I went to the bank the other day with the Mrs to open a business account. Here is a direct quote from the customer agreement “You authorize us to record and monitor any telephone calls for various purposes, including assuring transaction accuracy, to provide a record of such conversations, and to improve the quality of service“. Nowhere does it say calls between me and the bank, it says ANY. The evil bank drone looked shocked when I questioned it, tried to give me “but we have no way to do that”, called one of her “superiors” to ask if it could be changed, then refused to change it. I would have walked out but the Mrs said I was being paranoid & it would have not been good if I walked. What are the thoughts out there in TBP land? Have I been reading too many articles on here, or does the bank have an incompetent legal department that doesn’t proofread?
They need to listen in and record all calls in case your spending habits get out of control. Calling your buddy and arranging a day trip to the race track could mean you’ve become a gambling addict and your life is spinning out of control. It’s standard procedure. I wouldn’t worry about it.
If it is possible for them to abuse the agreement for their advantage, they will. Don’t trust anyone except your mother.
I would think they are only talking about bank business. The “any” is clarified in the sentence — “transaction accuracy”, “a record of such conversations”, “improve the quality of service” — these are all related to business between only you and the bank.
NEVERTHELESS, one can never be too paranoid in the Gestapo State. Limit your conversations with the bank via the phone .. when you do call, be brief (no “small talk” or extraneous bullshit), state your business, and hang up. Try to do as much banking as you can in person.
Paranoid weapons …
[/img]
[img
Overthecliff…..The only person I trust is my mother…and she may be jiving me too ! ( Thanks B.B. King )
Sorry Stucky, “various purposes, including” does not limit the various purposes in any way.
I forgot, her jaw dropped when I told her I already knew they were reporting all transactions over 5k to the feds. I don’t think the bank lady likes me. When we left, she told my wife it was nice meeting her, and oh yeah, you too. LMAO.
As one who works in financial compliance, I can tell you that every decent financial firm of any size records all telephone calls and archives the records, and those that don’t, should. They must tell you that they are recording the calls and usually do it with a disclaimer like “this call will be recorded for quality purposes”. Most firms of any type record customer calls,and tell you so at the beginning of the call. It is basic self-protection for any business and I strongly recommend it.
As a customer, YOU can of course record all calls you make, and I highly recommend you do so. As a customer, you do NOT have to disclose that you are recording the call and it will still stand as evidence in any legal proceedings you initiate against the company.
In fact, in not long, FINRA and other regulatory authorities will likely require it, just as they require capture and retention of all paper mail, email, and other written or electronic communications of ay type.
Back in PA Mike
You’re certainly correct. I was just trying to ease your fears .. even via bullshit, if necessary. 🙂
In NSAmerica it’s a safe thing to assume that EVERY phone call is recorded and saved.
The agreement is poorly worded and should be amended; or perhaps it’s meant to stand as worded. Nevertheless, Chi’s suggestion that YOU record as well is spot on! Kudos!
I don’t have to record anything. I’m sure a subpeona to NSA can get all eletronic (to include envelopes of snail mail) records released.
oops..photos of snail mail..
Back in Pennsylvania Mike you should have stayed in Wyoming .Things would go a lot smoother in the country if people like you just did what you were
told to do but idiots like you have got to cause problems and make it hard on the rest of us.Shame on you.
Why are you keeping your money in these insolvent banks to begin with. This is strike 2
Never take your wife to the bank.Strike 3
I’ve been dealing with a couple year old DUI (agreed the action was a mistake… agreed some response to discourage repeat is warranted).
One of the terms of my agreement was that ANY law enforcement could search my home and/or vehicle for ANY reason at ANY time… and that anything seized could be use as evidence in ANY case or trial.
Basically it established my home and vehicle as a complete open door. I do not engage in personal communication with anyone here, but say I did and one of you said something risky… say some law enforcement needed evidence. They could use me as a vehicle to obtain the message without even needing to ask, seize it, and use it against you without you ever knowing.
Paranoid? Sure. But still possible. Now imagine how many people out there are on probation for victimless minor infractions that have these and similar clauses in them that we’re all interacting with online or in person? How many of them disclose that they are basically an open evidence locker to the people around them?
I don’t think you are at risk… but I don’t think you are unfairly paranoid. I assure you that if the roles were reversed the lawyers for the company would be ALL OVER making sure the boundaries are defined clearly and in their favor.
overthecliff says:
If it is possible for them to abuse the agreement for their advantage, they will. Don’t trust anyone except your mother.
I have a letter from my mother stating emphatically that she would never agree to my father cutting me out of the will. She also said she wouldn’t lie in court to get my name removed from the beneficiary deed.
She did both.
I rest my case… Trust no one who can fuck you over for monetary gain.
My money is in the ground. In land and in the ground. Period.
Razzle , those DUIs stay with you for the rest of your life.I had one in 1992 .FedEx ask me about it before I started working for them.They said I was lucky it had been 20+ years or they would not have let me come in as an independent contractor.
can you amend the agreement with your own disclaimer before signing?
El Coyote, no, no changes or they won’t open the account. I was perfectly happy to tell them to fuck off and go to another bank, but…
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. That phrase applies more today than ever before in history. Fuck the banks. Find a good credit union.
Old saying by I don know who. I trust no one but me and thee and I’m not sure of thee.
First thought: The bank is in collusion with Big Brother; leave asap.
Second though: You married a sheep.