lloyds bank dumping small farmer to call center

[capfits]

Rabo is an international Bank HQ'd in the Netherlands.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabobank

 

[neilo]

I had a letter as a follow up to phone call I got. Basically said this is what's happening and if you don't like it you can close your account.

Have spoken to Nat west and had meeting here at farm. Very good meeting now awaiting is proposals on interest rates for OD and loans after he took our info away with him.

Nat West have a level of £35k borrowing to get a manager At least that's the level this manager works at, I assume its the same level for all there managers.

One thing you get for free is a accounts package called Freeagent which cost the same as zero £22/month if not a nat west customer. We are just looking at moving from a paper based system to computer system to keep HMRC happy and we were looking a zero as it looked a simple system once set up but now also looking at freeagent if we move banks and accountant is happy with this other software.

I also have the email of head of LLoyds Agriculture if you want to send him a note about how you feel. PM me if you want it.

I understand borrowings of £30k require a visit from/to an Ag bank manager with HSBC. Personally, i’m Happy to keep borrowings below that level and not have the benefit of his ‘wisdom’ and advice. If I was wanting to borrow a larger amount for something, it would be referred up to someone further up from the call centre.

Why does everyone need a dedicated manager?

 

[nt farm]

I had a chat with a local farmer friend of mine who are with lloyds and have been with a call centre for a while now. There opinion of the call centre is not repeatable on this forum. The mother used to work for them but left and they are going to move with in the next few months.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I understand borrowings of £30k require a visit from/to an Ag bank manager with HSBC. Personally, i’m Happy to keep borrowings below that level and not have the benefit of his ‘wisdom’ and advice. If I was wanting to borrow a larger amount for something, it would be referred up to someone further up from the call centre.

Why does everyone need a dedicated manager?

When you're in deep it's nice to have a bit of a relationship going on. (That sounds wrong!)
Ok if you get on with them, but if you don't I guess you may as well deal with a call centre.

 

[neilo]

When you're in deep it's nice to have a bit of a relationship going on. (That sounds wrong!)
Ok if you get on with them, but if you don't I guess you may as well deal with a call centre.

Ooh err missus!

Yes, I can appreciate that entirely, but there’s nowt wrong with a call centre if you are just paddling and I don’t know why everyone thinks they need a personal service (without having to pay for it obviously).

I would think most banks would give you a personal contact if you’re ‘in deep’, if only to keep tabs on you and your ability to pay it back.
I suspect all banks will have their own threshold, where your borrowings qualify you for the personal touch. As above, HSBC’s threshold is apparently £30k.

 

[Turra farmer]

I understand borrowings of £30k require a visit from/to an Ag bank manager with HSBC. Personally, i’m Happy to keep borrowings below that level and not have the benefit of his ‘wisdom’ and advice. If I was wanting to borrow a larger amount for something, it would be referred up to someone further up from the call centre.

Why does everyone need a dedicated manager?

Because that's the way it's always been , , change is seen as bad , and not as progress

 

[nt farm]

Because that's the way it's always been , , change is seen as bad , and not as progres

I not sure I agree that this has anything to do with change against progress. It is quite clear from the thread that some people are happy with keeping in touch through a call centre and some like to talk to the same person and build up a relationship. what is strange is that lloyds have gone through the process of moving people away from managers to call centres then realised that was not working for them or the farmer so changed back to relationship managers and now they are going back again. so is it progress or is it to save money or change or change for change sake. How long till we see the banks move back again to relationship managers?

Why not just ask farmers. as we can see from this tread some are happy with call centres and some would like a manager so why not ask they may get what they want on a voluntary basis with out the need for the threat written in the letter I have received.

 

[Phil P]

Personally I’ve found that no matter what company your dealing with, whether it’s a bank/dealership/mobile phone company or anyone else if you want the best deal it needs no be face to face. When your negotiating large sums of money you need to be able to look them in the eye and see how far you can push them, not someone on the end of the phone who just repeats
“computer says no!”

 

[nt farm]

Yes, I can appreciate that entirely, but there’s nowt wrong with a call centre if you are just paddling and I don’t know why everyone thinks they need a personal service (without having to pay for it obviously).

