Barclays Bank
I have returned from the depressing bowels of the job centre after signing on a little perturbed by my visit to the bank. I went in to pay in a cheque and see what had put me over my overdraft limit at the end of the month. I wanted to use the automated machine but there were no paying in envelopes and no one around to tell about it. So I joined the queue for a cashier, knowing they would ask quesitons about upgrading my account and reviewing things. I paid in my cheque and the rest of the conversation went like this-
Cashier: "You are over your overdraft limit on another account, can I look at that for you?"
Me: "You can if you want but there is nothing you can do, my job seekers allowance will be going in soon so it will be back above it."
Cashier: "Maybe we could extend your overdraft limit to help out."
Me: "I don't think that is a good idea as I am unemployed and do not want to get myself into more debt."
Cashier: "Would that be because you would spend the extra money?"
Me: " I am trying to spend as little as possible at the moment so I would not spend it intentionally."
Cashier: "What about your credit cards?"
Me: "I don't pay those out of that bank account."
Cashier: "We could offer you a loan to consolidate all of your debt."
Me: "I don't have enough income for you to give me a loan. I am unemployed."
Cashier: "The details on my computer still show that you are working..."
Me: "That's not exactly RESPONSIBLE LENDING is it."
Cashier: "Oh, um."
Me: "Leave everything as it is."
Cashier: "Maybe you should come in for a budget review."
That is when I walked away in disgust. Not only was it a perfect example of irresponsible lending but also fraud. I could not believe that the cashier had suggested that he lie about me still working to sell a product, it was not as if I hadn't mentioned that I was out of work right at the beginning of the conversation! I am debating about complaining about this, one of the personal bankers which I have dealt with before over heard part of the conversation maybe it is worth saying something...
Cashier: "You are over your overdraft limit on another account, can I look at that for you?"
Me: "You can if you want but there is nothing you can do, my job seekers allowance will be going in soon so it will be back above it."
Cashier: "Maybe we could extend your overdraft limit to help out."
Me: "I don't think that is a good idea as I am unemployed and do not want to get myself into more debt."
Cashier: "Would that be because you would spend the extra money?"
Me: " I am trying to spend as little as possible at the moment so I would not spend it intentionally."
Cashier: "What about your credit cards?"
Me: "I don't pay those out of that bank account."
Cashier: "We could offer you a loan to consolidate all of your debt."
Me: "I don't have enough income for you to give me a loan. I am unemployed."
Cashier: "The details on my computer still show that you are working..."
Me: "That's not exactly RESPONSIBLE LENDING is it."
Cashier: "Oh, um."
Me: "Leave everything as it is."
Cashier: "Maybe you should come in for a budget review."
That is when I walked away in disgust. Not only was it a perfect example of irresponsible lending but also fraud. I could not believe that the cashier had suggested that he lie about me still working to sell a product, it was not as if I hadn't mentioned that I was out of work right at the beginning of the conversation! I am debating about complaining about this, one of the personal bankers which I have dealt with before over heard part of the conversation maybe it is worth saying something...