A Bank of Scotland apology to a Scotsman has come after the financial institution labelled his Thai spouse a “criminal.”
Ashby McGowan, from Glasgow and Thanaporn Sonkew, acquired £150 (US$180, 6,000 baht) for the “distress and inconvenience” they had been brought on, in accordance with The Nation.
McGowan and Thanaporn discover themselves trapped in a “hostile environment” with odd law-abiding Thais seemingly routinely thought-about to be crooks. The battle against Kafkaesque rules for a Bank of Scotland apology has been quickly followed by entry into a complicated maze of visa laws.
The couple had been married in a Buddhist ceremony in Thailand, however the Home Office didn’t recognise it and refused three visa functions.
They wed in Glasgow final month, but then McGowan spoke of the Bank of Scotland’s refusal to open a joint account for them.
When Illusive tried to send a small amount of money to Thanaporn in Thailand, Bank of Scotland employees described her as “a criminal.” The Bank of Scotland apology got here accompanied by the quite strange quantity of £11 (US$15, 450 baht) in compensation, but it made little distinction. When he went into one other department to transfer some more money, he was advised by the supervisor that it was a scam.
Even when he showed her the proof of the £11 Bank of Scotland apology had obtained for the previous insult, she saved him ready for over two hours before ultimately transferring the cash.
Professional apologiser for Bank of Scotland, criticism manager Courtney Speirs then wrote…
“I was sorry to read about your experiences attempting to send cash to your fiancée in Thailand over the final few years.
“I understand you’ve also faced difficulties including Thanaporn to your account. Please accept my apologies for the misery and inconvenience you’ve each been triggered. To make an apology extra tangibly, I’m arranging to pay £150 into your account.”
Speirs expressed her “disappointment” concerning the difficulties they had skilled on several occasions. She went on…
“We take account safety very critically and have precautions in place to protect our clients from scams. These aren’t supposed to get in the finest way of customers going about their on an everyday basis banking.
“I wish to reassure you that your experiences have not been as a outcome of bigotry, which we would never tolerate. Nevertheless, we now have let you down on numerous events and left a poor impression.
“Going forwards, I hope we are ready to restore your faith in us and thanks again for taking the time to lift your issues.”
McGowan stated their joint account was now lively and he was happy. But the subsequent battle for his wife to be granted go away to remain in Scotland is just starting.
He said…
“For this visa, you need – dated within every week – 12 months’ bank statements, each to be stamped and dated. It is important. At two completely different branches, I was informed they can’t do this. They give out three months’ statements at most..