Fed up with being asked if you want loans and credit when you go up to the counter??

Question

Am I the only one that is fed up with this? You go into *your* bank and the first thing they ask you is "are you interested in another credit card". You go into the Post Office for one stamp and: "have you heard about how we can save you money on your credit card". You go into the supermarket for a tin of beans and by the door: "sir, can I ask you if you have a credit card"...! AGH!

I can just about stomach junk mail, spam ads and the occasional cold call but I think if you go into the Post Office for a stamp, for example, the clerk shouldn't be harassing customers to take out a credit card like some sort of door-to-door salesman on commission?

Am I being old fashioned? And don't even get me on overseas call centres...

Answer 1

Hi!

Yeah, I know EXACTLY what you mean!!

I used to work for a high street bank and we got an old fella that used to come in and he would hand us a card, which said something like:

I don't need:

Insurance
Assurance
Investment Advice
Tax Advice
If I want any kind of advice, I will ask YOU!
Thank you.

It was purely for this reason (having to sell, sell, sell to customers all the time) that led me to giving in my notice and starting my own business.

THE best move I EVER made!

It's getting to the point now, where I dread having to go into my bank because of this type of pestering.

Now ...

.... overseas call centres!!! You should hear my husband when he gets one! It is HILARIOUS!! We shouldn't laugh (should we?)!!!

Answer 2

I totally agree with you on that...BUT, I work as a mystery shopper and I get given tasks to check that the ppl that hassle the public are doing just that, hassling ppl to take loans or credit cards, when I'm working, if they do not ask if I would like to take out a loan or if I'm interested in whatever, I have to report them for not doing their jobs and they could get sacked. Although I agree with what you're saying, I do try to bear in mind that if they don't approach the public they could loose their jobs, they never know when they'll be tested by a mystery shopper and they know this, so I just politely say 'no thank you'. It's the same in shops if some1 asks 'can I help you there?' they are only doing it cos it's part of job description.

Answer 3

As for your bank, you can opt-out of solicitations. Simply call them and tell them that you do not want to be solicited when you go to a branch or call the bank.

I haven't been to the post office in a long time, but I never had that experience. Nor at the market.

I won't say anything about the lack of professionalism or competence at the outsourced call centers. Washington Mutual Credit Card division had so many complaints, that they are closing theirs. I hope other companies follow suit.

Answer 4

And they wonder why people are so in debt!!!

I had to laugh about the overseas call centers. I had one a couple weeks ago and all I had was a simple question about my card. I had absolutely no idea what the person on the other end of the phone was saying to me though. I tried for about 5 minutes to get an answer but the broken English was beyond me.

Answer 5

I'm with you 100% Si. At least you can stop junk mail and unwanted phone calls, but to be confronted face to face like that is v annoying. I wonder what the people who work in the Post Office think about having to try and flog something else along with the stamps?
Overseas call centres....they always call me by my surname, which makes me feel as if I'm back at school. Does this happen to anyone else?

Answer 6

Yes I agree with you. I dont have a credit card and dont need one. The financial institutions make huge amounts of profit from loans and their staff are pressed into pushing loan and credit facilities at every opportunity. They probably have targets , with probable bonuses for achieving them.The amount of junk mail that comes in the post relating to cards ,loans and debt resolving is immense and it only shows how much these companies are prepared to spend in order to get as much lucrative business as they can.

Answer 7

Yes its going on across the UK, this harassment should be made illegal.
the banks peddle their credit cards and loans and when people are in debt they harass them again to pay up, putting interest on if not payed on time. I f customers are talked into taking out these loans, credit cards etc there should be no come backs when they cant afford to pay them.

Answer 8

I agree with you... I hate being asked for all of that extra stuff. I just want to go in buy what I need and get out of there.. but, they wouldn't ask and push them if they weren't making money off of them.

The associates who are pushing the credit cards, etc. are most often not in favor of the cards, and wish they didn't have to ask. I used to work for KMart and they wanted you to ask, but I just couldn't do it... so I didn't. But I think these days they don't have much of a choice.

My mother in law was working for Target recently and she had to ask. When she didn't, they said something to her. She was great with the customers, and they loved her, but they would still get on to her for not asking if they wanted a credit card.

I just continue to say no thank you.

Answer 9

I can answer for the bank issue. That is their job. The banks know that 90% of the customers who come through the bank everyday are only going to go to the tellerline and will never see the financial sales rep. The teller's job is to find those customers who actually have a financial need and get them in front of the sales people.

Please don't persecute these people for doing their jobs. All you have to say is "No thanks" and be on your merry way. There is no need for you to mull over the fact that you "hate" this. Trust me, there are worse things to hate.

Answer 10

Totally with you. Very annoying. If we wanted a loan or credit card, we would ask for one. It is companies like this, putting the idea in your head when you didn't really want either, that put everyone in so much debt.