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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jul 26, 2023 7:12:19 GMT 1
.if a bank can treat one customer in such a way, it becomes a precedent, capable of being used against anyone - frightening, scary, and yes, VERY sinister. Perhaps more to come besides (as we might not know the full story for a time yet) but at the minute the chief executive has now stepped down, maybe more to follow and you would think some review will be held (internal or otherwise) to determine what went on. But either way, hopefully a warning to banks and others that they shouldn't be treating customers in such a way. Whatever you think of Farage (and I think its safe to say that Farage derangement syndrome is a very real phenomenon looking to how an awful lot have people have made themselves look very, very silly over this) I think he's done folk a favour. As many of us I'm sure do not wish to see banks and other organizations become the arbiter of what is and is not accepted opinion and essential services withheld as a result. Its good that he has exposed this. And hopefully those who think they may have also been impacted by such decisions now have the courage and the recourse to find out what went on. And hopefully it means banks and other organizations will think twice before doing this sort of thing in the future.
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Post by armchairfan on Jul 26, 2023 9:39:47 GMT 1
.if a bank can treat one customer in such a way, it becomes a precedent, capable of being used against anyone - frightening, scary, and yes, VERY sinister. Perhaps more to come besides (as we might not know the full story for a time yet) but at the minute the chief executive has now stepped down, maybe more to follow and you would think some review will be held (internal or otherwise) to determine what went on. But either way, hopefully a warning to banks and others that they shouldn't be treating customers in such a way. Whatever you think of Farage (and I think its safe to say that Farage derangement syndrome is a very real phenomenon looking to how an awful lot have people have made themselves look very, very silly over this) I think he's done folk a favour. As many of us I'm sure do not wish to see banks and other organizations become the arbiter of what is and is not accepted opinion and essential services withheld as a result. Its good that he has exposed this. And hopefully those who think they may have also been impacted by such decisions now have the courage and the recourse to find out what went on. And hopefully it means banks and other organizations will think twice before doing this sort of thing in the future. Without wishing to turn this thread into a "right-wing echo chamber", I do agree that there is possibly more to emerge from this episode, not least on the accusations that many other accounts, belonging to people who don't have Mr Farage's public profile, have been closed in the same way, using the same criteria. The phrase which I used in my post was "wokeism in action" which now seems to be even more appropriate: increasingly disparaging, selective, discriminatory and prescriptive; in the broad scheme of things, it is not, by itself, necessarily confirmation that these attitudes are damaging our whole society, but it is yet a further example of a growing malaise, if not insanity.
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Post by staffordshrew on Jul 26, 2023 9:52:19 GMT 1
There are other entities that can ditch you without recourse. My understanding is that, for example, a GP can cross you off their surgery list. However, woe betide any GP who discussed the reason why with the media, that is the key reason why the NatWest chief's head has rolled. Right or wrong, how far would this story have gone had she told the media that she was unable to discuss individual cases?
So, two reminders for the banking industry, mantain cnfidentiality and ensure the reasons why someone's bank account is terminated match the stated rules for applying for a bank account with that particular bank in the first place.
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Post by mattmw on Jul 26, 2023 10:20:03 GMT 1
As mentioned in my reply last week this looks a seriously silly error by Alison Rose in releavling data about a client. Very odd thing to do for such an experienced person to do.
Still doesn't seem any sign of Farage getting his exclusive Coultts account back - and the fact the bank felt he was bad for their reputation but they held their nose and kept him while he made money for them, but ditched him when his mortgage ended still seems to stand. Ironically though they were right all along that Farage banking with them risked their reputation - its just proved true in a totally different way by them cocking up their data protection policies around him. Farage 1 Coultts 0
Oddly if the Data Protection bodies judge his data was breached he might get a significant payout which would mean he might still qualify for a Coultts acount based on his income afterall!
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jul 28, 2023 8:45:28 GMT 1
Well if it is 1-0 to Farage it was 'Coutts OG' that decided it for for sure. Mind you, if their reputation is taking a hit their profits seem to be in fine fettle from what is reported this morning. So not all bad news for the bank.
But a weird state of affair anyhow, As I do wonder just how much damage was caused having Farage as a customer anyhow, as in was it hurting the bank. I mean does anyone really care who they happen to be sharing a bank with? Do people actually make an effort to find out and if so, how many? I can't say I have ever bothered to look and I can't say it's ever concerned me. I'm sure I share a bank with many across the political spectrum, from Die Linke to the AfD, but as long as my bank is above board and provides me with a decent service then that's all that matters to me. And I would think that would be more so when it comes to banks such as Coutts who from what you read, have had some pretty questionable people holding accounts there before now. And if they are looking to the wider NatWest group then with as many people liking Farage as disliking him, they were bound to upset at least half their customer base either way. And you can't say they weren't warned either, their own dossier mentioned the potential backlash. What a farce.
