Machines have taken the place of people – and make a trip to the bank an excruciating ordeal
AS I stepped out of the bank today, anger overtook me. I stood in a queue with nine people in front of me, all appalled by what has happened to our banks. What used to be a place to do business and talk to a friendly member of staff has now become a place that no one wishes to go. As I stood listening to the people in front of me, they all had the same anger as myself. Alas, we all need to use a bank. The counters that used to be open and welcoming are now curtained off, and machines have taken the place of people. I should mention that before the machines arrived, we were given envelopes to do lodgements, but they have gone too. However bad I felt for myself due to having a business to run, and being in a hurry, my anger was more for the elderly people in front of me being told to go use a machine which is alien to them to do lodgements or transfers. One had limited eyesight and was clearly unable to see the machine or follow the instructions. While I stood there, I told two women they must sit down and write a letter to complain instead of standing in a queue doing so. They said they had done so to no avail. A few facts I must mention which fuelled my anger. I run a business which deals mostly in cheques and limited cash. Most lodgements would have up to 50 cheques in them. I am told I must stand at this machine and enter the amounts individually and in turn, I am given 50 images of the cheques which I lodge. So I took my own advice and complained to one of the lovely girls who works there. She seems as angry as myself however, as they are all to be offered voluntary redundancy or must reapply for the jobs they are now in. She did, however, tell me that if I used the night safe option, the staff would have to key the cheques for me. (Why are we paying bank charges? I ask myself and her.) While I was there, I also needed to get some cash for a float so I stayed in the queue to wait for the one open counter, which they are obliged to man. Eventually, I got my float and was then handed a letter telling me that in future I have to order my €200 float a day in advance. This was after a very long wait. The appalling thing is, when you do go to the counter, the staff will spend more time telling you how to use an online facility, than the time they spend carrying out the transaction you require. Eimear Mc Guinness Co Donegal