daily life: DIY banking.

As a British Tax-payer you own a piece of several large banks in the UK, including the Lloyds group that own Halifax. You might think that gives you a certain level of respect when you visit a branch, but Halifax have decided that because you own the bank that means you should actually be working behind the counter.

Yesterday I went to my local Halifax branch (there are other banking institutions available) to withdraw some money, and pay-in some money. After 10 minutes in a ludicrously long queue I was at a cashiers window and made my request. In a very abrupt and rude tone the cashier asked 'Have you filled in a withdrawal slip?'. Having no clue what she was on about I answered 'No, I have not', to which she responded, 'We have a new policy, you have to fill in a slip and then hand it to us, go over there and fill this in while I serve some customers'.

I was not best pleased with this, but I duly filled in the slip that previously was filled in by the cashier. I made a smart remark about how I was doing the cashiers job now and she mumbled something.

When I returned to the window I was told that by filling in the slip myself I was benefiting from new services, now 'Cheques clear faster and I can make bill payments'. The cashier then proceeded to type in the details I had been forced to write on the paper into her computer terminal. What the hell, if you are still going to type the details in then what is the point in making me write my sort code .etc. on a piece of paper.

She mumbled again about how filling in the slip myself will magically make my cheques clear faster to which I nodded because explaining that this is nothing to do with their 'new' process which they ripped straight from the 1940s would be fruitless.

When internet banking was introduced about 15 years ago the concept was that by banking yourself, at home, you saved the bank money and they duly rewarded you with higher interest rates. But now banks have taken this too far, next time I walk into my local Halifax branch somebody will probably hand me a name badge and a uniform.

The Halifax logo is a registered trademark which I do not own.