Anyhow, the first (independent) review to be kicked off by Coutts themselves by the looks. Reported one or two more may follow. Lets hope this brings about what appears to be some much needed changes.
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Post by mattmw on Jul 28, 2023 11:25:40 GMT 1
Well if it is 1-0 to Farage it was 'Coutts OG' that decided it for for sure. Mind you, if their reputation is taking a hit their profits seem to be in fine fettle from what is reported this morning. So not all bad news for the bank. But a weird state of affair anyhow, As I do wonder just how much damage was caused having Farage as a customer anyhow, as in was it hurting the bank. I mean does anyone really care who they happen to be sharing a bank with? Do people actually make an effort to find out and if so, how many? I can't say I have ever bothered to look and I can't say it's ever concerned me. I'm sure I share a bank with many across the political spectrum, from Die Linke to the AfD, but as long as my bank is above board and provides me with a decent service then that's all that matters to me. And I would think that would be more so when it comes to banks such as Coutts who from what you read, have had some pretty questionable people holding accounts there before now. And if they are looking to the wider NatWest group then with as many people liking Farage as disliking him, they were bound to upset at least half their customer base either way. And you can't say they weren't warned either, their own dossier mentioned the potential backlash. What a farce. Anyhow, the first (independent) review to be kicked off by Coutts themselves by the looks. Reported one or two more may follow. Lets hope this brings about what appears to be some much needed changes. I think within the Coutts papers that Farage released the bank were concerned about the reputational risk Farage brought them. In part due to his views, but also that he was a very public figure and it was becoming more common knowledge he banked with them. Many of their clients don't like public disclosure and the bank (ironically) has always traded on their descretion in keeping customers details out of the press. I'm guessing now having the FSA and and government looking more closely at their banking practices won't go down very well with some of their customers Farage did mention that he's attempted to get bank accounts at 10 other banks but was turned down by them too, so would be interesting to know if banks are sharing data about customers with each other too, although he has since said he's not following up complaints with these banks. Although in fairness Farage's public profile probably meant other banks could find information themselves without asking Coultts for it
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jul 28, 2023 12:34:16 GMT 1
Well if it is 1-0 to Farage it was 'Coutts OG' that decided it for for sure. Mind you, if their reputation is taking a hit their profits seem to be in fine fettle from what is reported this morning. So not all bad news for the bank. But a weird state of affair anyhow, As I do wonder just how much damage was caused having Farage as a customer anyhow, as in was it hurting the bank. I mean does anyone really care who they happen to be sharing a bank with? Do people actually make an effort to find out and if so, how many? I can't say I have ever bothered to look and I can't say it's ever concerned me. I'm sure I share a bank with many across the political spectrum, from Die Linke to the AfD, but as long as my bank is above board and provides me with a decent service then that's all that matters to me. And I would think that would be more so when it comes to banks such as Coutts who from what you read, have had some pretty questionable people holding accounts there before now. And if they are looking to the wider NatWest group then with as many people liking Farage as disliking him, they were bound to upset at least half their customer base either way. And you can't say they weren't warned either, their own dossier mentioned the potential backlash. What a farce. Anyhow, the first (independent) review to be kicked off by Coutts themselves by the looks. Reported one or two more may follow. Lets hope this brings about what appears to be some much needed changes. Farage did mention that he's attempted to get bank accounts at 10 other banks but was turned down by them too, so would be interesting to know if banks are sharing data about customers with each other too Not sure. However, another who has had their account closed recently is Lesley Sawers (again someone who was banking with the NatWest group)... RBS closes gender equality campaigner’s bank account
That was a joint account shared with her husband who states that when looking to open an account at another bank, they were told that his wife has a “mark against her name”. So if this is true, perhaps you might be flagged at other banks too. So again, what was behind this decision. Might well be commercial decision but considering her role and the work she does perhaps this might be someone else having the account closed because their views do not aligned with that of the banks. Hopefully people will soon be in a position to find out what's behind these decisions (and whether the decisions are commercial or driven by something else).
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Post by wookeywombat on Jul 28, 2023 14:35:08 GMT 1
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