NatWest worker told customer 'vegans should be punched'

[bots]

A customer who called a bank to apply for a loan was told "all vegans should be punched in the face".

The Bristol woman, who did not want to be named, went to NatWest for a loan to pay for a £400 nutrition diploma.

The application was rejected but after listening to a recording of the call, NatWest offered to pay for the course.

The bank said the outburst - which came after the woman told the bank worker she was a vegan - was "wholly inappropriate".

NatWest also offered the woman compensation of just under £200.

The woman said after the man told her "all vegans should be punched in the face" he explained it was because vegan activists had drawn pictures of animals and written messages such as "friends not food" in chalk on pavements near where he lived.

He felt "vegans were forcing their beliefs on to him", she added.

"He wasn't happy to be speaking to me at all, his tone was really unpleasant. Being vegan is a lifestyle choice, I shouldn't be penalised for it, especially by a big organisation. It's extremely unfair."

She told BBC Radio Bristol the exchange, on 23 January, made her feel "really uncomfortable".

NatWest said: "We are extremely sorry for the way our customer was treated by a member of our staff and apologise for any distress and upset that this behaviour caused.

"These comments were wholly inappropriate and we have commenced disciplinary proceedings.

"We have also provided feedback to the relevant sections of the bank to ensure that lessons are learnt so that a situation like this never happens again."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-47257996

[Niamh.]

What an idiot, imagine being that unprofessional at work

[Oliver_W]

Why would you tell someone you're a vegan while applying for loan?

Reminds me of that old adage - how do you know someone's a vegan? They'll tell you. Again. And again. And again...

[user104658]

Why would you tell someone you're a vegan while applying for loan?

Reminds me of that old adage - how do you know someone's a vegan? They'll tell you. Again. And again. And again...

To be fair it probably came up during the chat about what the loan was for. Doing a nutrition diploma, what got her interested in studying nutrition, "Oh I've become vegan and..." etc.

[arista]

[NatWest also offered the woman compensation of just under £200.]

how nice

I hate Vegans

[Niamh.]

Why would you tell someone you're a vegan while applying for loan?

Reminds me of that old adage - how do you know someone's a vegan? They'll tell you. Again. And again. And again...

Yeah what TS said really, the clue is in the loan she was applying for.............. Also so what anyway, people talk about lots of ****, if you're dealing with customers you have to suck it up and smile

[bots]

i think its just symptomatic of how intolerant the country has become

[arista]

i think its just symptomatic of how intolerant the country has become






THERE are VEGAN TERROR GROUPS
that enter loads of places , theses days

We never had that before

[user104658]

i think its just symptomatic of how intolerant the country has become

Yes or rather how openly intolerant, I don't imagine for a second that people didn't think the same things as they do now a few years ago, there was just some level of civility that meant people didn't think it was OK to just spew out all of their intolerances and aggression in everyday interactions. There's certainly an idea that "it's OK to say this stuff out loud wherever and whenever you want now".

Not that I even have any particular admiration for civility; as always, I'd rather know that someone has nasty opinions than not, in a personal context. But when people start thinking that the same "new rules" apply in a professional context, we have a larger problem.

[Niamh.]

THERE are VEGAN TERROR GROUPS
that enter loads of places , theses days

We never had that before


Terror groups though? Like have they harmed anyone or blown anything up?

Also, because there are some Vegans who are pretty militant doesn't mean everyone who is vegan deserves to be punched in the face does it?

[Livia]

While privately I might agree... like Niamh said, you work with the public, you've just got to suck it up and keep your mouth shut.

[arista]

Terror groups though? Like have they harmed anyone or blown anything up?

Also, because there are some Vegans who are pretty militant doesn't mean everyone who is vegan deserves to be punched in the face does it?


They enter a shop and act like a Terrorist
In England , that is.


They are trying to get Butchers to close down
Feck Me - The Act like a Terrorist

[Lostie!]

Also, because there are some Vegans who are pretty militant doesn't mean everyone who is vegan deserves to be punched in the face does it?

Not if you're a sane, rational person but unfortunately some people seem to harbour a weird level of resentment towards anybody who doesn't wish to eat animals like its some sort of heinous betrayal of nature or something.

But that aside, this guy deserves the sack simply for being utterly incompetent at his job. I think when you're telling a customer she deserves to be assaulted, a career change is called for. And perhaps therapy.