Ulster Bank 'working on compensation'

Published Monday, 16 July 2012
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Ulster Bank has told UTV they hope to have worked out some form of compensation in the next few days, after their systems returned to normal following a major technical glitch almost a month ago.

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The return to full service on Monday follows weeks of frustration for both business and personal customers, as the bank battled through the huge transactions backlog created when over 100,000 customers in Northern Ireland were left unable to access their accounts.

For those customers unhappy about problems they have experienced, there are steps to take.

In the first instance, people should speak to the Ulster Bank but, if they're still not happy, they should contact the Financial Ombudsman.

The Financial Ombudsman recommends keeping detailed records of any out-of-pocket expenditure - including documentation and receipts - and to present this to your bank branch as evidence of your inconvenience.

We are currently consulting with regulators and consumer groups and will be in a position to communicate further details shortly.

Jim Brown, Ulster Bank

As well as any compensation Ulster Bank might offer later this week, the Financial Ombudsman might also instruct Ulster Bank to compensate customers for "distress and inconvenience".

This is a vague term which can cover lots of things. You could argue you are distressed or inconvenienced if a phone line is busy, or your name is spelt incorrectly on a form, but you are unlikely to get compensation for it.

The Financial Ombudsman mostly awards compensation of less than £300 and in only a small number of exceptional cases, it's more than £1,000. Cases involving what the Ombudsman's Office calls "pain and suffering" are likely to lead to higher compensation.

While Ulster Bank has said its systems are now running as normal, a statement added that the "clean-up" operation continues and a small percentage of outstanding transactions are being processed over the next couple of days.

"There is no doubt that there will be reconciliations to some customer accounts that also need to take place over the coming days and weeks," the statement said.

"However, for the majority of customers it is now business as usual."

Technical glitches hit the RBS Group on Tuesday 19 June and affected millions of Ulster Bank, RBS and NatWest customers throughout the UK and Ireland.

RBS and NatWest saw access to their accounts restored almost three weeks ago, but Ulster Bank customers had to wait while the lender battled through an "unprecedented" backlog.

Jim Brown, Ulster Bank Chief Executive, said that fees and charges directly under Ulster Bank's control will be reversed automatically and this process has already begun.

"No customer will be out of pocket as a result of this issue," he added.

"We understand that this issue has caused significant and unacceptable disruption and we are introducing a range of measures to recognise the impact it has had on customers' day-to-day banking needs."

Regarding credit ratings, he said: "We know that this is a significant concern for customers and we are working with the credit reference agencies to ensure that no customer's credit rating is affected as a result of this incident."

EXTERNAL LINKS / CONTACTS
Ulster Bank telephone: 0800 231 232
Consumer Council NI telephone: 028 9067 2488
Mr Brown once again apologised unreservedly for the banking crisis. Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, told UTV they will be speaking to Ulster Bank to find out exactly what redress there will be for customers. "Legally, Ulster Bank has got to return people's accounts to where they would have been had this issue never occurred," she said.
© UTV News
Comments Comments
44 Comments
jeni in n.i wrote (283 days ago):
I think the whole thing is ridiculous. I think customers of Ulster bank should all be paid compensation after having to wait a long amount of time to get our money. I had to go a whole month with no money and I've two small children I have to look after and feed also a house I couldn't pay rent for and I had to borrow money to get food and electric. Also pay direct debits which I got bloody got a £45 charge on. Big c do u actually have children and a house to pay rent in?
big c in falls wrote (298 days ago):
1000 compensation catch a grip all the sad sob stories and make up fibs of woe and horror how lives have come crashing down because of a computer glitch, lets remember ulster bank guantee that no charges will be paid by any customer and they also enable all customers to get access to their money. get on with life instead of standing with an opportunistic beggin bowl. p.s i am ulster bank customer and not its employee, maybe i just have a little decency
Shackled And Drawn in Irelande wrote (305 days ago):
To big C in Falls try being sixty miles from home looking after sick child in hospital and with no photo id with you. Even though you could provide address,date of birth, dates of direct debits and any other account info they wanted and still being told no photo id no money, my money not being given to me by my bank!Claim for stress and inconveinience, dam right i will be....
career in antrim wrote (306 days ago):
Just looked at my online account, and money is not in that i expected, I've have no idea what is going on, I have seen transactions going in but its not showing on my bank balance! I don't care what anyone says this is total joke, how can bank that size mess up so badly?
kerry mcelhinney in londonderry wrote (306 days ago):
Im currently with Ulster bank and i have to say i had no problems apart from when the company i work for didnt pay me but one bit of advice to all who want to change banks, never go to Santander as there charges are ridiculous. £5 per day for overdrawn. Also in march got my bank account skimmed £1500 taken and they refused to pay me back.Now they want £500 off me in charges for admin and service fees!!
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