I received my Monzo debit card on Tuesday, so on Wednesday I approached my HR at work, to get my salary paid into my new current account.
It was difficult to say the least! I basically had to PLEAD with HR to alter my banking details without any supporting paperwork.
The conversation went like this:
HR: "Do you have a paper statement with your address on?"
Me: "No. I doubt that I’ll ever receive one either. It’s a totally online bank."
HR: "You couldn’t telephone them, or go into branch to request a statement?"
Me: "I don’t think so. The app is basically my new bank’s branch. There’s no physical branches. It’s… Um… It’s just an app."
HR: "Right… Does your debit card have your full name on it?"
Me: “Yes.” (I show them the card).
HR: "This is a debit card? It’s not a credit card? There’s no sort code & account number on here…"
Me: "OH! I hadn’t noticed that. Um…"
HR: "Hmmm… It’s very… Pink… If the bank is online, could you email us screengrabs from your internet banking?"
Me: "There’s no website showing my account. Just the app."
HR: "How long have you had this account? I’ve never heard of… Monzo? This is a UK bank? Wasn’t there any paperwork when you received the cashcard, showing your account details?"
Me: "No. It was just attached to a piece of card, with none of my details on it."
HR: "Riiiiiiiggghhhht… (Eyes the debit card suspiciously again). You know that because of anti-money laundering procedures, we can’t just send your salary to an unknown account?
Me: "I’m not money laundering! It’s legitimate! Google them! Mon-zo."
HR: "Does the app show your full name and address, alongside the sort code and account number?"
Me: “Oh, God. I don’t know. I don’t think so. (I’m clicking on my phone now, going into the app’s settings). Ah! Wait! Wait! My name & address ARE on the same screen as the sort code & account number!”
In the end, they accepted screen grabs from the app’s setting screen, which I then had to email them from my phone.
But it was a hassle! I can easily imagine similar hassles in the future too.
If there was a button within the settings where you could request a paper statement of your last 30 days’ activity to be generated and posted to you, it would be so convenient. I’d be happy to pay a 50p charge for the service.
Has anybody else had a similar issue with their HR/Payroll at work?