What cheeses me off

[JohnK]

Talk to the green keepers where you play golf.

Golf courses in Thailand typically use Bermuda/couch grass, zoysia grass or even seashore paspalum. (There's one local grass I've seen that is awful. Big leaves and grows like cabbage. I want to avoid this at all costs)

For now I'll experiment with paspalum. I don't really like "Nor noi" grass. Malaysia grass and Japanese grass don't look good either. Not much choice and considering I don't live there need to keep costs down.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The inability to get it to grow cheeses quite a lot of people off.

"Grow Cheeses"? You mean caseiculture?

 

[Lynda2475]

CMO is poorly built and managed IT systems that result in customer inconvenience.

Right now all Aussies banks are revalidating customers identity and collecting extra data re how one earns their money to comply with updates to Anti Money laundering legislation. Fine if not annoying as ID was confirmed when accounts were originally opened and HL loan taken out.

Westpac send me an sms and email to revalidate my identity saying I can do online, via the app or in branch. I naturally choose online. Choose 2 of the 4 valid documents (Passport, DL, Medicare card or Birth Certificate); enter the requested info (note no need to scan/upload) and it fails and tells me to go to a branch or risk my accounts being locked - arrggh.

WCMO#1 - the online form for Medicare card only asked for card number, position and middle initial (not the full name on the card) and the form for passport only asked for nationality and number (not name on passport or expiry - two things typically needed to validate via the government portal). So WBC is chosing what name details to send and was omitting middle name hence the failure.

WCMO#2 - my middle name is on file with WBC yet was ignored. Half my accounts list account name on statements as Ms First name + middle name + last name and the other half as just have Ms first name + last name. Somewhere in one of their many system upgrades, the personal details section in online banking dropped my middle name, even though it continues to be there on my primary accounts. You cant fix this online - you guessed it go to a branch - arghhh.

WCMO-3 - process asks you to update your employment basis and job title/role. Whilst I was able to do this online, i could not actually find any job description which remotely relates to what I do. There was no title for Consultant or Program/Project Manager (or even just Manager - unless specifically related to retail) in fact the only IT roles listed were system analyst or data entry operator (both entry level jobs). No one who is a IT Manager, Architect, Business Analyst, Test Manager, Programmer, Engineer etc has anything relevant to choose. Its not like IT&T is an insignificant industry, seems like options were based on roles that existed in the 70s noting that also no options for CEO or CIO or marketing roles.

WCMO#4 - tried to log a complaint using the online complaint form, it fails saying unable to submit an online complaint.

WCMO#5 - branch within walking distance closed during covid. Use the find a branch tool on the website with the "open on a Saturday" toggle on to see which semi-local branches open on a weekend. It shows nearest weekend branch 10kms away - ah no way too far to walk. So I have to ask my boss if I can take time off during working hours go to a nearby suburb today, get there wait in line only to be told they do open on a Saturday. Show the bank employee that the search results on their own find a branch tool does not indicate this, she agrees its poor experience and helps me lodge a complaint, Im supposed to get a call lets see what happens.

I was able to easily do the equivalent Identity stuff using the same documents for my other banks (including Macquarie, ANZ, BankWest and NAB) all online without issues. Now that mortgage is closed, might be time to move my primary transaction account elsewhere.

 

[drron]

I believe in having a Mediterranean lawn. Concrete. You can have nearly any colour you want. Never needs mowing. A pressure clean every few years.

 

[VPS]

Changing internet providers.

Can not have modem delivered to PO parcel collect. Ring and say I need to change it - no you can't have it go to a PO. Startrack will deliver it and if you aren't home then they will take it to PO for you to collect

FFS

 

[Pushka]

Changing internet providers.

Can not have modem delivered to PO parcel collect. Ring and say I need to change it - no you can't have it go to a PO. Startrack will deliver it and if you aren't home then they will take it to PO for you to collect

FFS

Ah the stupidity. And then there's the whole shebang process of getting it to work. We use Telstra mobile internet. We can take the modem anywhere and it works where there's a Telstra signal.

 

[JohnK]

Similar to what @Lynda2475 posted above.

Both Bankwest and St George wanting me urgently to update my income details or else.

I really don't care. I will let them know where I work. I'm not telling them how much I earn. The ATO can cross reference from my PAYG.

 

[Pushka]

Similar to what @Lynda2475 posted above.

Both Bankwest and St George wanting me urgently to update my income details or else.

