Why nobody means what they say anymore?

Do you know what's wrong with a sounbyte, media-driven, perception-orientated world?

Cynicism...as in it is so easy to get it.

Take the Co-Op bank.

I am a customer. The service is not great. Statements when they come are totally out of date, the telephone service (when I use it) is ok...though I must say the manner of the people I talk to is great.

So why do I use it? Well, it was ethical...or I thought it was. The ethical banking thing was a great persuader. I may not be the best person in the world at managing my money but at least, I thought, the money I put in my account would nto help make widgets that blow people's legs off.

That was my reasoning anyway.

Then recently I changed address.

I called the Co-Op bank and since I have a business account with them and it was a change of address - never mind the fact that I possess my account number, my account details, my transaction details, my account password, my date of birth, my secret word and a partridge on a pear tree, telling them over the phone was not good enough - could I write to them instead?

Well, it's my fault. I left things a little late because I thought a phonecall would do it and - bearing in mind that anyone could write to them - after all in the letter you do not ned to disclose all the codes, passwords and digital locks I had in my possession- I thought calling was safer...but hey, it is the Co-Op.

I enquired if I could fax them instead. Sure, came back the reply, here's the fax number could you please make it for the attention of Andy on Team six?

Well, I did. Ok, it took a little longer but at least the job was done, right?

All those of you who think so please run once around the block with no clothes on.

That fax was just the beginning!