Why is it in the run up to the election big businesses like HSBC, issue threats to move abroad ?
I can't remember who it was last time but am sure this sort of announcement is a regular feature.
Makes you wonder who exactly runs the country.
Being cynical ?
Being cynical ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Being cynical ?
Bruv;1478182 wrote: I can't remember who it was last time
I expect it was HSBC.
I do hope they'll leave the Midland Bank behind when they go. This country had no business allowing them to buy it in the first place, it being British and them being Not.
Bloody Santander can go home too, while they're at it, and give us back the Abbey.
I expect it was HSBC.
I do hope they'll leave the Midland Bank behind when they go. This country had no business allowing them to buy it in the first place, it being British and them being Not.
Bloody Santander can go home too, while they're at it, and give us back the Abbey.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Being cynical ?
spot;1478185 wrote: I expect it was HSBC.
I do hope they'll leave the Midland Bank behind when they go. This country had no business allowing them to buy it in the first place, it being British and them being Not.
Bloody Santander can go home too, while they're at it, and give us back the Abbey.
Are you sure ? It might have been one of the Japanese car manufacturers, threatening not to expand.
I do hope they'll leave the Midland Bank behind when they go. This country had no business allowing them to buy it in the first place, it being British and them being Not.
Bloody Santander can go home too, while they're at it, and give us back the Abbey.
Are you sure ? It might have been one of the Japanese car manufacturers, threatening not to expand.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Being cynical ?
What they are really saying is they want to mive somewhere they can get away with doing exactly as they want with the minimum of regulation. This whole current financial mess was caused by the banks and te failure of governments to regulate them.
Being cynical ?
I heard the news on the radio as I woke up a couple of hours ago & was disgusted. I have since eMailed Nationwide asking that they contact me to discuss opening an account with them, and have eMailed HSBC to tell them that I view tham as a bank that is not to be trusted & have asked that they provide me with the information I will require to make the closure of my account with them as seamless as possible.
I have been with HSBC since about 1973, when it was still Midland. Since they became HSBC I have seen them close my local branch altogether (as well as smaller local branches all over the country), the closure of the main branch in the Southampton City Centre, in favour of a poky shop front one, with 3 cubicles, only 2 of which are ever manned, at best. Everything else is Self Service Machines, which are forever going wrong, and far more staff wandering around than there are customers, who won't leave you alone when you walk in. You know what you need to do. You know how to do it. As soon as you walk in, they're on to you with their "Can I help you?". I find it both demeaning & intimidating.
Now, combined with the recent disclosure of their Tax Avoidance dealings which, if not strictly 'illegal', under the current laws, is totally morally unacceptable, they blatantly announce their intention to move their business out of the country to avoid paying their way in tax, that's the last straw. I'm not having any more to do with them.
Furthermore, a couple of weeks ago they went and halved the Interest Rate on my Savings Account, from 1% to 0.5%. Even at the higher rate I would only be getting something like £2 - £3 / year, but it's the principle of the thing. I may be only a small pebble on their beach, but the entire beach is made up of us small pebbles. If enough of us small pebbles take action, we can make a difference.
I have been with HSBC since about 1973, when it was still Midland. Since they became HSBC I have seen them close my local branch altogether (as well as smaller local branches all over the country), the closure of the main branch in the Southampton City Centre, in favour of a poky shop front one, with 3 cubicles, only 2 of which are ever manned, at best. Everything else is Self Service Machines, which are forever going wrong, and far more staff wandering around than there are customers, who won't leave you alone when you walk in. You know what you need to do. You know how to do it. As soon as you walk in, they're on to you with their "Can I help you?". I find it both demeaning & intimidating.
Now, combined with the recent disclosure of their Tax Avoidance dealings which, if not strictly 'illegal', under the current laws, is totally morally unacceptable, they blatantly announce their intention to move their business out of the country to avoid paying their way in tax, that's the last straw. I'm not having any more to do with them.
Furthermore, a couple of weeks ago they went and halved the Interest Rate on my Savings Account, from 1% to 0.5%. Even at the higher rate I would only be getting something like £2 - £3 / year, but it's the principle of the thing. I may be only a small pebble on their beach, but the entire beach is made up of us small pebbles. If enough of us small pebbles take action, we can make a difference.
