Hellenic Bank query ...

[MacManiac]

I wonder whether any Hellenic Bank customer can help me on this problem? I am trying to move the payment of one of my pensions from my UK bank to the Hellenic on a permanent basis. The only way I can do it is by using an online form. When I come to fill in my Hellenic Bank Account Number, the form demands an 8 digit number. Anything other than that, it rejects. My Hellenic Bank account number is longer than 8 digits. After failing over and over again with the online form, I went into the bank and a helpful lady underlined what she said was all I need to facilitate the transfer. This turned out to be the SWIFT Code, which was rejected by the online form.

On my printed bank details my account number is XXX-XX-XXXXXX-00. I assume the first three digits are the Polis Chrysochous bank code and that I could omit the last two zeroes, which would give me an 8 digit account number but I am reluctant to risk sending my pension into the ether.

Are there any Hellenic Bank experts who can advise? I don't want to have to go in the bank again and be told the same thing. It's driving me slightly round the bend.

[MacManiac]

No unfortunately it's not. The online form says "No". I suspect the 8 digit number has to be a number?

[MacManiac]

Thanks for that Lloyd. I'll have a fiddle again later. B****y online forms.

[jeba]

If I was you I´d do a test transfer of a token amount first.

[Lofos-Jan]

Don't ignore the last two numbers as they are definiately part of your account number.

Jeanne

[PolemIan]

Don't ignore the last two numbers as they are definiately part of your account number.

Jeanne

Agree, in our experience (albeit with a business account), they respond very quickly over telephone to queries.

Ian

Oops meant quote Aquila rather than Jean.

[MacManiac]

I can't do a test transfer unfortunately. The Teachers' Pension service, which must have the worst website in the developed world, only allow the pension to be transferred to a different bank using their online "portal". Telephone enquiries are a dark hole, where you are told that your bank will know what to do. I saw the manager of the Hellenic Bank who was adamant that the Swift Code was all that was required. The whole thing is like a Brian Rix French farce.

The Hellenic Bank helpline advised me to go into the branch, as "they will know".

[smudger]

"The Teachers' Pension service, which must have the worst website in the developed world,......,

Tell me about it! Slightly off topic I know, but many school systems were developed by teachers and sadly were simply rubbish. Teachers may know about curriculums, marking, lessons, lesson plans, teaching, but naff all about anything else to do with school operations and systems.

When I joined a secondary school and delved into the accounting system they were using i was horrified - horrified at the standards it blatantly accepted and horrified at the problems which thus ensued. I immediately persuaded the Head and Governors to switch to Sage - a well known and respected stalwart in the accounting world, and totally safe and secure. This instantly resolved many inter accounting functions the admin staff had had.

I would never in a million years use an IT system developed by teachers. Or by any other 'professionals' outside the world of IT.

[Lofos-Jan]

"The Teachers' Pension service, which must have the worst website in the developed world,......,

Tell me about it! Slightly off topic I know, but many school systems were developed by teachers and sadly were simply rubbish. Teachers may know about curriculums, marking, lessons, lesson plans, teaching, but naff all about anything else to do with school operations and systems.

When I joined a secondary school and delved into the accounting system they were using i was horrified - horrified at the standards it blatantly accepted and horrified at the problems which thus ensued. I immediately persuaded the Head and Governors to switch to Sage - a well known and respected stalwart in the accounting world, and totally safe and secure. This instantly resolved many inter accounting functions the admin staff had had.

I would never in a million years use an IT system developed by teachers. Or by any other 'professionals' outside the world of IT.

Was that SIMS by any chance? I spent 12 years as a Peripatetic Bursar dealing with that joy!

Jeanne