Hi Sandy,

 >PE> It's more the locals didn't support me.  I was with Westpac at
 >PE> the time, and I wanted an interest-only loan, secured against
 >PE> the house.  They wouldn't let me.  BFN.  Paul.
 > 
 >    It appears that a lot of smaller users are now turning to the
 >    boutique type lenders which may force the big 4 to reaccess their
 >    position.  I personally can't say that I have a lot of time for the
 >    big 4.  It's a bloody great insult to see the massive profits both six
 >    monthly and yearly and then they continue to hit the users with more
 >    charges, claiming they are hard done by.

And after watching "MONEY" on CH9 last night, I think the Big 4
have a LOT! to answer for. I understand, that they are a business and have
to make profits, but they way they are going about it is just short of
highway robbery. Specially, when they complain, that they are not earning
enough to provide some of the services needed. I guess, if they had their
way, we'll just hand over all of our money and when we need to make a
withdrawl, they'd think about giving some back.

In car Sales, price fixing is illegal and there have been convictions.
Almost everywhere in P/ent, "cooperation" between competitors is
highly frowned upon, if not illegal, but the banks seem to match each other
tit for tat most of the time and usually the only adjustment is up. You may
get a "Discount" every now and again, but that is usually eaten
up with some "new" charges.

One very unhappy bank user,
                                Tom

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