Being cynical ?
Good for you FourPart.....................but which Bank is without sin (Have I gone all biblical?)
I find the timing so infuriatingly condescending, like that might alter the way I might vote. Along side this announcement others are complaining of the BBC's program timing, it's like kids playing touch and who has the lergy ?
I find the timing so infuriatingly condescending, like that might alter the way I might vote. Along side this announcement others are complaining of the BBC's program timing, it's like kids playing touch and who has the lergy ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Being cynical ?
I Googled UK Banks & came up with Nationwide, so that's the one I'm looking into.
Incidentally, this morning I got my Tax Declaration of interest earned on my Savings Account this morning. Wait for it....
6p
The sodding post on the statement would have cost more than twice that.
Incidentally, this morning I got my Tax Declaration of interest earned on my Savings Account this morning. Wait for it....
6p
The sodding post on the statement would have cost more than twice that.
Being cynical ?
Let's just remind ourselves who kelped caused it all
When you hear how we need austerity to pay off our debts - oh sod it I would jail the lot of them and sequestrate all their assets.
You might anjoy bird and fortune
When you hear how we need austerity to pay off our debts - oh sod it I would jail the lot of them and sequestrate all their assets.
You might anjoy bird and fortune
Being cynical ?
That was the only time I refused to vote Labour in a Gneeral Election & voted UKIP instead. There was no way I was going to support Gordon Brown as a PM, and he proved my concerns.
Being cynical ?
The really annoying thing about all the bank crises is none of it was unexpected and could have been avoided we seem to be incapable of electing honest capable politicians.
Being cynical ?
gmc;1478231 wrote: The really annoying thing about all the bank crises is none of it was unexpected and could have been avoided we seem to be incapable of electing honest capable politicians.
Candidate A. Dishonest & Incapable.
Candidate B. Incapable & Dishonest.
Decisions, decisions.
Candidate A. Dishonest & Incapable.
Candidate B. Incapable & Dishonest.
Decisions, decisions.
Being cynical ?
Well, My Uncle Patrice always said, "Never elect an honest man. You'll just make a crook out of him."
The home of the soul is the Open Road.
- DH Lawrence
- DH Lawrence
Being cynical ?
The radio says the HSBC name is removing itself from every High Street in the country before the year's end, and several thousand HSBC clerks and first-line telephone staff are to return immediately[1] to the Jobcentre where they can be rehabilitated into useful citizens. Who knows, we may yet see the Midland logo return. Not that I ever liked the Midland in the first place.
How about it, Santander? Can you be talked into pissing off home where you belong too?
[1:] The phrase used, now that I see the article, is "natural attrition". Perhaps I didn't hear "immediately" or perhaps the BBC is back-pedalling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33058957
How about it, Santander? Can you be talked into pissing off home where you belong too?
[1:] The phrase used, now that I see the article, is "natural attrition". Perhaps I didn't hear "immediately" or perhaps the BBC is back-pedalling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33058957
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Being cynical ?
That's why I transferred to the Halifax, from their first announcement that they were planning on moving the place of Registration from London, so as to avoid paying tax. Like I told them - my savings may be only a pebble on the beach, but it's my pebble & you ain't having it.
On transferring to the Halifax I got a £125 incentive bonus, plus by having at least £750 salary paid in each month they give an additional £5. Not much, I suppose, but it's a far cry from the total 60p interest I got for the year on my last Tax Statement from the HSBC on the 'High Interest' Savings Account, which was originally a massive 1% which, just before their announcement to go into the Tax Avoidance racket for themselves they decided to halve to 0.5%. I'm not sure what their interest rates are for loans, but I bet it's a lot more than 1% (or the 0.5%, come to that), which is the interest they were paying me for borrowing MY money.
On transferring to the Halifax I got a £125 incentive bonus, plus by having at least £750 salary paid in each month they give an additional £5. Not much, I suppose, but it's a far cry from the total 60p interest I got for the year on my last Tax Statement from the HSBC on the 'High Interest' Savings Account, which was originally a massive 1% which, just before their announcement to go into the Tax Avoidance racket for themselves they decided to halve to 0.5%. I'm not sure what their interest rates are for loans, but I bet it's a lot more than 1% (or the 0.5%, come to that), which is the interest they were paying me for borrowing MY money.