Things you should consider before opening an Egg Bank Account

March 23, 2010 | Filed Under Life | Leave a Comment 

I’m a pretty simple sort of chap; you know the sort who thought that banks where there to look after our hard earned cash in a sensible and prudent manner - not invest in recklessly in ludicrous property loans etc. But hey ho, we now know that they nearly brought the world economy to a standstill (but keep paying themselves huge bonuses). Anyway that’s history; they will now be beavering away to try and make amends with good products and dazzling customer service - won’t they?

Well no actually if my recent experience of trying to open an EGG bank account is anything to go by. I did manage to complete the online application form ok but then was required to send of proof of my identity. You know the documents like a copy of my passport that needs to be signed by god (please bear in mind here that if I had just copied the passport myself and invented some spoof stamp from a firm of solicitors I would now be home and dry).

Now knowing that a signature from god is hard to find I duly sent an online message to the said bank before sending off my documents to ascertain exactly what substitutes they would accept. I duly received the following response

Dear John

Hayley
Internet Customer Services

So I send of my documents duly signed and stamped by my local GP.

By return of post I get a letter from Theresa Burton at EGG (in the grandly named Savings Account Opening Department)

Thank you for your recent application…..which has not been certified by the correct authority.

Ummm; Didn’t Hayley confirm in writing that any person in the public service could do this? Hackles now raised I fire off a complaint to the beast that is EGG.

I specifically enquired before sending it and have an email from yourselves confirming that; ‘Any person in the public services will be able to verify this for you’? A GP in the NHS is certainly a person in the Public Services.

Thus you have wasted my time and cost me unnecessary fees. I wish to make an official complaint to senior manager please as this is complete and utter nonsense.

Another day passes before I receive this message

I do apologise for the inconvenience this may be causing but when we ask for a certified copies are photocopies which have been stamped signed and dated by a bank or building society official a lawyer or other notary public figure to confirm they are true copies of the original document.

Elaine Bond
Internet Customer Services

Time for another broadside from me.

Elaine, Thank you for your reply to my query. However it is factually incorrect. The certified copy of my passport I sent was indeed stamped with the Doctors stamp showing his name address and phone numbers etc.

Another day passes before I get a reply from a customer Service Specialist (do they have a department dreaming up these names?)

Dear John

Robert (our Specialist) seems to be having trouble keeping up here. Hayley has already told me that Any person in the public services is OK and Elaine has told me that If you can get your GP to stamp the document and then return it to us we will be able to accept it (despite the fact that it was stamped).

So I’ve just sent them another message asking for someone senior to phone me. I’m not ‘holding my breath’ but would you trust your money to a bank like this?