Jamaica National Building Society

This bank should not be open more less dealing with people they are so backwards the amount of documents and fees you have to pay just to close an account is a joke looks like they are holding customers hostage now DWL.

I have a foreign currency Uk sterling account with this building society. I have had the bad experience of trying to do a withdrawal on line with the help and assistance of one of the consultants talking me through each stage of how to fill out the form on line. After all the effort and waiting for a week and not receiving the money I had to call back atleast 5 times to be told the transaction did not go through and was charged £17.00 although it was not my fault. I tried speaking with a manager and was told none was available but a superviser could help me. After speaking to atleast 3 supervisors and told different answers I was advised to write a letter and sign it asking fir the money to be returned to my acct.
I then had to arrange a video meeting as their are no branches in the UK anymore. Then I had to upload the relevant withdrawal forms and send it back. I also sent an email asking to confirm if they had received the documents to no avail. I then had to send another email chasing up the situation to be told I have missed information on the form. To this day some 3 weeks later and being charged for a transaction I never received I am not sure what to do next.
It upsets me as I have been saving with this bank for over 10 years as a loyal customer regardless of the bad reviews.
Not sure what I can do next but forced to close tha acct down.Can somebody help me and advise me what I can do.

I wonder if the CEO or management is reviewing these feedback as nothing has changed.

I have an account with this bank and use the Birmingham Branch. But I am reluctant to go there as the bank clerks could do with training in customer service. They do not know how to speak to customers and have a bad attitude. They look down their noses at you as if you are from another planet. The social class issue is so palpable it’s unbelievable. I cannot believe that in 2019 any employee with public facing jobs, even in a bank, can behave in this way. The bank admin is no better, putting up so many restrictions to stop people, getting-their funds it’s ridiculous. Why on earth do they need proof that I have a NI? And why does anyone have to show they have a job to reactivate their account and get access to their own funds? If we don’t have to do it for U.K. banks why all this hassle? I badly want to close my account but they tell me I have to do that in Jamaica or loose my money. Their system sucks and they make it quite difficult to access your own funds.
Stay away!!

there customer service its very bad inside this place how service like this improved by hire more staff member every time i go there i have wait for hour and hour even if i go early i have wait so long i got fed up and walk away this bad so bad that i dont now if want even bother going back to there local office in elephant and castle which now close in soon too i just want jamaican bank services to do better man

I wouldn’t recommend this bank as they wish to have your national insurance number on file which everyone knows even British banks do not ask for this. They need passport or driving license. Secondly went on holiday and checked beforehand to find out they need it before you can access your money. It’s a joke. This bank will never improve. Oh and they charge you to put money in your own account- that’s the funny part.

Unfortunately the performance of senior tellers has not improved. Little attention to detail, then changing details, causing delays and inconvenience to customers.

I was flabbergasted when he told me that the amount I wanted to send wasn't possible, so needed to send a MORE money than was necessary.

Training is desperately needed.

They all need Customer Service Training, and a bit of common sense would make a great difference. I can't wait to finish paying off my mortgage so I can finish doing business with them. The service at Elephant and Castle is so poor, I am wondering who would employ a bunch of idiots. I would never recommend them not even to my enemy....

My main reason for writing a review is that I have also had trouble with no one answering the phone I was on hold for over 15 mins two days running. It would be nice to have at least some response to let me know I was in a queue. I think that Jamaica National should upgrade and join the twenty-fist century. Customers should upgrade to another bank.

I requested some documents in December 2013, but I wasn't able to pick them up because I work long hours. I was quite surprised and also pleased to know that these documents were posted to my home address within 2 days. I was really really impressed. Furthermore they were really polite and helpful. Sometimes if you be polite and kind to people then people will be polite to you just the same.

i visited Jamaica National in July 2013 to request a simple task of adding my daughters name onto our account, the info and forms that were requested were more than what was needed to get a passport, the staff were unhelpful and rude, they did not care that three people had spent 60 pounds on train fare to get to them, may i add that we had all the forms that they requested and references but they wanted company stamps on them, the problem was easy to resolve, they could have just picked up the phone! but no this was to much of a problem for them, so our simple task did not get done,

I used this branch today and I must say that the service I received was excellent, polite and helpful. I suppose it all depends on the person who assists you, the young woman who served me was knowledgable, friendly and respectful.

I think they need a better customer service, and people with more experience, to deal with their customers I wouldn't recommend a friend to this bank.I've never received .a newsletter or any correspondent e-mail.:(

Customer service is very poor,employees have limited knowledge of the services offered. They dont tell u if u need money from Jamaica it costs £30 to have the money deposited in a uk acc here. Staff not willing to help or listen. seriously considering closing the account.

Well it’s really sad to see so much negative comments about JNBS branch in Elephant and castle. I obtained the phone number from this site and gave them a call enquiring how i could go about opening an account, The staff who answered the phone was quite helpful and informative. I went to the Elephant and castle branch two days after my phone conversation taking with me all the requirements. The female staff at the information point was really polite, she also explained to me that they were a bit short on staff. Overall everything went quite well and i am really happy with the service I received. i am not saying that there is not room for improvement i.e. a queuing system would be nice.

I am unable to speak to staff on the phone at Jamaica National branch here in the UK. The number for Shepherd's Bush does not work and when I contact Elephant & Castle branch, I am redirected to Jamaica. Spoke to a very polite young lady in Jamaica yesterday, however she was unable to do much because of the time difference. Staff here in the UK needs to take a leaf out of her book, I would give her 100% credit. We need more staff like her at the branches here. Well done and thanks to Lisa Barrett, it's taken over 6 weeks to get a withdrawal and they still cannot inform me where the cheque is and when I should expect to receive it. Lisa is on the case. Does anyone think that Jamaica National is going under?? I'm thinking of removing my money and close the accounts before the ship sinks!! And yes, the staff here needs some customer service training as they have either lost it or never had it.

