[BNM] [OT] Shouting at the bank - Not feeling so mellow in vancouver

[Nick Taylor]

> There was a thing on Watchdog last week with 
> loads of people moaning about not being able 
> to get cash out when abroad. Banks say it's 
> an automated system that monitors 'unusual' 
> transactions to 'protect' the customer.


First Direct have always been quite good - they blocked my card last 
night on account of unusual behaviour which was in fact legit, but 
they've correctly blocked my account a couple of times. If they get it 
wrong you just ring them up and they sort it out - usually takes about 5 
minutes. Touch wood etc.

There was one time when I needed to get about 700 in cash from ATMs in 
Hong Kong in one day - I rang them up and they raised the 300 a day 
limit etc.

If it wasn't for the 3 day transaction-period swindle and the 
bank-charge swindle I'd even go as far as saying I actually like them. 
But there's the 3 day transaction period swindle, so I absolutely hate them.