I really don't care. I will let them know where I work. I'm not telling them how much I earn. The ATO can cross reference from my PAYG.

This got me thinking as I haven't heard anything from NAB although a few months ago they did similar to MrP and threatened to close all our accounts (Business, Personal and Joint accounts) if he didn't respond. We've only been with them for something like 40 years and have a current mortgage, and also our business account that pays salaries and taxes. He got it sorted but I lodged a complaint with the ombudsman as they had no right to prevent my access to my money in the joint account for something that I could not fix. Ombudsman agreed and NAB had to pay an inconvenience payment. Very stressful for a while as he was away.

As far as telling them salary? Who do they think they are?

 

[p--and--t]

A huge branch spontaneously dropped off a large council tree outside our place on the verge.

Luckily one if the few nights no car parked there.

Called council to report and asked when they attend to remove branch for tree to be checked in case it happens again.

Report lodged, report number texted. Oh by the way our target to attend is *60 days*

WTH.

 

[CMA222]

.....
Both Bankwest and St George wanting me urgently to update my income details or else.
....

A while back St George Bank wanted me to confirm all details telling me it was a government requirement. The notification said I could go to a Branch (if I can find one !) or do it on-line.

I tried on-line 4 times over 4 days and 4 times it said an error has occurred and I must go to a Branch.

I lodged a compliant that the on-line system does not work and they replied "it works fine" and closed the complaint.

I finally went to a Branch in the city (SYD) and waited in a line for over 30 minutes to talk to someone. They looked at my file on their system (after I had explained why I was visiting the Branch) and said "tell me again why are you here ?". I explained again the process and the problems and the reply was. "Everything looks OK to me - thanks for coming in !!!"

 

[Pushka]

I received an invoice for the Ambulance I needed last year, even though I'm fully insured with the ambulance. Over $1000. Said to email them if you had insurance. So I did that just before Christmas.

This week I received a reminder email. Their invoices are stupid, you have to enter a postcode and then it opens. But then it locks again so I couldn't access it. I emailed again and then decided to call them. On hold for 20 minutes during which time the message was do it online. Well, their website isn't actually allowing me to see my membership and never has. Finally spoke to someone and gave them the invoice number. They said, no, we need the number that is halfway down the invoice. Sigh. The invoice is locked to me. They sighed like it was my problem. Finally they got back to me, oh yes, the invoice has been settled. In December. I asked why I received a reminder today. . Oh. Just a timing thing.

 

[love_the_life]

A huge branch spontaneously dropped off a large council tree outside our place on the verge.

Luckily one if the few nights no car parked there.

Called council to report and asked when they attend to remove branch for tree to be checked in case it happens again.

Report lodged, report number texted. Oh by the way our target to attend is *60 days*

WTH.

If the branch is not across the road or creating a hazard, it often isn't a quick job. We had a branch from an oak at the from of our building fall across the road with the SES (firies) arriving within the hour to remove it. Cut up and moved to the nature strip then collected the following week. Another branch from the same tree fell across the footpath though that took longer to be cleaned up.

Post automatically merged: Today at 10:23 AM

I received an invoice for the Ambulance I needed last year, even though I'm fully insured with the ambulance. Over $1000. Said to email them if you had insurance. So I did that just before Christmas.

This week I received a reminder email. Their invoices are stupid, you have to enter a postcode and then it opens. But then it locks again so I couldn't access it. I emailed again and then decided to call them. On hold for 20 minutes during which time the message was do it online. Well, their website isn't actually allowing me to see my membership and never has. Finally spoke to someone and gave them the invoice number. They said, no, we need the number that is halfway down the invoice. Sigh. The invoice is locked to me. They sighed like it was my problem. Finally they got back to me, oh yes, the invoice has been settled. In December. I asked why I received a reminder today. . Oh. Just a timing thing.

We had an ambulance bill last year and as we are covered through private health insurance, just took it into HCF who handled it for us.

 

[Denali]

A huge branch spontaneously dropped off a large council tree outside our place on the verge.

Luckily one if the few nights no car parked there.

Called council to report and asked when they attend to remove branch for tree to be checked in case it happens again.

Report lodged, report number texted. Oh by the way our target to attend is *60 days*

WTH.

