banks ringing customers on bank holidays?

Branoic · 02-04-2010 8:50am #1

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place for this, but oh well.

I work in a company based in Ireland that does a lot of telesales work on behalf of a large UK bank. As today is a bank holiday in the UK, we're in work today but it's pretty dead.

We were looking forward to catching up on some paperwork, but our boss has said that contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal or against financial regulations for banks or telesales companies to contact customers on bank holidays, so she's saying its business as usual.

We've tried argueing about it, saying it is illegal, but she says that unless we can find the law, then its business as usual.

Help!

dlofnep · 02-04-2010 8:55am

Tell them that it's against the law (according to dlofnep). If they question my credentials, tell them - Jimmy sent me. They'll understand.

pickarooney · 02-04-2010 8:55am

It might not be against the law but it's the height of prick-acting.

Turtyturd · 02-04-2010 8:58am

Work to rule ftw.

Mint Sauce · 02-04-2010 9:03am

so are you looking after the intersts of your customers or are you just after a skivvy day

Atlantic Dawn · 02-04-2010 9:08am

Might not be in the UK but it is illegal in Ireland to call Irish customers on bank holidays, as you work in Ireland but are calling customers in the UK I think that falls under UK regulations.

petes · 02-04-2010 9:09am

I know if a bank rang me on a bank holiday I'd tell them to **** off.

sam34 · 02-04-2010 9:19am

are the banks in ireland open today?

joolsveer · 02-04-2010 9:22am

Information

There are 9 public holidays in Ireland each year. Public holidays in Ireland (as in other countries) may commemorate a special day or other event, for example, St Patrick's Day (17 March) or Christmas Day (25 December). On a public holiday, sometimes called a bank holiday, most businesses and schools close. Other services, for example, public transport still operate but often with restricted schedules. The list of public holidays in Ireland each year is as follows:

* New Year's Day (1 January)
* St. Patrick's Day (17 March)
* Easter Monday
* First Monday in May, June, August
* Last Monday in October
* Christmas Day (25 December)
* St. Stephen's Day (26 December)

Good Friday is not a public holiday. While some schools and businesses close on that day, you have no automatic entitlement to time off work on that day.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays-in-ireland

Ste.phen · 02-04-2010 9:37am

Can someone explain why it would be illegal to call people on public holidays in the first place?

dlofnep · 02-04-2010 9:37am

Ste.phen wrote: »

Can someone explain why it would be illegal to call people on public holidays in the first place?

Day of rest and all that.

Ste.phen · 02-04-2010 10:03am

dlofnep wrote: »

Day of rest and all that.

I think that covers why it'd be annoying, but is there any laws that cover it?

(Note: I don't work in the industry, just not sure i follow the logic)

sam34 · 02-04-2010 11:38am

sam34 wrote: »

are the banks in ireland open today?

to answer my own question, no they're not

Biggins · 02-04-2010 11:44am

On a personal note, if some sales person did ring me today - or any day - it would be illegal.
I've put myself on the national list of "Do not want sales calls" and I could (if bothered) sue them.

ejmaztec · 02-04-2010 11:45am

I expect the Catholic church will be ringing people up next.

"Hi, my names's John, don't hang up or you'll burn in hell"

Formal shorts · 02-04-2010 3:26pm

Branoic wrote: »

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place for this, but oh well.

I work in a company based in Ireland that does a lot of telesales work on behalf of a large UK bank. As today is a bank holiday in the UK, we're in work today but it's pretty dead.

We were looking forward to catching up on some paperwork, but our boss has said that contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal or against financial regulations for banks or telesales companies to contact customers on bank holidays, so she's saying its business as usual.

We've tried argueing about it, saying it is illegal, but she says that unless we can find the law, then its business as usual.

Help!

Probably a bit late with this, but the laws you are looking for are contained in the consumer protection code. However, your boss happens to be right about today, as it is a holiday that the banks take, as opposed to a bank holiday.

Customers can be contacted from 9am to 9pm monday to sat provided loads of other regulations are abided by. Cannot be contacted on public holidays.

Whoever said it's governed by the UK is incorrect.

iguana · 02-04-2010 3:46pm

Formal shorts wrote: »

Whoever said it's governed by the UK is incorrect.

The customers are in the UK where it is a holiday and while I'm not sure if you are not allowed to ring people on holidays here, it is the UK laws that have to be applied. Any company that's based in another country still has to adhere to UK communication laws if they are calling people in the UK.

Eta; OP, I'm not reading through it but here is the act which governs UK sales calls.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032426.htm

banks ringing customers on bank holidays?

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