Tellers' Pet Peeves

Currently working tellers: if you had the chance, what would you tell customers? What are your pet peeves? Please post here. Thanks.

Hi RD :)

1 -- When a customer walks right up to my station.

2 -- When a customer cashes a check for $??.99

3 -- When a customer skips the line, unless I invite them to do so.

4 -- When a customer wants all different sorts of rolled coin, but we don't have exactly what he or she'd like.

I could go on.

Thanks!

---Chedi :)

when a customer is too lazy to fill out a friggin deposit slip but has a million trans for us to do.

talking on the cell phone

coming up to my window with an attitude

asking me to reverse fees and i see they already have like 8 reversed

If I may, I would Love to chime in here. I have been a teller now for over seven years, Here are some of my Pet Peeves...................

No deposit slipped filled out ! I have had people hold up a drive thru for several minutes while taking thier time filling out a deposit slip that should have been completed before they arrived.

Cell-Phone, When you say "Hello" to someone and they look at you like, Shuddup, Can't you see I am on my cell-phone?
I actually had an idiot pull up yesterday on a cell phone, I greeted him properly and received no response. He just threw a check in the drawer and continued to talk. So I figured he just wanted to cash the check as most do.
When I go to hand the cash back, He says No ! I want to deposit that ! Very loudly. I say oooooooookk. Do you happen to have your account# sir ?
I hear him say to the person on the phone, "Hold on a minute" he then looks at me very disgusted, Like I am supposed to read his mind or something. He told me to look it up ! What an idiot !

Basically, If people would just treat others with respect and have some knowledge of what they are doing when they come into a bank, it would be a tremendous help.

Ex: I cashed a check. Then counted the money to him. (btw there was a very long line) Then he says he wants to make a payment. Next he would like to deposit some money into his accounts. He is using the same money I handed to him from his check he had cashed.

We could have done this in one transcation. And he could of said everything he wanted to do from the start and not after I'm done with the transcation.

in response to ja114023 comment that's kind of what you have to do. with my bank which is if u deposit a check there is a hold and only 100 is available, but if u cash a check they give you all your money what kind of bs is that? so thats why he probably cashed the check then put some in . It's such a stupid concept certain banks have and all it is, is just an effort to cheat you out of money. it makes me sick.

i just recently started working at a bank and its so annoying when members dont have their id with them when they are cashing a check or withdrawing from their acct. Do other banks ask for identification? And they get so mad- even though we are protecting their acct!!! I also hate the obvious- cell phones, smoking in the drive thru, when people dont know their account number, when they dont fill out deposit slips(even though we supply them in the drive thru tubes.) when they yell at me when we have a to place a check on hold because its $2000.00 and they only keep an average of $10.00 in their account.

We have four lanes in DT, but I've seen three cars in lane one when lanes 2, 3, and 4 are open. Also why do they have to turn and stare at the window, even if I'm not helping them yet?

ja114023 in Fort Worth, Texas said: Ex: I cashed a check. Then counted the money to him. (btw there was a very long line) Then he says he wants to make a payment. Next he would like to deposit some money into his accounts. He is using the same money I handed to him from his check he had cashed.

We could have done this in one transcation. And he could of said everything he wanted to do from the start and not after I'm done with the transcation.

You need to train your customers. I have been in banking for 15 years. It does not hurt you to say here let me show you how to fill this out so you can make your payment, deposit and your cash back. If you did not work in a bank I am sure that you would not have known that either. You need to remember if it wasnt for your customers you wouldn't have a job!1

bigalnash. The bank won't cash it for you if they want to put a hold on it. Clearly you do not have the recourse in your account if the check is bad. If you are having this problem then take it to the bank it is drawn off of and cash it there then bring the cash in.

Most hated things is overuse of the the draw in the drive line and spaming the call button in the drive. Seriously say what you have to say when you are greeted don't bother me when I'm trying to run your and maybe other people's transactions.

My biggest one is the customer comes to my window when I'm not ready for them yet.....

