Banks - Do You Trust Them?

[BAKERS DOZEN]

We left RBS February 2012 as we were not happy with them and opened up accounts with another high street bank. We asked RBS to close our accounts but they have not done so. Every now and then I check on internet banking and the accounts are stil there all with zero balances. In May just before we went on holiday we both received new debit cards form RBS which I just stuck in the file meaning to contact them when we returned. With the bereavement in the family I forgot all about it until this morning when I received a call from RBS to make sure that we had received the cards as they had noticed on their system that neither of the cards had been used. "But there is no money in the accounts" I said so why would we use the cards? There are no salaries or pensions going in and no direct debits going out. "Oh good you did receive them" said the moron on the other end of line "I will now activate them". Why is is so difficult to close an account. I can feel a visit to the branch comimg on, possibly at a lunchtime when they are busy and hopefully I will frighten away a few more customers. Unfortunately the bank we have gone to seems just as bad but thats another story.

[grasscarp]

I would just ring them or write to them. The person on the counter in the branch is only a minion and will be the wrong one to have a go at in front of everybody.

[boxtops]

Yes, I trust my bank as much as I need to. This sounds like a clerical error, and a not very bright person ringing you who's following a protocol.

[bednobs]

you need to put it in writing

[boxtops]

agree with bednobs

[VHG]

Make sure you SIGN the letter or they wont act on it.

I wrote one letter to my bank on a computer and did not sign it by hand and they said they cant action it unless I sign it so I had to redo it.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

We did all the signing last year when we closed the accounts. We told them the reasons why we were leaving them but they did not seem in the least concerned. I will probably end up writing to head office in Manchester as the branch is useless.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure RBS has a head office in Manchester.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

They have a big new building on Deansgate.

[factor-fiction]

If you cut the cards up and return them to an RBS branch together with a letter saying you definitely want to close the account completely they should process it.
If they fail to act it's their problem really- you could just destroy and further cards that arrive

[factor-fiction]

Okay but that won't be the head office- that was in Edinburgh last time I was there

[BAKERS DOZEN]

I understand what you are saying factor but it is so annoying when you have already done this. I am angry at having to run around after them but I realise that leaving an open account with them is not the best idea as it could be open to abuse.

[factor-fiction]

I know sometimes they can't close accounts immediately in case any transactions are in the pipeline. I once read that with a credit card you shouldn't ask to close the account- there was another word you are supposed to use, but I can't remember what it was now!