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Bedlington Banking

Adam Hogg

By Adam Hogg
in Talk of the Town

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Symptoms

Symptoms

Posted
Posted

The Post Office Savings Bank proposals may mean 'it's the last man standing' in Bedders. Ah, it brings back memories ... the 'old' Post Office bank, the Giro Bank (I think that's what it was called) was my first bank as a teenager and into which went any cash birthday/Chrissy presents. I'm sure I have the old paying-in book somewhere ... obviously cleaned out years ago!

Of course, the arguments regarding these bank closures are well known, but it's tough luck if you're not online, are old or disabled and can't travel to a branch in another town, and are poor. But, hey, they need to cut costs so that bxxxxxds like Ricci Rich and Bob Diamond can trouser fortunes.

Keith Scantlebury

Keith Scantlebury

Posted
Posted

Burnside Estate Residents Group have just opened their account with Unity Trust. It took less than a fortnight from posting the forms to getting the account details (yesterday). At first we tried to keep the account local, as advised and we whent to Lloyds TSB in Bedlington. Unity Trust have helped us every step of the way, L-TSB were exactly the opposite they promised a call from an advisor the next day (after we enquired) that call came 2 weeks later, even then after 2 or 3 calls from us to gee them up. The guy seemed a right plonker he wouldnt beleive that members would not be paying subs, he wanted to know exactly how much was to be paid in and spent every month etc etc . I phoned Wansbeck CVS and they told us that the TSB were out of order asking questions we could not answer and the ammount going in and out had nothing to do with them, that is our business. WCVS put me onto Unity Trust who specialise in groups like ours and they could not have been more helpful.

threegee

threegee

Posted
Posted

Shame. I remember when there was a Midland and a Lloyds. Think there was a Barclays too.

It was a Martins - Captain Mainwaring! :D For many years a Mr Bilton the branch manager.

285059832_1e835f0a5f.jpg

http://www.martinsba...rchive Data.htm

Seems like Barclays won't allow the old Martins material to be published. Might just close my account with them - ooops I already did! :D

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Update: Though it doesn't appear to be linked to any longer there's still a brilliant page here: http://www.martinsba... Bedlington.htm - so shucks to you Barclays! :P Includes a pic of Mr R.Bilton, and of course Mr A. Charlton, who I almost forgot!

They don't seem to be able to make their mind up if it was R.T.Bilton or R.L.Bilton, and I'm unable to help on that one just at the mo. In those days few were on first name terms with their local bank manager - unless, of course, you knew the secret handshake! :D

tomtom

tomtom

Posted
Posted

Well, once the last bank standing goes, so will dear old Bedlington. Who in their right mind would want to live here let alone invest or open a business without banking facilities on hand. Does anybody care?

Adam Hogg

Adam Hogg

Posted
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Posted

I contacted HSBC about when they announced that they were closing the Bedlington Branch asking why they were closing it and got a phone call a few days later and got told there was not a large foot fall though the door and it was not value for money, yet at the time the were making a profit of something stupid like £2 billion I thought it must not be eating away at profits that much but they closed it all the same and I am still angry at them for doing it.

Merlin

Merlin

Posted
Posted

Lloyds TSB what a joke, can't use their current account cards in any cash machine except their own, but I can use my savings card in any machine eh! When I asked about this their reply was, well you can get cash back at any store! Yes you muppets if I spend ten quid first.

Anyway ended up closing my account with them, this in itself was less than straight forward! Here goes. Went into bank. I want to close my account. Ok Mr ****** I'll check your account first, well you seem to have a returned direct debit from two month ago! News to me,but never mind. Ok, says me how much? Twenty pound sir. Ok there's twenty pound. Thank you sir. Is that it I ask. Well sir there is a thirty pound charge as well. Frowning and muttering, there's the thirty pound. Is that all? Can The account be closed now? Yes, Yes Oh! Wait a minute you used your card on Friday at Tesco four pound thirty. Well I'll give you that as well says I. Can't do that sir it still hasn't cleared the system. If you come back on Thursday it will have cleared and we can close your account then. Huffing and puffing by now, So that's it four pound thirty on Thursday and nothing else, are you sure. Yes sir I've checked the whole system and it's clear. Right see you Thursday.

Thursday. Into the bank I go (you know where this is heading) I knew I was in bother when I saw the specky bald headmaster type on the counter. I was in on Monday to close my account and was told to come back today to pay four pound thirty to clear my account and close it. Ok he says I'll just check your account, you have a returned direct debit from two month ago. I paid that Monday. Not according to this and there will be a thirty pound charge as well! Are you paying this today? No I f****** well am not I paid all that on Monday.you owe us the money sir, this while looking down his nose as if talking to a turd. Me trying to be calm growl through gritted teeth, Your cashier checked my account on Monday and. I owe. You. Nothing. More. Than. Four. Pound. Thirty! Sir you have a returned direct debit from two month ago. Again down his nose. Nuclear explosion at the counter No f****** wonder every f****** body hates you f****** w****** b****** bankers stuff your bank and stuff you son as from now my account is closed. Stormed out of bank. Drove home and fired off an e-mail to head office accusing them of everything from incompetence , fraud, theft and generally being assh****. Ended up getting everything I paid,back, and fifty quid compensation good eh! Nope they paid the fifty quid into the account they had closed. That's not the end folks about an hour after I stormed out of the bank I went to Greggs and after getting served I turned round and low and behold who should be behind me in the queue but mister headmaster himself. He said There was no need for that carry on before and no need to swear at me. Ya forgetting two important points pal, ya not in the bank and tha's not a glass screen between us now, you eva talk down ya f****** nose to me again you'll regret it and m8 av reported you for attempted theft and fraud you are now under investigation from your head office, have a nice day or words to that effect!

mercuryg

mercuryg

Posted
Posted

Lloyds TSB what a joke, can't use their current account cards in any cash machine except their own,

You sure about this Merlin? I have a current account debit card with LLoyds-TSB and it can be used in any Switch ATM, free of charge?

mercuryg

mercuryg

Posted
Posted

Update: Though it doesn't appear to be linked to any longer there's still a brilliant page here: http://www.martinsba... Bedlington.htm - so shucks to you Barclays! tongue.png Includes a pic of Mr R.Bilton, and of course Mr A. Charlton, who I almost forgot!

They don't seem to be able to make their mind up if it was R.T.Bilton or R.L.Bilton, and I'm unable to help on that one just at the mo. In those days few were on first name terms with their local bank manager - unless, of course, you knew the secret handshake! biggrin.png

Interesting stuff, but I'm sure its' not a takeaway food outlet these days!!

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