What is wrong with all you whiners?!?! customer service is what you get paid to do! If someone comes to your window and you don't want them to, ask them to please step back until they are called. If someone is on there phone yell over them! if they give you dirty looks just smile, keep yelling, and send them on their way! just remember with the economy and job market the way it is, your lucky your biggest problem is "not being ready for a customer".

i hate when customers come up to my window with an attitude and literally throw their papers at me, when deposit slips arent filled out, when they want me to check on account activity and theres a line of twenty people and they dont understand why we have to send them to a personal banker, when customers complain if i ask for id when cash is being given to them and they say "well you dont ask when i make a deposit" why would we ask for a id when a deposit is being made? so your telling me you wouldnt want for your id to be asked when someone is trying to take money from your account? and we did ask for ids for deposits for a while but customers complained about that as well.

YOu guys covered a lot of them...mine are:

1. No deposit slip and the excuse, "I don't know my account number" all sweet-like, as if that makes it okay to hold up the 5 people who've filled theirs out properly already.
2. Non-customers who just.don't.get why we need their ID when the check is drawn on us. Makes me Crazy when they say, "But it's drawn on your bank!" as if I should hand any Joe Blow money if they give me a check.
3. Won't acknowledge me because they're on the cell phone.
4. complaints for fee's when they only have 21.00 in their account and they're getting free checking....as is we're making SO much money on them cashing their check each week. Gah.
5. Complaining about the drive thru line is long when they can get out of their damned car and go in the lobby.
6. The teller next to me who talks so loud into the mic I go home with a head-ache (I know...not a customer, but it does drive me crazy!).

I haven't been a teller in 20 some years. and nothing has changed.

I had a client confuse me while counting his money. I knew when he walked out the door what had happened. I closed my window, balanced and told my boss. She immediately called him and he denied cheating me out of the cash. My pet peeve? Being robbed by a client, and he being able to get away with it!

Pam in Mansfield, Texas said: You need to train your customers. I have been in banking for 15 years. It does not hurt you to say here let me show you how to fill this out so you can make your payment, deposit and your cash back. If you did not work in a bank I am sure that you would not have known that either. You need to remember if it wasnt for your customers you wouldn't have a job!1

you can tell you are a great bank teller! If tellers don't even take time to help customers and don't like their job, there are lots of people that are ready and willing to take it! (who will probably do a better job at it)

bigalnash in Lakewood, Ohio said: in response to ja114023 comment that's kind of what you have to do. with my bank which is if u deposit a check there is a hold and only 100 is available, but if u cash a check they give you all your money what kind of bs is that? so thats why he probably cashed the check then put some in . It's such a stupid concept certain banks have and all it is, is just an effort to cheat you out of money. it makes me sick.

NOT TRUE AT ALL.they still put a hold for the entire amount of the Check against the customers acount funds.So if they cash it and then deposit it makes no difference at all.That amount will not be cleared right away.That is why if the person doesnt have enough money to hold the check they cannot cash it.

bigalnash in Lakewood, Ohio said: in response to ja114023 comment that's kind of what you have to do. with my bank which is if u deposit a check there is a hold and only 100 is available, but if u cash a check they give you all your money what kind of bs is that? so thats why he probably cashed the check then put some in . It's such a stupid concept certain banks have and all it is, is just an effort to cheat you out of money. it makes me sick.

well that is what direct deosit is for, if you want all you money at once you should have direct deposit. Not hold up a teller's window for 10mins with all your different transactions

dj in Killeen, Texas said: What is wrong with all you whiners?!?! customer service is what you get paid to do! If someone comes to your window and you don't want them to, ask them to please step back until they are called. If someone is on there phone yell over them! if they give you dirty looks just smile, keep yelling, and send them on their way! just remember with the economy and job market the way it is, your lucky your biggest problem is "not being ready for a customer".

Customer service is what Iam paid to do, not customer hand holder and English language interpter. Customers need to grown up and take accountablity over THEIR OWN PERSONAL ACCOUNTS. Please do give us that bull about a bad economy and that we should be grateful for a job they should be grateful to have us. Those higher up could not handle the type of people we have to endure for an hour. American people do not sale your gifts and talents short we are the best workers in the world period!!!

