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AIBU?

To be absolutely fucking outraged by Vanquis Banks marketing methods

14 replies

SeaSickSal · 20/09/2013 15:39

Just been down to my local shopping precinct. I live in an alright area, I would say it is respectable working class. But it has some areas around it that are very poor and people from those areas shop here.

Vanquis Bank - the bank who do credit cards for people who have bad credit - have a stand down there. They had several dodgy looking young men who looked like spivs who were harrassing shoppers to get their credit card. Seen them there before, didn't think too much of it.

However today I saw one of these young men approach an old lady on a bench and start hassling her really badly to get a card. She was saying 'I don't have any money, I'm on benefits'. And he's saying 'That doesn't matter, it doesn't mean that you're going to spend £900 on the card, it's just there if you want it'. She seemed to be quite confused and was quite old and he was really pushing it on her despite the fact that you could see she was a bit vulnerable because of her age and the fact that she wasn't quite able to concentrate.

And she's saying repeatedly that she's on benefits and doesn't have any money and he's going on and on at her that it doesn't matter and she should get the card. He was really hard selling it to her and then started hassling her 'Just to give me your details so I can check if you can get one'. And she gave it to him eventually and he took them and went off on his mobile phone to get the card approved.

He was really bullying her and giving her the hard sell and giving her age and infirmity it was really inappropriate.

I'm absolutely apoplectic, have these people not learnt anything from the credit crunch? I really regret not going to stop him and feel really ashamed of myself in retrospect

OP posts:
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WorraLiberty · 20/09/2013 15:42

You stood by and watched and listened?

I would have asked the lady if he was bothering her and if she said yes, I would have told him to leave her alone.

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JakeBullet · 20/09/2013 15:45

I have a feeling that Vanquis are part owned by Provident. And yes am sure this seller was breaking several rules by harassing an elderly lady like that.

Where on earth do you love though, have never ever seen them out and about...I just get regular emails from them offering me a card (why?) along with pYment protection mis-selling firms.

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KatyTheCleaningLady · 20/09/2013 15:45

YANBU to be appalled. YABU not to have said something.

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TooOldForGlitter · 20/09/2013 15:45

They are in my town too, oop north. I think I would have had to step in if I had seen an old lady being harassed like that.

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exexpat · 20/09/2013 15:45

I would report them to the police for harassment, and also to the Financial Services Authority for miss-selling. Possibly also local paper?

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PeppiNephrine · 20/09/2013 15:48

Save the indignant rage. You watched an old lady get hassled and you did and said nothing to help.

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SeaSickSal · 20/09/2013 15:50

I know I should have said something but it was one of those times where you see and hear something happen but it's only when you walk away and think about it you realize how wrong it was.

I'm kicking myself for not saying something but it really was only when I thought about it I was shocked. I was in a rush and had other things on my mind and by the time it had clicked I was on the bus.

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amistillsexy · 20/09/2013 15:50

Why on earth didn't you go and help her, OP?
You obviously stood and watched for quite a while.

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amistillsexy · 20/09/2013 15:52

Hmm...X-Post

I'm not impressed though. She needed help.

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JakeBullet · 20/09/2013 15:58

Stop kicking the OP, she has said herself that it was only as she thought about it afterwards that she realised how appalling it was. Save your ire for Provident who own Vanquis and should absolutely know better.

I bet this bloke was a salesman on commission for every card he got approved.

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UserError · 20/09/2013 15:58

I saw them today in my local shopping centre (very poor area of Liverpool). Thankfully, while I was there they didn't try to approach me or they'd have got an absolute mouthful.

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SeaSickSal · 20/09/2013 16:00

I was on my phone and was making an urgent call (to HR at my work), I needed to make the call before I got on the bus and they put me on hold. Which is why I heard what was happening, but couldn't really speak.

As I said I've had an awful lot on my mind this afternoon and have had a bit of a shitty afternoon myself and wasn't quite thinking straight, in normal circumstances I would have done.

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Beastofburden · 20/09/2013 16:01

OK so the OP didnt do anything then. You can do something now, OP. Ring the regulator to complain and get this particular goon off their staff.

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brianrawli · 16/02/2016 18:39

I've just made an official complaint with the Financial Ombudsmen.
Vanquis keep phoning me, won't say what about until I answer security questions. I've never had any dealings with Vanquis or any other credit companies except my own bank.
It's driving me insane, they can't have any security for me as I've no dealings with them. When I tell them to stop calling they say until you answer questions I will keep getting calls.

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