Banking peeve

[Pseudo]

Several times I have tried to use the stand-alone ANZ ATM near the cinemas at the Marion shops. Recently it has refused to dispense any money to me, abruptly terminating any transation with a curt message along the lines of "that service is not available".

A few weeks back, after having my transaction cancelled by the ANZ machine in question, I tried the credit union machine standing not 2 metres away. Much to my bemusement the transaction worked just fine.

Getting on the internet banking some time later I discovered the transaction was listed as a "non ANZ ATM" withdrawal - and would thus accrue a fee. This is the root of my peeve: that the ANZ will not charge for a withdrawal when I use one of their own machines, but due to the fact that their machines are EFFING HEAPS OF JUNK I am forced to use foreign ATMs, thereby allowing the ANZ to make $$$ from their own ineptitude.

So I fired off a terse email to the ANZ:

my ATM withdrawal on 23/10 is listed as a "non ANZ ATM" withdrawal. I tried to use an ANZ ATM but it refused my card. However I tried my card in the credit union machine right next to it, where it worked just fine.

Why should I be charged for using a foreign ATM when I tried to use an ANZ one - but it didn't work?

I finally got a response, whereupon the kernel of my peeve blossomed into a great, ugly, mother-of-all-peeves:

Thank you for your SecureMail, regarding the $2.00 Account Servicing Fee incurred on your Access Select Account.

You may not be aware that the monthly account fees are calculated on the anniversary of your account opening. As your account was opened on 20th your fees are calculated on the 20th of each month. If the 20th falls on a Public Holiday or on a weekend, the fees are calculated on the prior Business day.

WTF?

I mean, really, WT effing F?

Did I mention servicing fees anywhere in my complaint?!? I can conclude only that the ANZ has dispensed with all humans in its service department. Now each and every email is handled by a 'bot; evidently one which was purchased cheaply when it failed the Turing test.

In fairness, there was a postscript advising me to visit the branch at which the faulty ATM was present and to direct my query at the staff there. Well and good, except that the ATM I used was in the middle of a shopping centre. There is no ANZ at the Marion shops; the nearest branch is at Brighton.

And these halfwits have the gall to charge me a service fee each month (on the 20th, unless this day falls on a public holiday or weekend)? I wouldn't mind half as much if I got me some SERVICE for said fee.

Sheesh....

Rant over.

[Jimmy]

switch bank

which back?

[Dutchy]

go to the bank and see someone face to face and they will reverse it

[heater31]

easy way to get it fixed is to threaten to take your cash elsewhere and they will pull their socks up quick smart

[MagicKiwi]

Luxury Pseudo. You were lucky.

Opened our bank statement on Tuesday night to find three X $100 swiped from our account due to a dodgy machine. Tried to take $100 out, got the same terse response from the machine that you received. The governess of the pub we were in came to my aid by running the transaction through the EFTPOS machine, problem solvered.

Bank account says:
$100 W/D ATM
$100 W/D ATM
$100 W/D ATM
$100 W/D EFT



Can I swap our $300 battle for your $2?

[Booney]

Go into your nearest ANZ branch with something semi-automatic and spray 'em.Hey,works in the States...

[Dutchy]

Go into your nearest ANZ branch with something semi-automatic and spray 'em.Hey,works in the States...

not funny Boon...

[Wedgie]

I'd never even consider being with a bank to tell the truth.

[spell_check]

Thank you for your SecureMail, regarding the $2.00 Account Servicing Fee incurred on your Access Select Account.

You may not be aware that the monthly account fees are calculated on the anniversary of your account opening. As your account was opened on 20th your fees are calculated on the 20th of each month. If the 20th falls on a Public Holiday or on a weekend, the fees are calculated on the prior Business day.

and if you remember the Media Awards thread in which Squawk wrote a letter to the SANFL, and the reply:

]Well I received a response to my letter (above). You be the judges.......

Thank you for your email.



Please refer to the link below for all Media Award winners and finalist details.



http://www.sanfl.com.au/default.aspx?s= ... aid=113039



The annual SANFL Media Awards are held by the League to acknowledge the efforts of all media outlets in their coverage of the SANFL Competition. In addition to inviting guests to the Dinner, organisations are thanked on the evening for their contributions.



