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AIBU

Banking Bullies! Feeling ignored, and most un'appy

(52 Posts)
sandelf Mon 25-May-26 14:22:22

Nationwide - been with them years. Adopted online banking as soon as it was offered. I do not want to bank on my phone 'out and about'. Nobody has ever shown me how an App would be better than online banking. Today, I get an email I can't reply to telling me my 'saving statement' is 'here'. I follow the instructions and there is nothing. I have already done the instructed routine to continue having paper statements. To me this is NOT trivial - both of us are in our late 70's with sight, hearing and memory problems. We are coping, but we do need to have physical statements we can look over and put notes on ourselves. Their 'new look' is laughably unhelpful. I am very sure I'm not the only one feeling they are going backwards fast.

TwiceAsNice Mon 25-May-26 14:25:38

This drives me mad, I feel your pain. Nothing is convenient for the customer any more. My daughter is a big help with stuff but it shouldn't be so difficult . And don’t get me started on parking the car with a mobility problem!

Elegran Mon 25-May-26 14:29:35

As you can't reply to that email, why not sent an email separately to them, explaining how you feel and why you don't want to have completely electronic statements? Even better, send a paper letter on a signed-for delivery, which they can't deny receiving.

Boz Mon 25-May-26 15:04:20

Do you know how to download and then print your statement, which would give you a hard copy to write upon?

Wheniwasyourage Mon 25-May-26 15:42:55

I agree, sandelf. We've just got the letters from Nationwide (one each for a joint account...) about getting statements online. There are instructions on the back of the letter about how to keep getting paper statements, and I intend to follow them.

It's true that, as Boz says, you can download and print statements, but it's just another example of putting all the work on to the punter rather than the organisation. Nationwide is a business, and of course they are making a profit out of looking after our money for us, as one would expect. I prefer them to send us statements, and I also like to keep what is left of Royal Mail and our posties going.

pably15 Mon 25-May-26 15:55:57

I agree, Nationwide has changed, I used to be able to go in, hand over my bank book to deposit or take out cash, they did away with the bank book, now you have to have another form of identification, like a passport, which I don't have or the last paper statement they sent me. it's over a year since they sent me a statement.the only other thing is to get a bank card.
I can't download apps, I don't have a smart phone, why can't they leave things as they are?

MissAdventure Mon 25-May-26 15:59:37

We're veibg railroaded into doing everything online, whether we like it or not.

Boz Mon 25-May-26 16:15:45

Because AI is running the show. Cheaper, works round the clock.

Sago Mon 25-May-26 16:18:34

I think Nationwide are excellent.
The app is simple and secure.
Why not go into a branch and ask for help?

Romola Mon 25-May-26 16:25:24

Sorry, but I'm going to speak up for being able to do banking and other stuff on a mobile phone. I'm nearly 81, by the way.
I was very anxious about it to begin with, but I've got used to it and it's helpful in many ways. I like being able to check my accounts when I'm away, for instance.
The fact is that you can't participate in the world today without a smartphone.

petra Mon 25-May-26 16:33:20

Wheniwasyourage
Royal Mail was privatised in 2013. It is now part of a Czech company.

Sandelf
I’m a bit confused. Do you have online banking on the device you use at home ( not your phone) is the reason you don’t log into your bank online because of eye sight problems.
You do not need an app to log into your device at home
Apps were only developed for them not us.
It’s a colossal earner for all these companies.

eddiecat78 Mon 25-May-26 16:47:55

I've not had a letter yet but will opt to carry on having paper statements - mainly because I have been asked for a recent paper bank statement as a form of id in the past. Several organisations won't accept online statements that you have printed off. I still have paper statements for my credit card for the same reason

sandelf Mon 25-May-26 19:03:45

I know how to download and print out - but it uses my computer drive, my ink, my paper, my printer. I use a passworded laptop for online banking - can use it anywhere so going away is no problem. I just resent being herded into a method of banking I don't trust (cloud storage anyone??) and being told it's all 'better'. We are very lucky to have a local branch and staff there are wonderful, but on the day Putin / Musk fall out, I want some evidence of our accounts.

