Hi all -- who gets "Done by Banks " the worst now

[jimbo45]

Please Mods -- not intended to be a Political argument so assuming people are reasonable in their responses maybe you can let this thread run for a little while since it affects lots of us.

I've been working in many many countries over the years and it seems to me the more money in various countries Banks get paid to save their own skins the worse and more contempt they have for ordinary customers.

My worst experience BY far with banks is in the UK.

For example You really have to pay your bills on time -- and even when you've paid them "On line" you get a £5 late payment bill because these same banks that get billions from "Gordon Clown" say it takes 4 days (YES 4 Days) to transfer an online payment to the Internet company / Energy company etc - even though at the time of payment the money is immediatey taken out of your bank account -- so where is that money during the 3 / 4 days it's gone from your account .

Now computers presumably can transfer "X" amount of EUR / GBP / Roubles etc from account "A" to account "B" with a simple mouse click so why does it take so long for me to get an online payment into a UK energy / Internet provider. I can understand maybe an hour or two to check on "Money Laundering" but if I was a "money Launderer" would I really be bothered with £84.27p type of bills,

Does the same sort of B/S happen in France / Germany / US etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[weh]

Having worked for a bank in times past, I know the answer to this one. For all practical purposes, the money does transfer instantly. However, the banks claim that they need time to "confirm" transactions (yeah, right) in order to prevent mistakes, thus the delay. The interim period is referred to at the "float" -- a period during which banks can use your money for their own purposes -- meaning they include it in the funds they have on loan earning money for them. Unless you are wealthy and can thus influence the bank in your favor (banks almost never "float" funds being transferred for major depositors), you are SOL.

 

[Romulinx2]

I am from the UK and the banks are terrible. Of course they make millions on your money over a couple of days.

The banks have only started recently to have real time (same day) check clearing, yet other countries have had it for years?

I also think the banks should be help responsible for there own bad investments and not bailed out so often with tax payers money.
Although I do know the banks hold up the economy because of business loans etc.

 

[weh]

I also think the banks should be help responsible for there own bad investments and not bailed out so often with tax payers money.
Although I do know the banks hold up the economy because of business loans etc.

The solution is to bail out the bank, but prosecute its officers, management and board as criminals (which they are); however, that is very unlikely to happen (and this is probably getting too political).

 

[johngalt]

If only we could do that here....

We bailed or banks out so that the execs could waste some of the bailout on spurious items and services....