Hi folks I am seeking your help. We are finding increasingly that customers talking on cell phone within the branches is disruptive to the tellers as they process the transactions. Do you find this to be true also. If so, have you adopted a policy or procedure preventing this use. Could I please get a copy of it. Thanks you very much. Mark Nickerson

I haven't heard of this issue as much as camera phones. On a recent trip the gal next to me said that her credit union banned the use of cell phones in the building for that reason. Customers seemed receptive, which surprised me.

If a customer insists on standing in front of the teller, talking on the phone and not to the teller as in what they want to do, they could nicely be asked to return to the line until they complete their call and then look to the line and say "next".

But if the customer is multi-tasking and the teller is confused by the person on the phone while they should be completing the transaction, I'd say the teller needs to sharpen their skills. I could talk to someone there or on the phone and that shouldn't bother a teller.

This doesn't mean I approve of cell phone use in this manner. I think it can be rude. But I also think there are times I am making my living doing this and am not interfering with the person helping me.

We don't have any such policy, but I was at AAA recently and they have the following sign posted at each service rep's window " I would be happy to help you when you are finished with your phone call"

I love it!!!

We don't have any policy on this either, but our local post office has signs at each window that say something to the effect of please discontinue use of your cell phone before approaching the window.

I agree that it is more of an issue of security with potential use of camera phones to take pictures of bank security measures than it is an issue of courtesy.

There is also another aspect of this behavior that's troubling. How many times have you been waited on by a teller who interrupts the transaction to take a phone call? How many times have you been made to feel like an interruption as a customer trying to check out at the C-store while the clerk (rhymes with jerk) chats with his/her latest love interest using his/her new Bluetooth headset?

If the teller in your case needs to communicate with the gabbing customer, he or she is forced to wait or interrupt. Neither option is good.

Customers really ought to practice the same sort of courtesy that they expect from those who serve them.