Inefficiencies at my cost really irritate.

I am amazed at how inefficient companies can be. I moved home (and office) last autumn, and I informed many organisations of my new address. Around the same time, I also changed the network that I affiliate my business through. You'd think that telling a company just once of the change of details would be sufficient, especially as on any product application I give them, it reiterates my current details. Today I received a cheque from Norwich & Peterborough Building Society, not only addressed to my old address, which I'd let over 6 months ago, but also for the wrong amount. The wrong amount was due to them not updating my Network details correctly, which I'd told them about in October. Luckily, I had arranged a mail re-direction service with the Royal Mail for 6 months, but this ended on the 20th February, even though I received this letter over 1 week after my re-direction service was supposed to end. So, it's not only the lender who was inefficient, but also the Royal Mail (even though I have benefited from their inefficiency). The time and cost of other people's inefficiency is something that really riles me, but this is the times we live in. I will continue to 'name and shame' the organisations that I deal with and who don't seem to make changes at the time of request, or are as efficient as I am, which cost me time and money. Why should I be the one to show them the error of their ways, at my time and expense? And don't get me started on 0870 numbers !!

Following on from last week's withdrawal of all 6 providers of 100%+ products, it's been announced today that RBS Intermediary Partners (that’s the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nat West bank, the One Account, and First Active) has lowered its maximum loans to 95% of the property value. They used to lend up to 100% of the property value. Another sign of the increasing 'credit crunch' and it's long-lasting effects. I fear they won't be the last to make such changes.