Madgran77 Tue 26-May-26 05:58:59

I think you can
1. Ask local branch to print statements for you
2. Ask local branch to reconfirm you want papsr statements and mark it as for access reasons because of disabilities -sight; hearing; memory loss as mentioned by you

Astitchintime Tue 26-May-26 06:51:22

Go in to the branch and speak to the manager if possible. Our NW branch staff are fabulous, particularly with elderly/less able people.
It is alarming that everything appears to be needing an app these days and I think car parking charges are a prime example of discrimination against those of us who don’t have and don’t want a smart phone!

Madgran77 Tue 26-May-26 07:59:19

Even for those who do have a smart phone there is absolutely no guarantee that the systems will work. I loathe the parking arrangements. And the instructions are not always clear either 🙄😠

sandelf Tue 26-May-26 08:37:36

Thanks Madgran77 - that may be the thing to do to get them to stop pestering.

TheatreLover Tue 26-May-26 08:50:56

Romola

Sorry, but I'm going to speak up for being able to do banking and other stuff on a mobile phone. I'm nearly 81, by the way.
I was very anxious about it to begin with, but I've got used to it and it's helpful in many ways. I like being able to check my accounts when I'm away, for instance.
The fact is that you can't participate in the world today without a smartphone.

I'm going to speak up for online banking/apps as well, and I am 80. I can remember when I used to worry about what was going on with my bank accounts, and the anxiety of having to ring the banks, particularly if I was abroad at the time. Now I can see easily via the app or online banking what is going on.

Farzanah Tue 26-May-26 08:51:29

My mother died recently and I am the executor of her estate. It’s really complex because everything is on line, and documents are sent on line. When I went into a branch of her bank to present her death certificate, as requested, I asked for some help with her accounts, I was told curtly, we don’t do bereavement in branch, go on line.

TheatreLover Tue 26-May-26 08:57:46

sandelf

I know how to download and print out - but it uses my computer drive, my ink, my paper, my printer. I use a passworded laptop for online banking - can use it anywhere so going away is no problem. I just resent being herded into a method of banking I don't trust (cloud storage anyone??) and being told it's all 'better'. We are very lucky to have a local branch and staff there are wonderful, but on the day Putin / Musk fall out, I want some evidence of our accounts.

Why not just ring Nationwide? It should be easy enough for Nationwide to change your preference to receiving paper statements if you prefer. No smart phone needed.

TheatreLover Tue 26-May-26 09:02:07

Sago

I think Nationwide are excellent.
The app is simple and secure.
Why not go into a branch and ask for help?

I agree that Nationwide is great. I've no idea if this is true or not, but I was told by a Nationwide member of staff recently that their apps are more secure than on-line banking.

Maggiemaybe Tue 26-May-26 09:52:23

It really doesn’t matter one jot whether other people are happy with their online banking/banking apps. The fact is that if any customer, particularly one with sight, hearing and memory problems wants to have paper statements, then that’s precisely what they should get.

Basgetti Tue 26-May-26 09:53:37

Love your thread title 👏👏👏

Galaxy Tue 26-May-26 09:59:08

Whilst I agree with that Basgetti, as a nationwide customer I am probably going to be a bit concerned if nationwide make their tech decisions based on some theory about putin and musk. I would rather they didn't do that.

Lovetopaint037 Tue 26-May-26 10:24:38

petra

Wheniwasyourage
Royal Mail was privatised in 2013. It is now part of a Czech company.

Sandelf
I’m a bit confused. Do you have online banking on the device you use at home ( not your phone) is the reason you don’t log into your bank online because of eye sight problems.
You do not need an app to log into your device at home
Apps were only developed for them not us.
It’s a colossal earner for all these companies.

Just a heads up for banking apps. I feel they are more secure than going online which is open to the whole wide world. By using an app you are taken directly into your accounts which must be more secure. It is so easy to download an app and any younger member of your family will do it for you in minutes. I am 85 and if it’s simple for me then as long as your eyesight is up to it you would manage it. Best if you do it while your trusted relative is next to you to help or guide you. Try not to hand it over to them as they may well whizz through it leaving you no better informed than before. I use an iPad which is the easiest of all technology once you have used it for a short time with the odd help if needed. Also I never go into banking unless I am at home using my wi fi or that of a trusted friend/ relative. Never use a general wi fi available away from home. Someone we know did this at an airport just before long haul trip. His bank was cleared out by the time he reached his destination. Be bold, have a go and life will be so much easier for you.