All Systems Go - but not for Abbey
21 June 2008 | Diary | By: Richard
Yet another morning when I could have slept in, but I was wide-awake good and early once more. I think I must just have so much on my mind at the moment, my brain is urging my body to get up and do some of it - sleep can wait. My body isn’t quite in agreement there.
Anyway, up and at it I was. Recent payment needs for the flat have highlighted the issue that I really do need a debit card. It’s twenty plus years since I opened my current account and they didn’t have debit cards back then. That aside, I have always managed in the past with a credit card or bankers draft if necessary, but the property agents insist on payment in cleared funds - even a bank draft has to be allowed time to clear they tell me - so I determined to get myself a debit card before the next payments were due. I checked online for the debit card accounts and Abbey are offering a good deal at the moment, so I got myself ready for a visit to the nearest branch.
I have to say, the help and service I received at Abbey was very good. Unfortunately, on the downside, their systems had gone down, so everything was being done manually. Fine. I filled in the paperwork (some of the questions on the application form forced me to resort to long division on the back of an envelope) but then the paperwork was done. My new account would be set up as soon as they were back on and I would have all the cards and cheque books within three days. Wednesday at the latest.
I had meant to go to the library and get out a book on renting property, but in the excitement that went out of my head and I found myself in Argos getting a new catalogue (potential furniture purchases are ahead!) and then I was back in the car and driving to see Mum and Dad.
It was at Mum and Dad’s that my phone rang. It was the agents. The references had gone through fine, they were issuing my tenancy agreement and I had to pay £810 now, with a further £540 by 26th June. OK, back to the bank to get a bankers draft for the whole amount.
This is the worst bank in the world
Abbey was still in chaos when I got there. Long queues. Lots of grumbling older people, including one old lady who staggered past me crying out “This is the worst bank in the world”. Well, I think that was a bit strong, but it is hugely frustrating for everyone, staff included, when systems fail and we just aren’t prepared for the backward step.
The young man who had helped me earlier spotted me in the queue and came over asking if everything was ok. Nice lad. Not local. Couldn’t quite place the accent. I told him I needed a bankers draft, and the amount, and asked if it was possible. “We can’t even see people’s balances,” he explained. “It won’t be possible.” I asked if he could phone Chelmsford and see if they were on. He took me out of the queue to a cubicle and rang another branch. I think it was Rayleigh he got through to. “Whole of Essex is out,” he explained. “If you can get to a branch outside of Essex then… but otherwise no.” I told him not to worry and I would get around it. Poor guy. I wished him luck and he said he was going to need it.
Fortunately, someone in the family does have a debit card and banks with an organisation other than Abbey (other High Street banks are available), so I was able to pay the sums due to the agent and now have peace of mind on that front. Suddenly I have a new home to go to. It’s all happened very fast - so fast that I haven’t really got used to the idea yet. I move in next Monday. Pictures to follow.