Here we go again. We are allowed to spend our money just as we wish, but sometimes what we do arouses jealousy and greed in those who see something they would like themselves. Take a round the world cruise and hardly anyone bothers you. Buy a snazzy motor, polish it, drive it with pleasure and pride, and every other motorist hates you - I know, it has happened to me. Buy a house, and you are everyones target. Inherit a house, and you are still a target. Every family house is, and should be, the joint posession of all the contributors to it because the purchase and maintenance of the property is a part of the family income, it is money that has not been used for holidays, entertainment and all those other nice things which make life fun.

Thought it might be worth putting my point of view. We all have strengths and weakneses, using our strengths to make a living, and handing over other matters to the experts who should solve problems quickly and efficiently. I have, in the last fifty years, had a few bank managers who were absolutely first class (and are now retired). Just a short visit and chat was all that was needed so solve a problem. Usually instant, too. Expert, experienced people who knew their job and did it well. Some people are lucky enough to have stable and sufficient income to be able to take time to spend some hours a week checking everything. Others amongst us are working our butts off doing a job and getting the money in. When the going gets tough it is to be expected that the paid professionals do their job too. As far as the Banks, especially the Building Societies, are concerned, their job is to profit from investments, and to protect their customers. (Fiduciary is the word, I think.) Not to rob them when they are not looking. I do not want to be a top notch banker any more than I want to be a surgeon, a dentist, an airline pilot or a plumber. But it seems more and more that, to survive, one needs to become expert in everything now. It is not sufficient to shelter behind a few stock phrases to avoid doing a job well. Just a few years ago I had cause to visit an aged relative in hospital. He was slowly going blind and deaf, and had developed both eye and ear infections which did not help. I found that they were also starving him. The reason was that he didnt speak to the nurses or appear to see them, so, if he didnt ask, he didnt get. Having explained some basics, like writing on big sheets of paper using big letters in marker pen, and speaking loudly and clearly into his good ear, some sort of communication was established. So he died of mrsa instead. This site is doing a superb job which should result in focussing the attention of the Banks on their real role.

I just remebered something from way back, - I think it was the Gas Board, or Bristol Gas Co, - the comment (roughly remembered) 'as a large company, like any large slow moving animal, we are probably more afraid of you than you are of us' Hmmm Nevertheless, like any large slow moving animal, they have inflicted huge damage while we trusted them to look after our money during our battle with the outside world. As far as I am concerned they have made a unilateral decision to use vast quantities of my money to conduct their declared business of lending money for profit. Now I want it back ! Crunch day gets a bit nearer. Fingernails get shorter. All stages up to small claims application completed, parachute working AOK, watch this space. They torpedoed my six month+ project last year by yanking away the (overdraft) carpet at the worst possible moment, so I got around to analyse the last six years statements. Oh boy ! SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE ! Say a prayer for me, and I will do the same for all you out there. What was it that Nationwide said about themselves some time back ? Something like 'We treat your money as if it was or own' It could not have been those exact words, or I would have twigged earlier. Anything but the 'Listening Bank' Once upon a time I used to be in awe of the power of my Bank Manager. Problem solver and big stick wielder. Now all I see is a keyboard tapper who can only echo the 'NO' programmed into the branch computer. It's about time they made my day. Hey Ho

Whoopee ! What good news for you, - and for the rest of us. We all need the reassurance