Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I just waited fir forty minutes for nothing in credit west famagusta. I have sterling to invest and already bank with gatanti but wante$ to spread my money . I went to oen an account in famagusta and disvuss a few other things . I went to the counter and explained . They told me to go to the left . It said expat banknig and a lady was talikg with some customers . Another peson was waiting . I asked did i need to take a ticket anD the lady said to just wait . S o i waited . The first people eventually left and the next man then proceeded. I waited . Then the other people came back again .
After about forty minutes the lady ask me if i was waitin for her ? I said yes ! She said she didnt speak englsh .! Expat banking ! Then another lady who spoke a littel english said to speak to her . So i sat i her booth . Her english was very very poor. Then she told me it was lunch now ... and to come back later !

Whats was the point if going bacjk when they dont speak english . Terrble servic3 needless to say i wont be goin* back to this bank and recommend others not to bother as well. Im just writing this in a nearbu cafe and its only 11.50 . They must take lunch at 11.40 ! Wha5 a very unhelpful bank

If you have got the time and inclination and I know it's a fair drive, but go to Creditwest Catalkoy Branch, that's the Expat Branch and you will have no problem with the language barrier, they will sort everything for you, Internet Banking, Setting up of Accounts, Credit/Debit Cards etc.

Mickyw.

mickyw wrote:If you have got the time and inclination and I know it's a fair drive, but go to Creditwest Catalkoy Branch, that's the Expat Branch and you will have no problem with the language barrier, they will sort everything for you, Internet Banking, Setting up of Accounts, Credit/Debit Cards etc.

Mickyw.

It's a long way to drive from Famagusta every time there's a query on the account

I always find the staff at Karaglanaglu branch most helpful.

turtle wrote:I always find the staff at Karaglanaglu branch most helpful.

I also think that they are, but they're a long long way from Famagusta!

I cannot give a view on the service given on the day in Famagusta (but it was clearly unsatisfactory to the customer) but I do agree with others that a phone call to the Expat centre at Catalkoy would help resolve any issues (I always have good service there as I am sure many customers receive at other branches).

Distance should not be an issue - many customers still live in UK and manage their bank arrangements satisfactorily via email / phone calls and the online banking service (I certainly did for a number of years) but I appreciate the one on one service is always preferred.

Also - I believe there are customer service feedback slips at all branches. You can record your views (good or bad), they get looked at and you have the option of the bank contacting you to further discuss your comments.

Hope this helps

Why did you not make an appointment, .. always top service at the Catalkoy branch

David wrote:Why did you not make an appointment, .. always top service at the Catalkoy branch

Maybe the poster lives in/near Gazimagusa and expected a professional and courteous service to an enquiry and did not expect a poor response, ergo, would not have anticipated a need to book an appointment at another branch of the same bank some considerable distance/time away when he/she may have had other local pressing commitments and, further, would have been unknown at Catalkoy? Just a passing thought.

I meant why not make an appointment at the branch they went to if i was investing some money i would not just go in and expect to be given much time i would expect the staff to be busy, would make an appointment beforehand that way they would put aside more time for the customer.

David wrote:I meant why not make an appointment at the branch they went to if i was investing some money i would not just go in and expect to be given much time i would expect the staff to be busy, would make an appointment beforehand that way they would put aside more time for the customer.

With the way banks operate here I would expect to go in and be seen. If then and only then further research was needed or a longer time with the person be offered an appointment. The service given would be part of the test to see if the bank was suitable. I would also expect to wait if needed. I would expect and expat service to be able to communicate in English (even if we are not the only expats), I would expect more courtesy or a simple I will get our English speaker to call you, and I certainly would not expect to get told to come back later because it is lunch having been in the bank for 40mins.

That said I also prefer banks with an off island connection and more international profile.

I have to admit that the service at the Karaoglanoglu branch has dipped below the standard they used to provide. Perhaps it's changes in staff (there does appear to be a number of these) OR perhaps as has been suggested in earlier threads that they are no longer interested in we "ordinary" folk with ordinary money to invest. The bank as a whole advertises itself as "the xpat bank", but Xpat from which country I wonder? For the time being we will probably stay with them for the convenience to our home but the fact that they are not a Turkish bank ergo do not dispense sterling and do not appear to know much about it, is becoming a factor which may cause us to move.

Just to clarify

The waiting was not the problem.
I told them at the front desk what i wanted and it was clear i was english. The lady on expat bankning knew i was english as i spok to her and knew she would not be able to communicate with me but still let me wait 40 minutes.

Her colleauge who tried to assist realised her english wasnt much better so she told me at 11.40 it was lunch and to come back later .... which was basically saying sod off and dont come back .

At outset they should have said sorry we dint speak english here at all and dont have an english speaking exoat service. Then no problem . But they knew they couldnt help let me wait then fobbed me off pretending they went to lunch at 11.40 . If i had gone back in the afternoon how could have they helped me then ! With or without an appointment it would not have mattered.

Reyntj wrote:Just to clarify

The waiting was not the problem.
I told them at the front desk what i wanted and it was clear i was english. The lady on expat bankning knew i was english as i spok to her and knew she would not be able to communicate with me but still let me wait 40 minutes.

Her colleauge who tried to assist realised her english wasnt much better so she told me at 11.40 it was lunch and to come back later .... which was basically saying sod off and dont come back .

At outset they should have said sorry we dint speak english here at all and dont have an english speaking exoat service. Then no problem . But they knew they couldnt help let me wait then fobbed me off pretending they went to lunch at 11.40 . If i had gone back in the afternoon how could have they helped me then ! With or without an appointment it would not have mattered.

I hope you voted with your feet and went elsewhere. If it is important to you, write to the MD of Credit West, with a Turkish translation, explaining the situation and asking, politely, what action will be taken to improve things. I am sure a helpful CW acolyte expat will provide details of who to write to and where.

At least you have highlighted a major customer service fault at that branch, which may assist others.

I had a fair amount of money in Credit West at one time. Waited in the cue one lunchtime got to be served and told we are closing for lunch. Come back at 2.00 or whatever time. I went back at 2.00 withdrew every T.L

I took it across the rd. to Near East I find them first rate and great opening hours and no lunchtime closing.

My opinion of the Credit West Management at Karaganolou is that they were too busy stuck up their own backsides strutting around like Peacocks and had a very high opinion of their selves.

Johnny Lee wrote:I had a fair amount of money in Credit West at one time. Waited in the cue one lunchtime got to be served and told we are closing for lunch. Come back at 2.00 or whatever time. I went back at 2.00 withdrew every T.L

I took it across the rd. to Near East I find them first rate and great opening hours and no lunchtime closing.
.

Are they not also involved in buying properties from under the expat owners?

kerry6138, suspect you might have opened a right old can of worms there!!!

"My opinion of the Credit West Management at Karaganolou is that they were too busy stuck up their own backsides strutting around like Peacocks and had a very high opinion of their selves."

I find the staff there very helpful.