FlexDirect was launched in 2012, when Nationwide were rapidly closing branches. Why the branch exclusion is perpetuated now though I have no idea, as you say it is incongruous.
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So do most banks. You’ll often get intercepted and asked what you want, and if it’s to pay cash in, or withdraw it, you’ll be directed to a machine.
There’s two parts to this.
Can’t - not physically or mentally able to manage the account on the phone or online.
Won’t - people refusing to use online or phone because there is a branch.
Most of the rejections from branch services are likely those capable but won’t.
It’s always the case.
People refuse to self help, self scan, self care in life because they expect others to do it for them.
They don’t pay for that service, hell, FlexDirect is a free product therefore costs the bank money.
People act entitled for no reason.
Use the machine, use online, use the phone.
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And how, pray tell, do you discern one from the other? Hidden disabilities are a thing.
What about customers who feel vulnerable using an exterior machine in branches where that’s all that is available? Bear in mind Nationwide don’t offer Post Office deposits.
Crap logic. FlexAccount is free. FlexBasic is free. FlexOne is free. FlexStudent is free.
Also using the machine isn’t ‘for free’ - a human being has to open those envelopes its stuffed with and check their contents.
It’s an arbitrary condition designed to incentivise customers to not use branches at all, which was in tune with their direction as a business 10-15 years ago but isn’t any more.
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Conversation.
Envelopes? When paying notes into a cash machine that tells you to put notes in.
I feel your points are moot, I’m all for self serve, most people are capable, and pushing them to a machine to do it themselves is the right thing to do.
Branches won’t be there forever and if they didn’t do it now, people will be more helpless when branches do start closing.
And pre empting the WhAt If No BrAnChEs ExIsT - post office.
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Carl, you’re missing the human factor in all this. Not everyone likes the machines, my wife absolutely despises them and will use the counter service if she can.
Branches will go but I’ll wager not for a while yet. There are still enough people who need them and what do you do for all the businesses which deal in cash only?
Taxman of course.
That’s a won’t situation not a can’t.
Times move, people also need to move.
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What is your point about envelopes? The Nationwide machines I’ve used don’t count your cash automatically and require it to be put into envelopes. They are behind the likes of RBS and Santander.
And Nationwide don’t have the full suite of services at the post office either
Well that’s news to me, so I recall my comment about envelopes.
She hates technology, computers etc, she doesn’t get on with them, feels they always go wrong etc.
You have a lot to learn about helping people with hidden disabilities. The world is not black and white.
Nationwide don’t support Post Office deposits.
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Branch staff are trained well enough to engage in conversation, and can recognise if someone is or is not capable of doing the transaction themselves.
I’ve not much to learn on hidden disabilities tbh, you’re just out to disagree with anything anyone says in contrary to your delusion branches should serve everyone just because.
But they do offer withdrawals, and I can guess the majority of those going to the counter, mainly elderly or disabled, having done so for many years, believe they will just go the counter when withdrawals are done at the machine (exception of cash books).
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They have given multiple reasons why the alternatives to branches have their issues, especially with Nationwide not supporting cash deposits at the Post Office. You’ve chosen to ignore them
They have not.
I have responded (if you’d be open to reading before commenting) about the post office, and also adding context.
You are also another commonly out for moot point arguments so I wouldn’t bother here.
Don’t have an account aimed at self service then and choose one of the others instead?
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It’s not crap logic. All those other accounts are indeed free, but they don’t offer the interest on balances, and now cashback, that you get with the FlexDirect account. There’s nothing wrong, or new, in stipulating conditions for those benefits, and the condition is that you must self-serve and bank online, and use the machines where you can.
This is made clear on the website when you apply for the FlexDirect account, so if you don’t like it, just apply for the FlexAccount instead.
And the machines inside my Nationwide branch haven’t needed envelopes for years. They count the cash for you, and if you pay cheques in the machines print a copy of the cheque on your receipt.
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You’re arguing a different point. The one raised was that the account was free, and provision of counter staff costs money.
Perfect in the black and white world where people are or are not.
What about customers who develop or hidden disability, or become vulnerable due to a life experience subsequent to applying for an account.
It’s a shite way to treat customers, regardless of this. And to get back to the point it’s completely incongruous with Nationwide’s positioning as ‘the one with branches’.
Not every branch has machines inside at all.
I’ll make up my own motivations, ta.