We had similar so I phoned them about 2 weeks later to say that branches dropped on the road and hit a car so expect insurance claims as the branch is still in the street and they need to attend asap

Council attended and they removed the entire tree, which we were happy about as it was dead/dying and they had trimmed it so badly over the numerous years that it looked like the whomping willow from Harry Potter

 

[Pushka]

We had an ambulance bill last year and as we are covered through private health insurance, just took it into HCF who handled it for us.

Yep but we were insured by the same entity that sent the invoice.

 

[eastwest101]

CMO is poorly built and managed IT systems that result in customer inconvenience.

Right now all Aussies banks are revalidating customers identity and collecting extra data re how one earns their money to comply with updates to Anti Money laundering legislation. Fine if not annoying as ID was confirmed when accounts were originally opened and HL loan taken out.

Westpac send me an sms and email to revalidate my identity saying I can do online, via the app or in branch. I naturally choose online. Choose 2 of the 4 valid documents (Passport, DL, Medicare card or Birth Certificate); enter the requested info (note no need to scan/upload) and it fails and tells me to go to a branch or risk my accounts being locked - arrggh.

WCMO#1 - the online form for Medicare card only asked for card number, position and middle initial (not the full name on the card) and the form for passport only asked for nationality and number (not name on passport or expiry - two things typically needed to validate via the government portal). So WBC is chosing what name details to send and was omitting middle name hence the failure.

WCMO#2 - my middle name is on file with WBC yet was ignored. Half my accounts list account name on statements as Ms First name + middle name + last name and the other half as just have Ms first name + last name. Somewhere in one of their many system upgrades, the personal details section in online banking dropped my middle name, even though it continues to be there on my primary accounts. You cant fix this online - you guessed it go to a branch - arghhh.

WCMO-3 - process asks you to update your employment basis and job title/role. Whilst I was able to do this online, i could not actually find any job description which remotely relates to what I do. There was no title for Consultant or Program/Project Manager (or even just Manager - unless specifically related to retail) in fact the only IT roles listed were system analyst or data entry operator (both entry level jobs). No one who is a IT Manager, Architect, Business Analyst, Test Manager, Programmer, Engineer etc has anything relevant to choose. Its not like IT&T is an insignificant industry, seems like options were based on roles that existed in the 70s noting that also no options for CEO or CIO or marketing roles.

WCMO#4 - tried to log a complaint using the online complaint form, it fails saying unable to submit an online complaint.

WCMO#5 - branch within walking distance closed during covid. Use the find a branch tool on the website with the "open on a Saturday" toggle on to see which semi-local branches open on a weekend. It shows nearest weekend branch 10kms away - ah no way too far to walk. So I have to ask my boss if I can take time off during working hours go to a nearby suburb today, get there wait in line only to be told they do open on a Saturday. Show the bank employee that the search results on their own find a branch tool does not indicate this, she agrees its poor experience and helps me lodge a complaint, Im supposed to get a call lets see what happens.

I was able to easily do the equivalent Identity stuff using the same documents for my other banks (including Macquarie, ANZ, BankWest and NAB) all online without issues. Now that mortgage is closed, might be time to move my primary transaction account elsewhere.

Just on that - Westpac's IT systems are terrible, it took three visits to a branch over a year to get my wifes surname changed to her married surname on her accounts several years ago. Had no choice as Westpac was the account manager for her workplace salary sacrifice card account at the time. Needless to say - Westpac have since lost the contract to manage those salary sacrifice transaction accounts.

To get my Westpac credit card balance paid automatically from another bank account (non-Westpac account) each month, what they call "card autopay" required me to take a paper form into a Westpac branch which they then faxed somewhere (god knows where!).

 

[RealtimeY]

Jumping on the Westpac grievances bandwagon, I asked to have a positive balance on my card returned to my bank account and was told there would be no fees and it was done. Next statement, there was both a cash advance fee and a phone assisted banking fee, which they refunded as a "gesture of goodwill".

Also, after adding a supplementary cardholder, the entire card account was suddenly suspended with no notification. It took two branch visits with both myself and the new cardholder and 30 minutes of us and the branch staff member on hold with their internal team just to get a "Everything looks ok, thanks for coming in." Got my annual fee refunded for that one.

I finally went to a Branch in the city (SYD) and waited in a line for over 30 minutes to talk to someone. They looked at my file on their system (after I had explained why I was visiting the Branch) and said "tell me again why are you here ?". I explained again the process and the problems and the reply was. "Everything looks OK to me - thanks for coming in !!!"