Post Office.........again..!!!

mez · 20-04-2006, 15:02

I HAVE JUST BEEN TO MY LOCAL POST OFFICE TO DRAW SOME MONEY OUT INSTEAD OF TRAIPSING TO ACCY OR OSSY .WHAT DO I FIND ...A PETITION, NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GOT PAID BENEFITS, PENSIONS WHATEVER BY A BOOK IN THE POST OFFICE ...THIS CHANGED SOME 12MONTHS AGO. ONTO A CARD & AN ACCOUNT THROUGH THE POST OFFICE, NOW THE POST OFFICE ARE SAYING THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE POST OFFICE & ARE GOING TO FINISH THE CARD SYSTEM & TELL PEOPLE TO GO TO THE BANKS.NOW AM I CORRECT IN THINKING THAT NOT EVERYONE IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT ..(I DO) ......WHAT WILL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVN'T OR CAN'T GET AN ACCOUNT IN THE BANK DO HOW WILL THEY BE PAID?.A WORRYING ISSUE I THINK FOR ALL CONCERNED.

wayneyboy1942 · 20-04-2006, 15:35

Is it possible for you to ask to be paid by giro cheque Mez? I know you could ask to be paid that way when they did away with payment books!
I know some people who did'nt have bank accounts and now get paid weekly this way!

kazza · 20-04-2006, 16:41

wel i for one am glad they the post office are closing their accounts i have one and it took 3 weeks to set up and you can only get your money from inside the post office not at normal atm's and you cant set direct debits up they are a waste of time. for anyone without a bank account already i have just opened a basic bank account with barclays anyone can get one (they said) u dont get credit checked or anything youu can use normal atm's and set up direct debits and it only took 5 days to set up. i got paid by giro for a few weeks while i was without an account but i kept gettin letters asking me to open an account so for anyone in this rocky boat get to barclays!

bad breath brown · 20-04-2006, 18:20

im getting a petition going......against big thick black print.

jambutty · 20-04-2006, 22:08

Yes it was a bit loud wasn’t it? I had to put my hands over my ears when I read it.

Too many people using the Post Office? Are they for real? Isn’t that how a PO makes money - from lots of customers?

There is nothing on the Post Office web site about discontinuing the plastic. Maybe it’s just a local issue at that PO?

harwood red · 20-04-2006, 22:16

This is something that has come up as an issue at work with the people I'm supporting (mostly elderly). wayneboy is right I do have quite a few that get giro's each week for their pension but then you are relying on the mail and I have had to advise them to make sure they can keep some in reserve for when a giro goes missing (which has happened and can be a nightmare to sort out).

Many elderly don't have bank accounts and even if they did they struggle to get to many banks as they are usually only found in town centres, unlike many post offices

SPUGGIE J · 21-04-2006, 02:54

First I have heard so it might be local. I hant heard anything about the PO closing the girobank side either its odd. I am with the alliance and Leicester and am supposed to be able to use the PO for deposits and withdrawels so am I going to cop that as well. My branch is Falkirk and I use the Po if making deposits as its easier than trapesing up to Falkirk.

entwisi · 21-04-2006, 05:04

My mum has a card account at the PO. She opened it beacuse she liked to keep her pension money seperate from her other. It also gives her a reason to go for a walk down to the PO. I guess the problem is that when they were using books, the PO would get a small fee for each one cashed. I can see that the goverment would probably have stopped this now its all electronic. So the PO still have the same work to do but for zero reward.

I think its terrible that they are messing about with these old people who quite often find it distressing to have to switch systems like this.

jaysay · 21-04-2006, 09:03

I would just like to make a point on the matter of benefit and pension payment referred to by Mez. I was informent some time ago when dealing with my mothers pension by the Ministry of Work and Pensions that the Government contract with the Post Office to pay benefits and pensions is coming to an end and will not be renewed. It is not the Post Office, for whatever reason, pulling out of the deal. It has long been the intention of the Government to have all benefits paid into bank accounts irrespective of any inconvenience it may cause to the elderly and disabled, not actually listening to the people are they.

jambutty · 21-04-2006, 14:12

Much obliged for that very useful piece of information jaysay.

I just couldn’t imagine the PO not wanting to make money. When it happens the PO’s will lose out heavily not just because of pensions etc but also the paying of things like Water, Gas, Electric, Phone etc. If I’m going to forced to go to my bank to withdraw my pension I may as well pay those there at the same time just like I do at the PO.

I also vaguely remember reading somewhere that we won’t be able to buy our TV licenses from the PO. What next? The Road Fund License?

pendy · 21-04-2006, 17:29

You used to be able to get the form for prescription prepayment at chemists, and pay in cash. Now you have to do it either online or by phone, using a debit card. I tried to point out to the powers that be that some people do not have a PC and some don't have a debit or credit card. I was told that most people had bank accounts anyway, so it didn't matter. It does seem that if anything works, they'll cock it up. Getting the pension from the PO is also a social thing, pensioners meet others getting their pension and have a chat. Very few people talk in banks!

jambutty · 21-04-2006, 18:08

I’m beginning to feel like a sheep being herded into a particular gate by this government.

The words 'Big Brother' kepp wafting through my brain!

SPUGGIE J · 21-04-2006, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

I’m beginning to feel like a sheep being herded into a particular gate by this government.

The words 'Big Brother' kepp wafting through my brain!

A sheep stalked by a wolf would be closer. As for the wafting it is likely to be a wrecking ball.

Again we lose a little but important facit to our society and community of refined older peope. Sorry but banks are not friendly enough to pensioners as it seems to be turn them round as quick as they can. In contrast the local postmaster and their staff would natter away to the pensioners with a nice friendly community spirit. Comercialism wins over practicallity again at the expense of a group of people who need this service most.

Stanaccy · 23-04-2006, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I would just like to make a point on the matter of benefit and pension payment referred to by Mez. I was informent some time ago when dealing with my mothers pension by the Ministry of Work and Pensions that the Government contract with the Post Office to pay benefits and pensions is coming to an end and will not be renewed. It is not the Post Office, for whatever reason, pulling out of the deal. It has long been the intention of the Government to have all benefits paid into bank accounts irrespective of any inconvenience it may cause to the elderly and disabled, not actually listening to the people are they.

Actually the contract for the Post Office Card Accounts is with Citibank. It was originally to run to 2010 I think. But as they screwed up so much it isn't being renewed. It was also short term to allow people 5 years to get a bank account sorted.