There in lies the question. But you can be sure its not a ‘glitch’. If only there were still investigative journslists who would look for the story. There’s bound to be someone in UB’s tech department dying to talk.

Check out this link provided by David Fenton above, it has all the gory details:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/28/rbs_job_cuts_and_offshoring_software_glitch/

I was with them before after my beloved postbank went bellyup. You have to jump through hoops to qualify for free banking. I left for Ulster. Also permo’s Mobile banking doesn’t seem to be up to scratch with not so much as sight nor sound of a mobile phone app. I’m eyeing up NIB myself to see what they have on offer.

If you like using branches don’t go near NIB, they are closing them all!!

I think its the only choice.. At this stage I don’t know were I am with bank account. You call them and they said it will be fixed in a couple of days.. nobody knows anything in UB. Lets face it. 1-2 days .. ok we can forgive them but its practically 2 weeks now!!!! There is really no other choice but to move. I am giving them until wednesday then I am moving on Thursday so my next weeks wages will go into a different account.

Wait, so UB employees and managers shouldn’t get any bonuses because of a computer glitch mess which had nothing to do with them?? They’re now working crazy hours to make up for it and you’re saying that they should be punished on top of that? Get real.

Dead right billy your bank is an absolute disgrace in how ye handled this shambles can’t wait to close my account.

I don’t know where you got the impression that it was my bank. All I’m saying as that your suggesting punishing people for something that is not their fault simply because you dislike the organisation they work for. Which is grossly unfair.

Billy, if you honestly think that Ulster Bank as a whole entity are not responsible for this mess you must be out of your mind. I appreciate that people are working hard to resolve this issue, and I’m sure they’ll be paid plenty of over-time accordingly. But the fact remains that too many people are affected by this not to have a catastrophic effect on the bank, in which case prioritising bonuses for staff over paying late fees/penalties and other compensation for affected customers is just not an option. I don’t think the attitude that it had “nothing to do with them” is helping anyone right now. They’re all part of Ulster Bank, a bank that has allowed its system to be taken down without having the requisite fail-safes in place and whose attitude towards its customers has been nothing short of a disgrace.

Again Michael, I never said nor implied that Ulster Bank as an entity are not responsible, simply that most of the employees are not responsible and shouldn’t be unduly punished. By the way, Royal Bank of Scotland are responsible, not Ulster, but who needs accuracy right?

Billy forgive me if I doubt you but you are the only one defending the indefensible which would suggest you do work for ulster bank or maybe one of your parents do.

Billy explain to me why management should receive bonuses for coming up with cost saving measures to shift IT teams to Delhi, explain why anyone deserves a bonus for coming up with such an idea which has clearly delved out an inferior quality back up and IT support?

I just dont get it, should people just get bonuses for coming up with ideas and feck the consequences. Whom ever decided to pick out the far eastern contract should be sacked.

No John, I’m not defending the indefensible. You are in fact attacking mostly ordinary people who cannot defend themselves, based on your anger at the IT department of their organisation. For the record I don’t bank at UB, don’t know anyone that works for them and have absolutely no connection with them that I know of.

Yes Billy – let’s be accurate. Ulster Bank are a subsidiary of RBS, but it is still up to them to ensure that their systems are robust and cannot be taken down in such a capacity. I genuinely cannot understand your argument – I’m sure there are very hard-working people in Ulster Bank, but is working hard enough to get a bonus? Surely the company one works for also needs to be doing well enough to be able to afford to pay bonuses. And after the dust settles, I cannot see a way in which Ulster Bank can afford to do this. This is nothing to do with disliking an organisation and those employees might not be directly responsible for this crisis, but when a bank has messed up this badly is it really reasonable to expect it to be able to afford to pay out bonuses to its employees? Or is it reasonable for its employees to expect bonuses? Those of is living in the real world would say “no”.

Billy I’m hardly attacking the ordinary people I’m simply moving my account from a bank that is run by clowns. Get real yourself.

Billy, ignore the masses, mob mentality… there’s no reasoning with it

I’m with Billy. There is no point in saying its the fault of branch staff. I’m not happy but there is no point in laying blame with the men and women serving at the counters trying to deal with the public during this mess. I thank the staff in my local bank every chance I get.

Correct but people don’t seem prone to rational thought when it comes to filling out a few forms to move banks. They’ll stay with them forever.

Doubt it Lee have already gone with PTSB

I HATE the paperwork of opening a bank account.. But I will do it. Because there simply is no other choice now.

Kerry are you suggesting the central bank are proactive?

Of course, they are proactively checking out their new digs on the quays :) thats proactive

Brian, I’m afraid that would be REactive.

The cheek of them charging you for maintenance when they completely failed to maintain anything!

Thing is if you are stuck with a mortgage there what are the odds of being able to move? Slim I’d say.

True mate, meant to say if people are in a position to move banks, they really should. I can’t move or close my account with AIB for example because I’m still paying off a student loan in Ireland, which is fair enough. People have such little options today.

Folks, just because you are paying off a loan does not mean you cant change your current account to another bank. Just because you owe them a debt (which they profit from remember) does not mean you are tied to them.

Even if it was some guy on the other side of the world that caused the “glitch” its not his fault now!Ulster Bank are lying, useless fools who have treated their customers like dirt. maybe the Indian guy did us a favour by showing us how useless they really are!

@ nicola You think that any of the other banks are more competent or hold their cannon fodder customers in any higher a regard?

I wish media outlets would stop calling it a ‘glitch’ – it may have started that way but that’s not what’s caused the whole problem, as the following article shows.

“It could have been prevented if the management had listened to us.”

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/28/rbs_job_cuts_and_offshoring_software_glitch/

The letter from the CEO says the error was made by Edinburgh team so what does it have to do with it?

@lee maybe not but that’s still not a good enough reason for me to stay with this crowd of clowns. This has happened to them and they have made a mess of it. Whether it would be the same with any ther bank I can’t say because it hasn’t happened!

Interesting link David, cheers.

All the technology in the world! I work in Denmark and have a friend in Danske Bank here. He said when they moved into Ireland they were gobsmacked by the antiquated procedures and total lack of IT there.

Very broad statement tbh, lack of ‘IT’ in what ? and where ?

You do realise the issue is of the parents companys making. Their systems are mainly run through the UK. So does your ‘friend’ have any experience in ‘IT’ there, if so where ?….

General statement is general…….

National Irish (which Danske took over) may have been antiquated, but i’d call it a stretch to say all Irish banks are.

Ombudsman won’t do anything to UB over this, at best you could make a complaint if UB refused to pay any charges incurred because of there mess and even still your going to be wasting your time for 3-6 months with final notices and complaints back and forth.

Like every other Bank fiasco in recent years nothing will happen to UB from any offical sources, best that can happen is consumer confidence is destroyed and the account holders cause a run on the bank transferring there accounts.

Money has not run out, due to the fact that you can walk into any branch and withdrawn your money..