Do celebrities get better service?

On June 29th I wrote about an unusual occurrence, CIBC cut the rate on my home equity line of credit by .5 per cent to match the rate RBC was offering – and I didn’t even have to ask for it.   

The blog sparked an interesting debate but one individual responded, “I'm glad that the senior bank employee took the initiative for you. Do you think that your status as a media personality helped? :) I'm just sayin'... :) LOL.”   

Someone else said I likely got better service because of my celebrity status as host of the television show, Maxed Out.   

My first reaction was to laugh. I’ve always felt being a media personality or celebrity was good for a cup of coffee, if I paid.  But as I thought about it, I realized the reader was asking an important question. 

Do I get better service because of my position in the media?  In the case of the HELOC, I’d say no. Ida Khaliffe has been our contact at CIBC for four or five years.  Her offer to drop our line of credit rate is typical of the kind of service she’s provided the entire time, even before she knew what a powerful media figure I am – just joking.   Ida was calling all her clients because she didn’t want them to have to come to her and ask for the rate cut.  And she knew that some would be angry if they found out on their own that a better rate was available elsewhere.   

I’m sure many celebs (especially TV personalities) get forelock tugging service.  But whenever I’ve been treated particularly well, especially in the financial industry, it has been a direct result of a good relationship with an individual employee.  I had a different contact before Ida for many years, but the relationship never gelled and the service was poor to middling.    

A couple of decades back, while my husband and I were struggling writers barely making ends meet, we had a wonderful bank manager in Victoria, B.C.  He gave us excellent service and always tried to go the extra mile for us, though our banking business amounted to squat.   

The key to great service is a great relationship.  Don’t waste your time on someone who can’t seem to remember your name and who has never worked to give you a good deal or find options for you, especially when you need them most.  Don’t hesitate to ask for a different advisor, banker or agent in the same organization if you feel you should be getting better service.   

No matter what the financial relationship, spending the time to find someone who works for and with you will pay off hugely.   

Contact me at Alison Griffiths.