enough to take the money for the goods & services but use the virus excuse when things go wrong.

[dmahon]

Sky will still only talk to vulnerable people on the phone. It’s a bit of a pisstake when they are billing up to £100 a month and don’t want to provide any customer service.

[mmm-five]

Stay in Bed Instead said:

Why would a bank need to furlough employees?

I my sister's case, simply because the office is too small to effectively distance the minimum amount of employees required to cover every shift (they've already had years of redundancies, and moves to smaller/cheaper buildings)...and most of them cannot do their job from home.

[DoubleD]

Stay in Bed Instead said:

They certainly didn't delay collecting my commercial banking charges or issuing my credit card bill.

That will be automated.

[Stay in Bed Instead]

mmm-five said:

I my sister's case, simply because the office is too small to effectively distance the minimum amount of employees required to cover every shift (they've already had years of redundancies, and moves to smaller/cheaper buildings)...and most of them cannot do their job from home.

Social distancing is not law and is not a justification for furlough.

[markcoznottz]

vikingaero said:

bad company said:

I made a complaint to my bank on 28 April. I’d visited a branch to withdraw cash but was initially prevented from entering. The woman at the door said entry was for essential stuff only and I should get the cash from the ATM. I told her that I needed a larger amount than the ATM limit. While still outside in the street in hearing of passers by I was asked how much I wanted and what I wanted it for!!! That was my complaint. Yesterday I got a text from the bank saying due to caronavirus they can’t deal with my complaint until around 23 June.

Is it me or is using the virus excuse just too easy?

I went to the bank on Thursday to pay in some cash that my Uncle owed me. It was the same experience for me. I was asked what I was here for. I replied to pay in cash. I was told that I could only use the paying in machines. Yes, that's what I was going to use. Stop shouting and presuming otherwise. There seemed to be no discretion from the staff and lots of shoutiness. Poor lady in front of me wanted to transfer some money. The bolshy NatWest lady said that she could do that online! How does a 80 something year old suddenly get online?

Humiliating experience going to a bank. Stuck in the dark ages. Gobbing about your business in front of all and sundry.

[bad company]

dmahon said:

Sky will still only talk to vulnerable people on the phone. It’s a bit of a pisstake when they are billing up to £100 a month and don’t want to provide any customer service.

Cancel the direct debit and you’ll probably find them very happy to talk to you.

[ZedLeg]

Stay in Bed Instead said:

mmm-five said:

I my sister's case, simply because the office is too small to effectively distance the minimum amount of employees required to cover every shift (they've already had years of redundancies, and moves to smaller/cheaper buildings)...and most of them cannot do their job from home.

Social distancing is not law and is not a justification for furlough.

Yeah pay your staff when you can send them home and get the government to pay most of it. If there’s a system to be exploited you can be sure companies will exploit it

[bad company]

markcoznottz said:

vikingaero said:

bad company said:

I made a complaint to my bank on 28 April. I’d visited a branch to withdraw cash but was initially prevented from entering. The woman at the door said entry was for essential stuff only and I should get the cash from the ATM. I told her that I needed a larger amount than the ATM limit. While still outside in the street in hearing of passers by I was asked how much I wanted and what I wanted it for!!! That was my complaint. Yesterday I got a text from the bank saying due to caronavirus they can’t deal with my complaint until around 23 June.

Is it me or is using the virus excuse just too easy?

I went to the bank on Thursday to pay in some cash that my Uncle owed me. It was the same experience for me. I was asked what I was here for. I replied to pay in cash. I was told that I could only use the paying in machines. Yes, that's what I was going to use. Stop shouting and presuming otherwise. There seemed to be no discretion from the staff and lots of shoutiness. Poor lady in front of me wanted to transfer some money. The bolshy NatWest lady said that she could do that online! How does a 80 something year old suddenly get online?

Humiliating experience going to a bank. Stuck in the dark ages. Gobbing about your business in front of all and sundry.

It wasn’t only horrible and breached confidentiality I’d say it put me in danger. It became obvious that I would be leaving the bank with a large amount of cash making a mugging target.

[Stay in Bed Instead]

I bet the banks see this as an opportunity to force more people to online banking, I wouldn't be surprised if they stick to the reduced opening hours in the future.

[DoubleD]

Stay in Bed Instead said:

I bet the banks see this as an opportunity to force more people to online banking, I wouldn't be surprised if they stick to the reduced opening hours in the future.

Why would you want to go into a bank if you don't need to?

Online banking is much easier and quicker.

You can even do it while you stay in bed.

[blueg33]

LHRFlightman said:

Not just you.

Take my industry, aviation. Air travel is still expected to double in the next 20 years. So why are airlines, airports and others making thousands redundant?

They're doing it to slash cost, make redundant staff on who are on older, more lucrative contracts, and then replace them with new staff on cheaper contracts.

Eh.

It’s goingvto contract significantly in the short term. You can’t pay people if you don’t have the income to pay them.