Typical snotty response from a teller. Not everyone is offered direct deposit. And not every deposit is a payroll check. It's a ridiculous policy and makes no sense and "that's what direct deposit is for" is a ridiculous response.

I dont call people to my window if they are on the phone. They need to get off of it not just because it is rude but for safety. True story: we got robbed and my customer was on the phone and I had no clue what was going on around me because I was so busy trying to figure out what the lady wanted. So I didnt know we even had been robbed.
Being on the phone is also rude to other customers who are waiting in line. It is rude of me to not say anything to the person on the phone because it will make those other people have to wait longer as well. So just ask nicely for them to either step aside till the phone call is over or if they wouldnt mind hanging up.

Also yes, everyone can not get direct deposit. That is aweful by the way for new Wells Fargo customers. Because accounts will no longer be fee if you dont have DD or a minimum daily balance of various amounts. So that is frustrating to get used to . Let alone, have most of my family have to close their accounts because fees are dub. But at the same time, We create a service as a bank to our customers. We are there for them regarding financial matters. So it kinda makes sense that a small fee would be invoked. But, Farmers and Merchants Bank is free still so I guess they will get most of our towns business. :(

ja114023 in Fort Worth, Texas said: Ex: I cashed a check. Then counted the money to him. (btw there was a very long line) Then he says he wants to make a payment. Next he would like to deposit some money into his accounts. He is using the same money I handed to him from his check he had cashed.

We could have done this in one transcation. And he could of said everything he wanted to do from the start and not after I'm done with the transcation.

That happened to mew all the time now i ask wat other transactions do theyu wanna do before i hand them anything!

LONG in Jackson, Tennessee said: If I may, I would Love to chime in here. I have been a teller now for over seven years, Here are some of my Pet Peeves...................

No deposit slipped filled out ! I have had people hold up a drive thru for several minutes while taking thier time filling out a deposit slip that should have been completed before they arrived.

Cell-Phone, When you say "Hello" to someone and they look at you like, Shuddup, Can't you see I am on my cell-phone?
I actually had an idiot pull up yesterday on a cell phone, I greeted him properly and received no response. He just threw a check in the drawer and continued to talk. So I figured he just wanted to cash the check as most do.
When I go to hand the cash back, He says No ! I want to deposit that ! Very loudly. I say oooooooookk. Do you happen to have your account# sir ?
I hear him say to the person on the phone, "Hold on a minute" he then looks at me very disgusted, Like I am supposed to read his mind or something. He told me to look it up ! What an idiot !

Basically, If people would just treat others with respect and have some knowledge of what they are doing when they come into a bank, it would be a tremendous help.

I second that complaint! Meanwhile, those customers waiting behind Rude Cell Phone Guy are developing an attitude about waiting so long...

too tired in Kendallville, Indiana said: YOu guys covered a lot of them...mine are:

1. No deposit slip and the excuse, "I don't know my account number" all sweet-like, as if that makes it okay to hold up the 5 people who've filled theirs out properly already.
2. Non-customers who just.don't.get why we need their ID when the check is drawn on us. Makes me Crazy when they say, "But it's drawn on your bank!" as if I should hand any Joe Blow money if they give me a check.
3. Won't acknowledge me because they're on the cell phone.
4. complaints for fee's when they only have 21.00 in their account and they're getting free checking....as is we're making SO much money on them cashing their check each week. Gah.
5. Complaining about the drive thru line is long when they can get out of their damned car and go in the lobby.
6. The teller next to me who talks so loud into the mic I go home with a head-ache (I know...not a customer, but it does drive me crazy!).

