Have other branches apart from the account's own branch lost the ability to check sig

Tow

Have other branches apart from the account's own branch lost the ability to check signatures?

Bank of Ireland: Alison

Hi Tow

Thanks for your query today. 

Generally your own account holding branch will need to verify signatures, although it can depend on what you are signing in branch. 

For example, if it's signing and completing a form to change address or standing order request, this can be completed in any branch. 

If you could let me know what the signature was needed for, we can check this further for you.

Thanks
Alison

Tow

The item in question is a "SEPA Instruction: Block Account to all Direct Debit Payments" form. http://personalbanking.bankofireland.com/fs/doc/wysiwyg/b22340-mss130675-sepa-dd-block-form.pdf
The account in question is a charity account and has never had direct debits setup against it, but does have its BIC and IBAN published for payments from the general public.

Bank of Ireland: Alison

Hi Tow

Thanks for the information, the form you have included is usually sent in the post to the address printed on the form rather than a branch.

May we ask, have you had any difficulties with completing or submitting the request? 

Just to also mention and I hope I am understanding the query correctly, you wish to prevent any direct debits being set up on the charity account. When a company or business is requesting to set up a SEPA Direct Debit on any type of account with us, the request form needs to be first sent to Bank of Ireland. Before this is set up by us, the names of the signatories and the signatures on the account are checked against the signatures on the request form.

Is this information helpful?

Thanks
Alison

Tow

Bank of Ireland: Alison wrote: »

May we ask, have you had any difficulties with completing or submitting the request?

Yes, Sandyford refused to accept the form and made the excuse they could not view the signatures, and the form can only be presented to the account holding branch. Note: Sandyford have previously had no difficulties in viewing/checking signatures. As you say the form should be send to a central location, so one assumes they could have accepted it and sent it by internal post. The account holding branch (Dundrum) cannot understand why Sandyford could not have handled the form.

Bank of Ireland: Alison wrote: »

When a company or business is requesting to set up a SEPA Direct Debit on any type of account with us, the request form needs to be first sent to Bank of Ireland. Before this is set up by us, the names of the signatories and the signatures on the account are checked against the signatures on the request form.

This is how the old standard direct debit (non originator plus) scheme worked. Under the SEPA CORE scheme direct debits can be taken from an account and only when a dispute is logged will the bank look for a copy of the mandate from the originator.

Bank of Ireland: Alison

Hi Tow

Apologies, as you correctly mentioned under SEPA the direct debit mandate is held by the originator. Under SEPA our customers now have a wider range of options available to claim back or dispute funds. 

You can request a 'No questions asked refund', add company to blacklist and also the form you are completing by blocking account to all SEPA Direct Debits.

We're really sorry to hear the Branch did not take the request from you on the day. We have raised this directly with Management within the Branch. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

If we can be of further help please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks
Alison

Red Alert

Surely signatures should be electronic by now, and be able to be checked in any branch???

Tow

Red Alert wrote: »

Surely signatures should be electronic by now, and be able to be checked in any branch???

AFAIK they are, that was basically what my initial question and I would be grateful if BOI could answer it.

At face value it would appear that the teller could not be bothered to do the work and used it as an excuse to fob off the customer.  They could have easily taken in the form and forwarded it onwards.  This would appear to be the new face of efficient cost saving BOI.  Many of the old school customer orientated tellers were P45ed over the last few years, when the machines were introduced. 

Bank of Ireland: Laura

Hi,

Signatures should always be checked with the account holding branch.

However, if you feel this was not the case Tow, we would like to look in to this further. 
Please send us a PM with your name, address and the account holding branch you're with, we will be happy to follow up on this for you.

Thanks,
Laura