Tuesday, December 20, 2005

The protesting boys

Click to see the full story

Robin took the boys out on a bit of direct action demonstrating outside the NatWest bank in the nearby town of Hatfield. Xavier really seemed to enjoy it but I think the other two may have been a tad embarrassed at being dragooned into one of Dad’s publicity stunts. The reason for the stunt (and all the press releases to all the local papers) was the complete heartlessness by Diane Rollinson, the manageress of the bank.


The story goes, yesterday Robin went to take some cash out of the NatWest hole-in-the-wall machine, because there was a queue at his own bank across the road (due to them teaching an old lady how to use their machine). However, his cash card got stuck in the NatWest machine. So he went inside to get help. They said that the machine had been faulty all day but they would try to retrieve the card from inside the bank. To Robin’s relief they managed to do this, however to his horror they refused to give it back to him, saying that it wasn’t bank policy to do so, despite the fact that it was patently obvious that he was the owner of the card.

He was desperate for his card due to all the Christmas shopping he needed to do, so he rushed over to his own Lloyds bank to see if they could help. A senior member of staff went over to vouch for Robin, to say that he was who he said he was and to plead with the manageress. However at no point would she come out of her office to speak to them, she just sent her minions out to refuse point blank.

I don’t know how she’s going to react when the customers go in saying ‘Isn’t it a shame those poor little lads – no Christmas presents and no Christmas dinner for them!’
Don’t worry – you don’t really need to send us food parcels, but if any of you want to complain to the bank about their behaviour do feel free to do so. The bank (for obvious reasons) make it impossible to make it easy to complain via email, but we've finlly got it, it's customer.relations@natwest.com


Or if you have your own tales of woe about NatWest go to Robin’s web page where he tells the tale in further detail, with more interesting pictures, and he might include your tales too.

7 Comments:

Blogger Robin Oakley said...

Stand up and be counted. Xboi will be champion of the free! The full story is here: http://www.sandridgevillage.com/natwest.cfm
Feel the power!

12/21/2005 12:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

there isn't a word in the English language to describe banks

12/21/2005 1:23 AM  
Blogger Caroline said...

I've relied on cashback since it was introduced - I had my own problems with one (not NatWest) that produced an insufficient number of notes whilst still deducting the requested amount from my account...

I'd send you a food parcel but last posting date is past!

12/21/2005 3:09 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

That's an amazing story! And good on Robin to stand up for his rights!
Christmas Spirit? Doesn't seen to have swayed the manager!

12/21/2005 4:29 PM  
Blogger Caroline said...

And I forgot to say in my last comment what a cute bunch of boys you have!

Hope you've got something sorted soon.

12/22/2005 6:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Contrary to one of the other commenters there are many words in the English language to describe banks....none repeated in polite company though. Love the young activism you are nurturing here.

Detlef
http://www.detlefjumpertz.com

12/22/2005 8:35 AM  
Blogger Julie Oakley said...

The really good news is that Robin's Bank (Lloyds) have been fantastic - a new card arrived yesterday, which must be a speed record, so he can do his Christmas shopping!
For 'Little Britain' fans you must go back to his page (link in the posting above), scroll down and see the picture he's added to the bottom.
I'm afraid it'll be lost on you if you haven't seen the TV programme but hilarious if you have.

12/22/2005 10:03 AM  

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