Latest news with #supportteam
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘Just reach out to us': the Nationwide team helping vulnerable customers
The woman at the other end of the line sounds frantic. She's been ill and needs help sorting out some payments, but when Meg from Nationwide calls, she starts to talk about other things that are on her mind. Less than half an hour later, she confides that she's thinking of suicide and has even worked out how and where she could do it. On another day, a follow-up call to someone who reported being a fraud victim quickly takes a troubling turn. The woman's account has been used without her permission, but it was an abusive partner rather than an unknown scammer who was to blame. When Nicky asks her to explain what's happened, she tells a harrowing story involving a sexual assault and years of financial and coercive control. She had thought her former partner was taking her phone to stop her from using it, but he was actually using it to raid her accounts. These are glimpses into the work of Nationwide's specialist support team, a group whose job it is to help vulnerable customers. The building society let me listen to some of the many and varied cases its staff deal with on a daily basis. The calls highlight how money worries often go hand in hand with other problems – and, it seems, how difficult it can be for people to access help elsewhere. 'Every single week we'll see a brand-new situation, and I think it depends very much on what's going on in the outside world,' says Shannon Hancock, the specialist support team manager. 'You may have heard of [the Netflix TV show] Adolescence – that has drawn calls from people in a similar situation.' A small number of cases they have dealt with have involved exploitation – for example, children being blackmailed to send nude photos – and the team has acted on safeguarding concerns. Most banks and building societies have similar teams in place, although the type of help they focus on varies. Nationwide's team was set up 10 years ago, and its original focus was on supporting the building society's members (its equivalent of customers) who were having problems with payments because they had cancer. It worked closely with the charity Macmillan and helped people find and access any help they were entitled to, as well as addressing any problems they were having with their mortgages or other Nationwide products. A decade later, it's helped more than 100,000 people, and the workload has evolved. A big part of the now 50-strong team's job is to handle payments for people who can't bank online or get out to a branch. These customers have been identified, or have come forward, as being in need of extra help or support. Tina Grainger, Nationwide's head of specialist customer support, says some people ring 100 times a month over a period of years for this type of help. But alongside those cases are the more complicated issues involving domestic abuse, bereavement or incapacity. For these, says Grainger, 'there are not black and white solutions, but we have the time, we have the mandate and we have the resources'. Calls like the ones above are 'the lowest volume, but they are the highest impact', she says. Support is given to those taking them but, Grainger says: 'Not everyone could be on our team. You have to have a high level of resilience.' There are about 350 calls a day and, although most are not dramatic, they are all important to the people involved. I listen to a call in which Sarah speaks to a man who had fallen behind on his mortgage after his disability benefits were stopped. His family had stepped in and cleared his debt, but the team wanted to be sure that he was happy with the arrangements. During a long chat, Sarah checked if he needed help challenging the benefits decision, or with payments. When he said he felt guilty about getting his family's help, she was kind and reassuring. When she told him: 'If you do ever start experiencing financial difficulty, just reach out to us – we do have teams who can help,' his relief was audible. Calls can last from 10 minutes to two hours – the team typically work from home, and there's no clock ticking down or screen telling them that people are waiting. Listening, it's striking how valuable it is for people to be able to talk to someone who has plenty of time, with the clout of a big organisation. When the team calls the police or someone's doctor (with their permission) to report an emergency, things happen. As a result of the calls I heard, payments were sorted, the woman whose former partner had raided her account was refunded, and the woman contemplating suicide got help from her doctor. They were lifechanging – and sometimes lifesaving – conversations. * In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- The Guardian
‘Just reach out to us': the Nationwide team helping vulnerable customers
