Feb 23: The Continuing Tale of RBS

I remember reading this posting on Mogens Norgaard's blog, leaning back in my seat somewhat smugly and thinking - 'Oh, yes. UK anti-money-laundering legislation. I know all about that. Poor man'. Well, without wanting to be too unkind to RBS who are just following the rules, I've had my own minor trials opening a business bank account this week.

I decided to go for RBS. One, because it's the most convenient for my house and two, because I wouldn't touch HBOS with a barge-pole, given the shockingly bad customer service I had from them for years before I closed all my accounts there.

Monday - go to open the bank account with my passport, utility bill and company registration document. No-one there who can open a business account - come back Wednesday.

Wednesday - go in to fill in the forms and have myself formally identified. Excellent. However, Madeleine is the company secretary so they will need her to sign all of the forms and to identify her too.

Thursday - Madeleine and I go in with her ID and the completed application forms. On the way, Madeleine informs me that her passport expired a couple of weeks ago. The bank won't accept it and she has no other form of photo ID as she doesn't drive yet.

Now we're in the position where I can't be paid for several weeks unless (and this is what we'll have to do), she goes through to Glasgow to get an emergency passport renewal which will cost about £100. When we were looking through the passport application, we realised that the only ID she needs is her previous passport as long as the photo is still a reasonable likeness. So she can get a new passport with her existing passport as her sole ID, but not a bank account. Sigh.

Here's the punchline. I looked back at Mogens blog to get the URL and damn me if I'm not convinced we're talking about the same branch of the same bank! I recognise the name and his description of the business manager perfectly.

I should really try to remember what I've read on other people's blogs.

For the record, RBS are not unusual in this regard and are only following the rules.

Posted by Doug Burns Comments: (3) Trackbacks: (0)

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#1 - Mike 2007-02-23 05:27 - (Reply)

Interesting, because I am just in the process of closing my business accounts with RBS for various reasons that have left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied with their customer service (after over ten years of satisfaction)

So far the account opening procedure with Abbey seems to be eerily straightforward.

#2 - Bill S. 2007-02-23 09:47 - (Reply)

A shocker! I thought I was going to be reading about rollback segments. ;-D

Still, an entertaining read. Best of luck, Doug - sounds like a joyful and well-thought-out process. Seems nowadays that Customer and Service are mutually exclusive terms.

Bill S.

#3 - Alex Gorbachev said:
2007-02-23 10:27 - (Reply)

I guess customer service in Scotland is closer to German and generally European as far as I know it (i.e. no service) than to Canadian.


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