First let me confirm that our draft anthology has been forwarded to Gipping Press along with our cover design. Entitled 'Characters' we anticipate the copies will be with us in four weeks time.
Regarding our accounts at the HSBC in Felixstowe, the situation borders on absolutely farcical. As you will know both Caz and myself, along with Treasurer Beryl, went to the branch FIVE YEARS ago. Filled in the mandates to be appointed as signatories. The form was witnessed and accepted with the verbal confirmation from the lady employee that we were the new signatories. I have countersigned countless cheques in those five years only to find that when we tried to register Cathy as a replacement for Caz we were informed that neither Caz nor myself were signatories. What happened to the mandates that were signed that day?
Can you believe it? In those five years, with all the cheques that have been signed and countersigned, not once were we challenged over the signatures. Where, I wonder, is the security in relation to cheques drawn on our, and doubtless scores of other, accounts?
Why, when I wrote to the bank, they did not have the courtesy to acknowledge my letter nor reply to me? Instead they wrote to Beryl complete with fresh mandates that require two signatories before any change can be made? With only Beryl recognised by HSBC we are quite frankly stuffed if you will pardon the phraseology.
Despite this, when the bank refused to acknowledge their mistake or misfiling of documents, they placed £150 in our account for the inconvenience! If that doesn't ring of some kind of admission of their error then I don't know what does.
You would think that would end there and then, but oh no! Beryl wrote to them and never received a reply. She has written to the Ombudsman as the bank kindly stated that this is what we must do. With no reply from the Ombudsman, Beryl arranged a meeting at the local branch which was set for Tuesday. Only Beryl found out, via a third party, that the Branch/Business Manager doesn't visit the branches! The meeting would be in Ipswich! Only we were never told that.
Beryl tried to obtain the manager's phone number but was told we couldn't phone her. She would phone us. Which she did. She couldn't make a decision herself and had to phone her Head Office in London who, apparently, support the Branch decision to block access to our accounts.
Beryl received a recorded message to say that mandates would have to be completed along with details of our own meetings that named who was being replaced and by whom - information that had already been passed to them! Then what? Who knows.
But for the kindness of one of our members who has loaned the money to clear our Library charges, we may well have lost the use of our accommodation. And, of course we have a big bill due soon for our anthology.
I am afraid the whole situation stinks. We have lost faith in that bank but are stuck in the quagmire and can't even transfer the funds out!
Ongoing rant will continue!!!
Now, our next meeting is on Tuesday coming, that is 21st May. The start time is 7.30 when the door will be locked. So please be there a few minutes early for what promises to be another fun evening of Flash Fiction. Obviously there was no homework this time, so we await to see what subject or subjects are drawn from Cathy's collection.
Until Tuesday,
Keep Scribbling!!!