The woman at the other end of the line sounds frantic. She's been ill and needs help sorting out some payments, but when Meg from Nationwide calls, she starts to talk about other things that are on her mind. Less than half an hour later, she confides that she's thinking of suicide and has even worked out how and where she could do it. On another day, a follow-up call to someone who reported being a fraud victim quickly takes a troubling turn. The woman's account has been used without her permission, but it was an abusive partner rather than an unknown scammer who was to blame. When Nicky asks her to explain what's happened, she tells a harrowing story involving a sexual assault and years of financial and coercive control. She had thought her former partner was taking her phone to stop her from using it, but he was actually using it to raid her accounts. These are glimpses into the work of Nationwide's specialist support team, a group whose job it is to help vulnerable customers. The building society let me listen to some of the many and varied cases its staff deal with on a daily basis. The calls highlight how money worries often go hand in hand with other problems – and, it seems, how difficult it can be for people to access help elsewhere. 'Every single week we'll see a brand-new situation, and I think it depends very much on what's going on in the outside world,' says Shannon Hancock, the specialist support team manager. 'You may have heard of [the Netflix TV show] Adolescence – that has drawn calls from people in a similar situation.' A small number of cases they have dealt with have involved exploitation – for example, children being blackmailed to send nude photos – and the team has acted on safeguarding concerns. Most banks and building societies have similar teams in place, although the type of help they focus on varies. Nationwide's team was set up 10 years ago, and its original focus was on supporting the building society's members (its equivalent of customers) who were having problems with payments because they had cancer. It worked closely with the charity Macmillan and helped people find and access any help they were entitled to, as well as addressing any problems they were having with their mortgages or other Nationwide products. A decade later, it's helped more than 100,000 people, and the workload has evolved. A big part of the now 50-strong team's job is to handle payments for people who can't bank online or get out to a branch. These customers have been identified, or have come forward, as being in need of extra help or support. Tina Grainger, Nationwide's head of specialist customer support, says some people ring 100 times a month over a period of years for this type of help. But alongside those cases are the more complicated issues involving domestic abuse, bereavement or incapacity. For these, says Grainger, 'there are not black and white solutions, but we have the time, we have the mandate and we have the resources'. Calls like the ones above are 'the lowest volume, but they are the highest impact', she says. Support is given to those taking them but, Grainger says: 'Not everyone could be on our team. You have to have a high level of resilience.' There are about 350 calls a day and, although most are not dramatic, they are all important to the people involved. I listen to a call in which Sarah speaks to a man who had fallen behind on his mortgage after his disability benefits were stopped. His family had stepped in and cleared his debt, but the team wanted to be sure that he was happy with the arrangements. During a long chat, Sarah checked if he needed help challenging the benefits decision, or with payments. When he said he felt guilty about getting his family's help, she was kind and reassuring. When she told him: 'If you do ever start experiencing financial difficulty, just reach out to us – we do have teams who can help,' his relief was audible. Calls can last from 10 minutes to two hours – the team typically work from home, and there's no clock ticking down or screen telling them that people are waiting. Listening, it's striking how valuable it is for people to be able to talk to someone who has plenty of time, with the clout of a big organisation. When the team calls the police or someone's doctor (with their permission) to report an emergency, things happen. As a result of the calls I heard, payments were sorted, the woman whose former partner had raided her account was refunded, and the woman contemplating suicide got help from her doctor. They were lifechanging – and sometimes lifesaving – conversations. * In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at
Entrepreneur
22-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Real Stories, Real Change: What Freedom Debt Relief Reviews Reveal About Debt
