Banks are treating customers with contempt in pandemic

As usual the banks are treating us the taxpayer with the contempt they think we deserve after being bailed out.

Barclays have just written to us their customers today saying they are closing the Hailsham branch, no explanation, just it will close and are options are,

1. Use another branch. They have closed all the small branches in the area and made customers use Hailsham. We will now have to travel to Eastbourne or Heathfield both over 10 miles away. Heathfield is already on restricted hours and Eastbourne is very busy.

2. Digital banking, which I don’t consider safe, in view of the problems the banks have had with their security. Also many elderly don’t have internet access

3. By phone. Again not safe.

4. The Post Office. Hailsham Post Office is, I believe, the only one in the country run by the town council because no one would take it on.

5. Cash machines. I personally don’t use them after nearly being mugged at one.

For many of the elderly residents of the town, the girls in the branch are the only people they talk to in a day or week. These girls also go far beyond what they do for their customers ,taking them home when unwell and getting them shopping for them and checking they are alright if they haven’t made their regular visit to the branch.

This is proper customer service, not referring them to a machine.

One of the many managers we have had in the branch said head office want to get rid of the branches because they are not profitable.

The fact that Barclays has our money and use it to make profits to make exorbitant pay to their chief executive and others and the large dividends paid to their shareholders, while paying as little as possible in interest to their customers.

What will happen when they have closed Hailsham?

Heathfield and Eastbourne will be closed in the same cavalier way and we will have to go to Brighton or Tunbridge Wells and then London!