I agree. And I work with one of those #6's too!

too tired in Kendallville, Indiana said: YOu guys covered a lot of them...mine are:

1. No deposit slip and the excuse, "I don't know my account number" all sweet-like, as if that makes it okay to hold up the 5 people who've filled theirs out properly already.
2. Non-customers who just.don't.get why we need their ID when the check is drawn on us. Makes me Crazy when they say, "But it's drawn on your bank!" as if I should hand any Joe Blow money if they give me a check.
3. Won't acknowledge me because they're on the cell phone.
4. complaints for fee's when they only have 21.00 in their account and they're getting free checking....as is we're making SO much money on them cashing their check each week. Gah.
5. Complaining about the drive thru line is long when they can get out of their damned car and go in the lobby.
6. The teller next to me who talks so loud into the mic I go home with a head-ache (I know...not a customer, but it does drive me crazy!).

Your expectation that a customer is supposed to remember a long account number that may be used 1x per month is ridiculous. Its not anything like a phone number that you use many times a week. Quit complaining and do your job. And oh yeah, I was a bank teller for years.

friendly customer in Pittsburgh,

I bank at Clearview FCU in Pittburgh and have been loyal with them for 25 years due to the extraordinary customer service from the tellers. It is very inconvenient for me to use this bank since I now live in DC and there is no branch locally and their affiliates are completely out of the way. The tellers go out of their way to make me feel valued and I am never a nuisance, even when I've forgotten my account number, or have a few extra requests. We need more tellers with better people skills and customer service training. We all serve somebody, and you will have problems dealing with people no matter which industry you choose. I work two jobs as a flight attendant and a trauma/perioperative nurse. I deal with 'people' issues all day long. Talking on the cell phone? Not filling out the deposit slip? Sounds like a walk in the park! Please.....:)

i hate when non-customers make a deposit and give you the wrong acct #. They hold up the line for twenty minutes while they make you try that same number over and over. Ask why you cant look it up by name, why you cant find it, they do this EVERY MONTH, its never been a problem before. Twenty minutes later, they realize it was the wrong number and DONT APOLOGIZE!!!

ja114023 in Fort Worth, Texas said: Ex: I cashed a check. Then counted the money to him. (btw there was a very long line) Then he says he wants to make a payment. Next he would like to deposit some money into his accounts. He is using the same money I handed to him from his check he had cashed.

We could have done this in one transcation. And he could of said everything he wanted to do from the start and not after I'm done with the transcation.

OMG I HATE THAT !!

su12321 in Palmyra, Virginia said: i just recently started working at a bank and its so annoying when members dont have their id with them when they are cashing a check or withdrawing from their acct. Do other banks ask for identification? And they get so mad- even though we are protecting their acct!!! I also hate the obvious- cell phones, smoking in the drive thru, when people dont know their account number, when they dont fill out deposit slips(even though we supply them in the drive thru tubes.) when they yell at me when we have a to place a check on hold because its $2000.00 and they only keep an average of $10.00 in their account.

In my banking center, we always ask for the debit card because that is their primary identification next to their driver's license. And when a customer gets upset with me because they have been with the bank for 20 years (and I have never seen them before), I tell them how would they like me to give their account information to someone else, how do I know its really them?

too tired in Kendallville, Indiana said: YOu guys covered a lot of them...mine are:

1. No deposit slip and the excuse, "I don't know my account number" all sweet-like, as if that makes it okay to hold up the 5 people who've filled theirs out properly already.
2. Non-customers who just.don't.get why we need their ID when the check is drawn on us. Makes me Crazy when they say, "But it's drawn on your bank !" as if I should hand any Joe Blow money if they give me a check.
3. Won't acknowledge me because they're on the cell phone.
4. complaints for fee's when they only have 21.00 in their account and they're getting free checking....as is we're making SO much money on them cashing their check each week. Gah.
5. Complaining about the drive thru line is long when they can get out of their damned car and go in the lobby.
6. The teller next to me who talks so loud into the mic I go home with a head-ache (I know...not a customer , but it does drive me crazy!).

1. Okay, what I do is I tell them to swipe their card and hand them a deposit slip and fill out their name and address and I will get their account number for them and even offer to write it down on a small note card.
2. Yeah, in my BC we require 2 pieces of ID if its over a certain amount and they always get mad.
3. When I see that, I talk louder. Especially when they are holding up the line on the cell phone, I yell.