Matthew's Journal

So, I have to phone Nationwide (on a special number, no less) to speak to their "Change of Name and Address Team". Does it have a queuing system? no. Does it give an engaged tone when busy (so you can leave a phone trying it until it picks up)? No. Does it instead have an annoying answerphone message which says "We are sorry, but all our lines are busy. We apologise for any inconvenience, but ask that you call back later. Thank you", maximising your inconvenience, and making it extra-hard to get hold of them? Yes.

At this rate, I shall tell the Information Commissioner that they are impossible to contact, and are refusing to update my personal details.

ETA: in the interests of actually having correct contact details with Nationwide (more of which anon, perhaps), I bounced on the "speaker" and "redial" buttons for 15 minutes or so, and eventually got through. After updating my contact details, I asked how they'd manage to lose my signature twice. "Let me look. Oh, err, we do have your signature on file." Tragically, however, "the girl who sent that letter out left our team on Friday, so I can't ask her why she did so". She promised me repeatedly that this would not happen again. I am unconvinced, but have wasted enough time on this today already.