Earth - Where to now that double points are ending

Cyberdog100 · #21 (**permalink**) 13th January 2007, 11:24 AM

Good work with the survey. I'm not happy that I never got the link and I check my junk folder at least every 2-3 weeks so that can't have been the reason!

I just got my Citibank fee-free Visa Gold so the Earth cards are getting locked away till annual fee time and wont be used anymore. I wonder if they'll send me a survey link or anything now that there won't be any charges on my account!

clifford · #22 (**permalink**) 13th January 2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberdog100

I have to say I've found Westpac to be the most unprofessional of any banks i've ever dealt with!

Yes, I think I have to agree with you on that one, cyberdog.

As for their branches, they are a complete disgrace. They've sacked all their experienced branch staff (apart from the non-performing managers), so you now have huge queues at all times of the day,

A bit like St George (and who wants to be compared with them?).

Oh, and have you tried contacting Westpac's call centre. I have (it wasn't a pleasant experience).

Cyberdog100 · #23 (**permalink**) 13th January 2007, 10:46 PM

Don't even get me started on Westpac's call centre!!! Everyone gives the Indian call centres a bad wrap, but personally i think 3's Indian call centre is a thousand times better than Westpac's local call centres!

In short, i had some transactions processed as cash advances, which i never expected. So I called and they said they'll reverse the charges. First time it happened they didn't reverse anything, despite me getting a reference number that it was done.

Called back again, argued with 2 levels of "support" then finally they revered it. I gave them the reference number and they said there was no record on my account of anything ever been credited. I was thinking what the hell!!

Despite me paying out the full balance after the first cash advances were charged (over $12k at the time) which wasn't going to be due for another 3 weeks, so I was peeved that I had to cough up the cash so early, but nonetheless i did.

I get the statement and interest's still been charged!! I call again and again battle through 2 levels of "support" and after over 40 mins on the phone they said they'll credit me the interest.

I was promised that this was the end of it and no more interest will be charged, but you wouldn't believe it, last month there was yet another interest charge. it was only about $2.50 but the fact that interest was still being charged was a real worry. It was $2.50 then, god knows what it'd get to the following month!

3 levels of "support" later and i finally spoke to someone who had some knowledge and professionalism. He gave me his personal salary number and said to ask for him if i have anymore problems but he assured me that I wouldn't. I told him politely that i'd been "assured" 3 times already that it was all over but wasn't.

Another farce was my mum's additional card. She was called into the brach for ID (fair enough). However the letter she received looked so dodgy and unprofessional that i thought a 5 year old wrote it!

No logo on the envelope, no letterhead on the page, page folded into 4 sections, very croodely at that! It looked so bad that i seriously had doubts it was from one of the country's largest banks!

I went into the branch to tell them how unprofessional it was and the only explanation i got was that it was "blah blah" the woman that sent the letter, so it seemed that was her standard and they were content with that! I was told i'd get a call back from her, over 6 months later i'm still waiting!

Anyway, my mum takes the letter to a branch and she gives 100 points ID and the guy photocopies it all. He said its fine and went to the back to get it all authorised. 15 mins later (you'd think it'd take a couple of mins) they come out and say that's fine and thank her for coming in.

The next evening, my mum gets a call and they said she has to come back, it wasn't enough ID!!! According to the letter there was 115 points of ID in all the documents she produced, how that was not enough I cannot comprehend!

They funny thing is that I, the primary cardholder only had to produce my licence when picking up the cards and nothing more, no 100 point ID check or anything!

End of Rant!

kyle · #24 (**permalink**) 13th January 2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberdog100

Another farce was my mum's additional card. She was called into the brach for ID (fair enough).

I didn't know supp card holders had to do 100 point ID checks too

. Is it because it's a bank?

For Amex, I just gave them the name and DOB of the supp card holder and signed the paper saying I would be responsible for the charges. That's it.

Evan · #25 (**permalink**) 13th January 2007, 11:59 PM

Shall we talk about westpac use the mouse to enter your password, and you need to also do that every single bpay view bill you look at !!! so easy to record mouse movements also, if they really wanted security they could use RSA codes or something (and i do have an RSA key for my account already !!!, used for large transfers etc )

I have told Westpac because of this and the complete lack of service i will review if i stay with them for some of my banking and i have decided to move it all.

To ANZ, but i am sure people have horror stories from them as well but so far the 15 years i have been with them they have been very good. Sure have had issues but corrected easily and through there secure mail facility, havn't even needed to speak to a human.

Evan

Cyberdog100 · #26 (**permalink**) 19th January 2007, 12:30 AM

Yes I hate the button clicking to logon to Westpac banking, its a real pain and it times out far too soon (5 mins is it?) it seems if i walk away from the computer for a short while, by the time I come back i have to logon again!

However Citibank's even worse in this sense. Just setup my online banking tonight and they also have the mouse password thing, but they're so strict with passwords, you cannot have more than 3 consecutive characters, numbers yes but not characters!

Sure ask for a mix, even ask for mixed case but the 3 consecutive letter constraint is really annoying, as is clicking a virtual keyboard!

serfty · #27 (**permalink**) 19th January 2007, 09:14 AM

+ with city Bank, each time you log on you are asked one of three questions; like "Favorite Football Team".

A real PITA.

Cyberdog100 · #28 (**permalink**) 23rd January 2007, 12:04 AM

I used to hate Commonwealth's 2 questions you had to answer before making a third party transfer or bill payment and now Citi has 3 questions!!

A security dongle would be a much better solution, however I have one for HSBC and I wouldn't want to carry 2 around, but it would be easier than having to remember all these things!

chrisb · #29 (**permalink**) 25th May 2007, 04:31 PM

Well, it's almost annual fee time on my Earth card so I called them to find out what they could do for me.

Unfortunately their offer was pay the fee or close the account. They didn't take my hints about fees and crappy points earning.

So, its closed now...

Chrisb.

turbo · #30 (**permalink**) 26th May 2007, 12:56 AM

I just upgraded my earth cards to earth + (2 months before annual fee would have been due) and was wondering if anyone else had done similar, i ask because i'm curious as to whether they'll charge me a fee this year on the earth + card or will this be counted as a new card and so fee waived for this year? to me it still seems a pretty good deal given the travel insurance etc for $79 p.a.

Has anyone claimed anything on one of earth's free insurance policies? What was your experience?