Halifux. Always giving you extra.
Whilst this is technically a case of the business being shitty, I’m sure that they looked on it as my ex wife being more than a little awkward, so I shall tell the tale anyway.

By the time my ex mother in law died, I had already been split from her daughter for about a year. We were still quite close at the time though, the situation with her mum’s illness kind of being the glue that continued to bind us.

The day she died, we both went up the street to sort a few things out – notify the undertakers, close bank accounts, that sort of thing. I went along more for moral support than anything else. All was going well, until we got to the last bit of financial stuff to sort out. With the Halifux; with whom she had some shares and a TESSA. We went in, waited in the queue, then got to the counter. I let my ex do the talking.

“Hello”, she said, “My mum died this morning and I’m sorting out her affairs. I know she’s got some shares and an account with you but I can’t find the papers; I was just wondering if I gave you the details, if you could let me know how much was in them and possibly close the accounts? I’ve got her death certificate here”.

“Yes, of course”, the cashier began. This sounds promising. “I’ll make you an appointment”. Or, maybe not.

“I don’t really have to want to come back, to be honest, can’t you just tell me now?”

“I’m afraid we can’t”.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a private matter”.

“But there’s nobody in here”.

“It’s company policy”.

“I really don’t mind, all I want to do is get this sorted today so I don’t have to worry about it. Please?”

“You would need to make an appointment to be seen in a private room”.

“Honestly, I really would prefer to sort this here”.

And on it went for another five minutes whilst my ex got more and more frustrated. Eventually, probably to shut her up and get rid of her, they acquiesced to her request, and the matter was sorted within about two minutes. The accounts were closed and the assets transferred to a holding account.

“Thank you”, said my ex to the teller monkey, politely but with obvious disdain.

“You’re welcome”, came the terse reply, “but next time this happens you will need to make an appointment”.

My ex turned, and calmly remarked “I can assure you that my mother isn’t going to die a second time”. Then she turned on her heel and walked out. Secretly, I was quite impressed.

I closed my account with the Halifux the very next day.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Fri 5 Sep 2008, 13:15, 2 replies)

Nice!
Banks are so arrogent these days, they seem to forget that without OUR money they are simply just buildings with people in them. And those people wouldn't be there long without OUR money.

Glad to hear you moved your account. It's funny how if you kick up enough in a bank their 'company policy' goes out the window.
(dchurch bah, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 16:05, closed)

Been there, done that.
After a similar experience, the solicitor dealing with my late Mum's affairs commented "Oh well, *insert name* Bank are Johnny Come Lately. They were established in 1789, and we've been here since 1738"

Suffolk of course.
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 17:42, closed)