One of the best ways to gauge a company's impact is through customer reviews, where people share unfiltered experiences of how debt relief changed their lives. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The first step toward relief is often the hardest for anyone struggling with debt. In a world field with big, bold promises, it's natural to be skeptical. That's why honest customer stories matter—people want to hear from others who've been in their shoes. One of the best ways to gauge a company's impact is through customer reviews, where people share unfiltered experiences of how debt relief changed their lives. In the case of Freedom Debt Relief, those reviews speak volumes. Why Reviews Matter in the Debt Relief Journey Debt is personal. It affects mental health, relationships, and daily life. That's why transparency is crucial when selecting a debt relief partner. Verified testimonials offer more than just five-star ratings: they provide insight into a company's process, values, and actual results. Freedom Debt Relief clients consistently describe the same things: respect, empathy, simplicity, and real progress. This type of social proof builds trust, especially for those who are ashamed of their financial situation. What Freedom Debt Relief Clients Are Saying A Common thread in Freedom Debt Relief reviews is the kindness and professionalism of the support team. "Everyone from start to my finish line—the counseling, the customer care—was so amazing," shared Mary Stephens. "You never feel like a number. Everyone is terrific. Anyone who needs help, you need to contact them. They will help you in every way you need." For many, the emotional relief was as powerful as the financial gains. "They didn't just help me with my debt," confirmed Jane M. from Arizona. "They helped me get my life back." Others highlight how simple the process was. "They make it nice and easy by doing all the work for you," wrote David Innings. "The only thing you need to do is put the money into your account. Very satisfied with my experience so far." Charlie Lopez raved, "This program helped me gain my financial independence. I didn't have to take a loan or anything. It just helped me budget and maintain to get a piece of my life back. I just recently did it. It took me only 18 months to get rid of $20,000 in debt. That's really good." How to Spot Real Reviews If you're reading reviews to make a decision, there are certain things to look for to tell they're genuine: Look for details that describe the whole journey. Pay attention to tone—genuine reviews often express emotion and gratitude. Check for consistency across platforms like Trustpilot, BBB, and ConsumerAffairs. Volume matters: a company with thousands of detailed reviews usually has a strong track record. Authentic reviews help reduce the noise and build confidence when taking that all-important first step. What Makes Freedom Debt Relief Different Freedom Debt Relief has helped over 850,000 people tackle more than $15 billion in debt. With over 20 years of experience, they've become one of the most established names in debt relief. But it's not just about the numbers. It's about how those numbers change lives. By providing easy-to-understand plans and ongoing support, Freedom Debt Relief stands out as a company that listens, adapts, and delivers. Their model doesn't involve pushing loans or quick fixes but instead helping people create real change through negotiation, structure, and empowerment. Your Story Starts With a Step Everyone's financial journey is different. But the path to peace of mind often begins similarly—with a simple decision to explore options. Reading a few reviews might be the first step toward your success story. If you've been carrying the weight of debt alone, there's help available—thousands of people just like you have found it. Maybe your very own five-star review is right around the corner.
Medscape
19-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Help Patients Focus on Goals, Not Weight, in Diabetes Care
This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hi. I'm Dr Priya Jaisinghani, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist. Did you know that losing just 5%-10% of body weight can help improve blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and even reduce the need for medication for diabetes? Research shows that modest weight loss lowers blood sugar, blood pressure, andcholesterol, helping to prevent complications. The secret is small, sustainable changes over time. Instead of focusing just on the scale, shift the focus to smart goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. For example, instead of counseling patients to exercise more, set a goal, such as walk 30 minutes, 5 days a week for the next month. Breaking down goals into realistic steps makes weight loss more attainable and impactful. Also, encourage patients to build a support team, including exercise physiologists, nutritionists, diabetes educators, and other healthcare professionals who provide guidance, education, and accountability. Small steps can lead to big results. Stay informed and stay inspired with me, Dr J.
Mubasher
11-05-2025
- General
- Mubasher
Web server is returning an unknown error Error code 520
Visit for more information. What happened? There is an unknown connection issue between Cloudflare and the origin web server. As a result, the web page can not be displayed. What can I do? If you are a visitor of this website: Please try again in a few minutes. If you are the owner of this website: There is an issue between Cloudflare's cache and your origin web server. Cloudflare monitors for these errors and automatically investigates the cause. To help support the investigation, you can pull the corresponding error log from your web server and submit it our support team. Please include the Ray ID (which is at the bottom of this error page). Additional troubleshooting resources.
