After tolerating the "right royal" treatment I got continuously from the RBC for long years, today I decided to publicize the third grade service offered by them. I hope this will be a warning for innocent people in this country and a wake up call for the complacent pundits who make decisions on procedures of this organization.
When I visited this bank to open my first-ever account in Canada I was really treated well, perhaps because of the little bit of funds I had in hand as a new immigrant. Sucking the blood starts after that by way of monthly charges, ATM fees, Overdraft interest and as NSF charges.
Here is one memorable experience that I had with them.
While having c$ 2000 odd in my savings account they returned a can $10 Please note $10) cheque that I had issued to the traffic courts in Toronto as a part of a fineto be paid by me. (Traffic court is not trust worthy to RBC?) The reason for returning my cheque was the bank's inability to locate my signature card. (If I new that my bank was such a messy place, I could have safe kept it for them.)
Totally unaware of the fact that my fine was outstanding due to the returned cheque, I tried to book a road test for upgrading my driver's license at the last moment and was surprised to know that I had been driving with a license that had been suspended long ago due to the non payment of my fine.
When pointed out of the blunder RBC was kind enough to pay my $10 fine and the penalty added on top of it by traffic courts in view of the returned cheque. But the bank with an excellent customer service careful enough to do this cleaning after without extending even a verbal apology to me. I did not bother to demand an apology with due compensation for my not having time to waste, the same reason why I did not fish the exact times and venues of this drama. However that exceptional treatment contributed towards my not having a driver's license even today.
Here is the incident that compelled me to make the others aware of this story today.
I needed a letter from the bank confirming the closure of a USD account I had with it. At the branch I was told to contact the 1-800 telephone number to place request to get the letter within 5 business days. Through my 15 odd years of experience in customer service and marketing, I believe it is the responsibility of the branch to contact the head office or whatever unit to make the request for the letter. I also believe that I should have been provided with some kind of proof to confirm the closure of the account by the branch in a day or two. (The non-availability of that facility forced me to ask if the branch office is a place with bank officers or a bunch of living mail boxes)
Also if the branch had issued me a letter to that effect at the time the account was closed, with my better record keeping habits I would have had a problem today with the government agency that required the letter. The five business day period RBC needed to issue such a straight forward letter is also unacceptable, especially in view of the promptness shown in charging customers with various types fees.
Although the banks are blessed with a captive market I have decided to move my account any player other than RBC as soon as possible.
Long live RBC.
Harshamutu
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada
0 comments