I just tried to phone to find out what times they were open. They have 5 options and when I tried each option the automative machine says that the extention number is invalid and cuts you off. On one option of the option they say that I should try again at 8am it's 9:43am!!! and then they cut you off. I just want to know what times they were open on Saturday. Frustrating.

The service is poor, they do not answer the telephone at their London office. They are seriously in need of training in quality matters. As soon as my NCB account is opened I will be migrating my funds to that account.

My husband and I have a sterling and dollar account with Jamaica National for sometime. We are both Jamaican's and would like to support our national bank. From our experience not just in England but also in Jamaica Ocho Rios they are just one of the worst bank I have ever come across. The Staff needs training in how to speak to customers and also how to show some respect they are so rude no manners whatsoever. You wait so long for someone to answer the phone and when they come to the phone they are either rude or very unhelpful. There is the odd one who will be polite and helpful.

This is not the way to treat your customers at all.

It's so hard to actually get to speak with anyone on the phone.

I am going to give Jamaica National 1/10 because there is no 0/10 choice to choose from.I find the staff there quite lazy the only place you can go these days where its as if they are all on the beach as oppos to serving customers yes thats right thats the job to serve customers.

They are not pleasant god bless the few who show a smile for the others who seem to be underpaid and overworked well thats the look on he face.

I lodged £60 in barclays and when my mother went to the branch in Jamaica they said it was only 50 that was there. Now to sort out this matter I have to go to Barclays go to Jamaica national because barclays said they sent 60 over to them and it goes on.

Too many people in onetransaction. I recon quite a few of them need to be sacked because customer service training they LACK BADLY.

I am totally appauled at the fact that one cannot pay money into their mortgage account from London. I have been trying o do that and was told that I could not deposit money in my own name! I was told that I have to get someone else to do that or send the money to Jamaica and have someone pay in for me. I can do neither. There is not facilities to pay money into one's JN account from England and yet they keep sending overdue statements to me. HOW CAN I PAY IT IF NOTHING OR FACILITIES ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR ME TO PAY INTO MY MORTGAGE ACCOUNT FROM LONDON! Somebody need to tell me what to do and how I can pay into my account from London. I would be grateful for any suggestion. Frustrated with `JN - London

Ranting, I think not. I recently visited the Ochi Rios branch of the Jamaica National Buidling Society at about 13:00. On my arrival I was allocated number 28 but noted at the time that customer 15 was being seen. I soon discovered that some of the clients present (many frail and elderly) had arrived at the bank from 8:45 and were still waiting to be seen. After waiting for one and a half hour the number of peole waiting had been reduced by three.

At that point I asked to see the manager of the branch. I was introduced to a woman who informed me that the manager was unavailable but that she would try and address any concern that I had. I explained that having waited for over an a half hour there appeared little chance of me conducting my business prior to the bank being closed. The person to whom I spoke explained that there was a shortage of staff that morning but that she would call someone to deal immediately with my requirement. I explained that I was not asking to be seen before the many clients who had arrived some hours before I had but that something should be done to speed up the service.

The member of staff promised that she would see what she could do to speed things up. After waiting another hour and things had not been improved I called the person to whom I had spoken earlier and told her that I should like to take up her offer to be seen before clients who had arrived at the band prior to my arrival.

I felt embarrassed and sad as I walked out of the bank passing people who had been sitting there hours before my arrival. I am in no doubt that the reason for the bank's representative Conciliatory behaviour towards me was the fact that I am not a Jamaican citizen.

My experience of the service Jamaicans receive from their banks is not only laughable but degrading. Following on from my recent experience I have closed the foreign currency account I had with the Jamaican National Building Society.

My views about Jamaica National cannot be complete without ranting. But for the person who is going to read this, i will be constructive.

1. And formost answer your phones and don't leave people waiting over 5 minutes listening to a pre-recorded tape which does not value it's business!!!!!

2. I've just recenctly returned from Jamaica, and visited your offices in St James St Montego bay. Personally it was the worst rundown place i had visited. Secondly the staff where very un-helpful, and where not trained to deal with peoples problems. Peolpe where being sent from line to line, not knowing whether the problems could be dealt with. There was not any organised lines, so that you could clearly know who to speak too with your problem.

3. When finally you get to the front of the queue (some 1 hour .30 minutes later). The representative who is dealing with your case. First cannot understand you. Leaves you standing for even more minutes, while they talk to a colleague. Comes back and asks you for even more documents, that is not needed. When all they have to do is pick up the phone and call the number provided, which could have solved the problem for them.

So i would not call this ranting. I would call this constructive ranting, which you Jamaica National should take very very VERY seriously. Because as an organsation, i feel you are seriously lying to you customers. Those that you still have! If you feel those that have gone back to Jamaica to live out their retirement will tollerate this continued behavious. You are seriously mistaken.

I have now moved my mothers account to the NCB, and lets hope they do not give her the problems she has encountered with your organisation.

They say word of mouth is a powerful tool. So i will be saying to peope who ask me about your organisation. Is to stay well clear of Jamaica National, because it cannot deal with people and the money affairs. So lets see wht you do about this!!!!!

The JN web page is very good all the info you need is just right there you dont have to search all over the page well done..