I think we need to understand the comment "with out paying for it" When I sign up with lloyds I got a level of service and we paid for this in our monthly fees and charges ie cost/month plus p/cheque, p/bacs transfer etc. and as far as I understand it we all pay the same rate except for the very large farms. I believe that post the move away from manager to call centre we are all still being charged the same account fees independent of size. So in fact those remaining with a relationship manager are getting something without paying for it not the other way around. To make things worse for those of us with lower borrowings are paying higher interest rate over BoEBR compared with those with higher levels of borrowings

So in fact small farmers are subsidizing the large and getting a poorer service for it.

 

[An Gof]

Probably looked after at times by my wife as part of the agri team but she's taking voluntary redundancy when Taunton closes in June after 33 years working fot Lloyd's Bank.

Never mind, think of her pension and redundancy payment

 

[Turra farmer]

Personally I’ve found that no matter what company your dealing with, whether it’s a bank/dealership/mobile phone company or anyone else if you want the best deal it needs no be face to face. When your negotiating large sums of money you need to be able to look them in the eye and see how far you can push them, not someone on the end of the phone who just repeats
“computer says no!”

Never mind, think of her pension and redundancy payment

Get a capital value of pension , depending on her grade it could be enough to buy a farm ,

 

[kill]

Never mind, think of her pension and redundancy payment

It isn't very much at all really as since having the kids she's only been working 2 days a week and she likes shopping

 

[Turra farmer]

It isn't very much at all really as since having the kids she's only been working 2 days a week and she likes shopping

It isn't very much at all really as since having the kids she's only been working 2 days a week and she likes shopping

you should get the cash value ,

 

[An Gof]

It isn't very much at all really as since having the kids she's only been working 2 days a week and she likes shopping

Ah, not so good.
One of my best friends who I went through school with joined Nat West at 18 after A levels. He has been with them ever since, full time, and risen through the ranks holding some useful management positions. He retired and took voluntary redundancy last week at 56 years of age. He doesn’t need to work again.
Careers advice at school never identified organisations with good final salary pensions and the security they delivered. Lifetime careers in Police, civil service etc all seem to delivering well for the Baby Boomer generation.

 

[lazy farmer]

for what its worth I lost my Lloyds manager back in feb/march since then I was give a temp manager whilst a new one was found. I thought id email him to see what was happening in getting a replacement.Only to get an automatically generated email to say he has left too!

 

[Muddy Boots]

My experience with Lloyd’s last week. First call to central call centre”managers”.
Call for loan to complete a building project as we’ve had some cost overruns on a diversification upgrade. Have got 70 acres with them which they have charge on and borrowings including overdraft around 65k. Completing the build will add 20k turnover plus to our business.
Explained what we needed and what for. Answer Flat No.
Why? We aren’t lending on commercial building projects.
What if I wanted a tractor or more cattle? Yes no problem.
I was to be honest flabbergasted ,slightly bemused and speechless. So much so I actually called again and went through the process again with a different “manager” just to see if the answer was different.
They’re turning down a guaranteed increase in profitability from a client of 40 years plus.
Every time I spoke to my last manager who I knew by name but never met he would always end his call with “well if you ever need any funds please let me know”.
I’ve eventually put in a complaint about the decision and have now been told very graciously that I can “put in an application for a loan”. Thanks.
Not impressed with this computer says no attitude and lack of personal touch.
A while ago my manager might of said “ I can do that” whilst he was thinking I’ll just put in the notes it’s for something else. Good customer is happy,bank manager happy with turnover.
Complaints department have called me and hopefully taken note of my advice to them.

 

[spitfire]

The Rev Nathaniel Westminster closes it's Milford Haven branch today.
It is to be replaced by a van parked in the doctors surgery car park between 11.50am and 12. 50 pm every Thursday.

If this works out OK, I'll eat my hat.

Nat west have lost their way there are a lot of unhappy customers about at the moment .they have lost some very loyal staff and only got ill informed pen pushers now .

 

[nick...]

Just seen my builder mate who filled in HSBC survey and they have now closed his account.cant beleive it.he does not use an overdraft and is allways in credit.
Nick...