Regards,



SHAREE BARTRAM
Personal Assistant
General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs

I'm considering my response as I think this is a totally inadequate reply that is token only.

Look familiar?

[Punk Rooster]

Since joining Savings & Loans CU, I have not regretted it 1 bit.

[PhilG]

..

[Punk Rooster]

I doubt whether the banks value the actions of 1 customer- would only take notice if they lost 1000...

[mal]

Once upon a time people used to rob banks,
now banks rob the people.

When I used to work in banks 70's/80's they were friendly
customer is always right services.
Its a pity those days have been superceded.
The advent of fees on services has deteriorated the once proud
bank officer to customer status.

[heater31]

I doubt whether the banks value the actions of 1 customer- would only take notice if they lost 1000...

if a bank branch begins to loose customers for some reason or another its the branch manager who is hauled over the coals and moved elsewhere.

No bank manager wants to be seen as losing the bank customers

[Punk Rooster]

I doubt whether the banks value the actions of 1 customer- would only take notice if they lost 1000...

if a bank branch begins to loose customers for some reason or another its the branch manager who is hauled over the coals and moved elsewhere.

No bank manager wants to be seen as losing the bank customers

The Bank Manager can fix small problems, but Bank Managers don't set Policy- the Board of the Bank does. When do they take responsibility for losing customers?

[Brad]

Im a Bank employee, have been for the past five years and have worked for two different Banks. I try to treat everyones concerns/complaints on a personal level and sort out all variety of issues.
But as Punk said you have a board and also shareholdes.

[mal]

Im a Bank employee, have been for the past five years and have worked for two different Banks. I try to treat everyones concerns/complaints on a personal level and sort out all variety of issues.
But as Punk said you have a board and also shareholdes.

Do many customers complain about bank fees and charges Brad?
I reckon I had it easy in my day serving customers.

[Brad]

Im a Bank employee, have been for the past five years and have worked for two different Banks. I try to treat everyones concerns/complaints on a personal level and sort out all variety of issues.
But as Punk said you have a board and also shareholdes.

Do many customers complain about bank fees and charges Brad?
I reckon I had it easy in my day serving customers.

You get a few complaints.

[Squawk]

Im a Bank employee, have been for the past five years and have worked for two different Banks. I try to treat everyones concerns/complaints on a personal level and sort out all variety of issues.
But as Punk said you have a board and also shareholdes.

Ironically I'm a shareholder in banks but I don't think being a shareholder helps either unless your name is Rupert or Kerry or similar.

I'll condense a two hour exercise as best I can....

I had a peeve with CBA the other week. I had to fill out a form for more than one person (and we are all virtually strangers) to have access to the same bank account. I did the 100point check and in a box underneath titled "Bank Use Only" the staff member recorded my passport and D/L numbers, expiry dates etc. Then she gave me the form back and asked me to pass it on to the next person.

I said "You must be kidding if you think I'm give someone else a form that shows my passport and D/L details on it!".

Bank Lady "Well that's the way this process works".

Me "Not anymore it doesn't. Bring me the Branch Manager."

Branch Manager (after hearing my issue) - "Oh, we've never looked it it that way".

Me "Well, I suggest you get it changed. You guys are always worried about risks of identity theft and you are asking me to present my identity on a platter to someone else."

So, bank manager agreed it was a problem and we agreed an alternative interim solution. Meanwhile she said she would take it up internally and I asked for a phone number to follow this up myself as well. (Of course I got a general swithboard number).

The first two people I spoke to had no comprehension of the issue. The third person grasped it immediately. Now, with a bit of luck, they are changing their form and process for the benefit of everyone else. I asked to be advised of the outcome but after a month, no news as yet!

[Dutchy]

FWIW, the bank I work for has given all branches authority to reverse any fees that are made due to errors etc. or even for goodwill without having to explain up the tree...the attitude is why waste time arguing and investiagting when it will generally cost you more than refunding the fee, not to mention a happy client