How tame, our chrimbo parties in the nineties where a lot more riotess than this...coke on a belly, try t*ts and shagging on tables etc...

By martin. Posted December 3 2008 at 4:51 AM.

Think it's disgusting that ordinary branch staff are having their Christmas night's cancelled. I work for HBOS & feel wholly stabbed in the back. I have worked loyally for them for many years & to be treated like this is beyond belief. We do not earn big salaries & even bigger bonuses, nor are we the ones to blame for bringing the bank to its knees. So, leave the branch staff alone to do what we do best - serve our customers!! With morale amongst staff through the floor - a party was just what we needed. (Oh yeah - we actually pay for these nights OURSELVES!!)

By Anon. Posted November 27 2008 at 11:41 PM.

if you'd managed your accounts properly you wouldn't have charges. If you choose to be like Andy Hornby and spend money you haven't got then tough ****. Most front line staff feel that these piss ups are a waste of money yet we lose our christmas parties now through no fault of our own. Parties that we've paid for and organised ourselves. Thanks an f'in million!

By none of your business. Posted November 27 2008 at 10:52 PM.

Thanks to the actions of a few, the business has cancelled Christmas parties for all departments. In the wake of recent takeover talk, the least staff need is yet more detrimental effects to their morale.

By Frankie Boyle. Posted November 26 2008 at 7:11 PM.

Having read all the comments above, apart from the fact most of the people seem unable to string a decent sentence together and cannot spell to save their lives it seems to me that the majority of the comments are aimed at people who it is claimed cannot control their own finances and are frankly to blame for their own misgivings. this is simply not true, people loose jobs, loose partners, have lives which fall apart - not funny - lets not mock - there but for the grace of god go us all. For these unfortunate people to read of all this goverment money being spent so indiscriminately is very upsetting. My son works for HBOS and is having to fund his own xmas party - no big deal. better to pay for a meal than imagine people spending xmas in a charity institute. Get a life HBOS
and give a thought to the rest of humanity. you should hang your heads in shame.

By Gilly. Posted November 26 2008 at 7:04 PM.

As a result of this article all Halifax christmas parties (that we have paid for ourselves) have been cancelled.

People are so quick to jump on the band wagon and have a go, to the people who are generalising ALL Halifax staff, not all of us act in this way. This article is about a extremely smal percentage of staff and also this behaviour can be found within other companies too.

Try working in the 'firing line' of a Halifax branch, day in day out, taking all the flak about the current situation that the company is in, worrying about whether you will have a job next year, then getting informed that the christmas party you have been organising, looking forward to and paying fo for the past 6 months has been cancelled.

Try that an then come back on here and leave comments saying that the staff are ill educated, overpaid (YEAH RIGHT!) and greedy.

By Anon. Posted November 26 2008 at 11:15 AM.

B.A.U.

By bill barnes. Posted November 26 2008 at 1:08 AM.

I think you should not think we are all like this and a very small % of staff attened that party. Think about the staff at the bottom that will now, not be getting christmas parties because of this(that are paid for by staff not halifax).

And as for the comment about having poor grammer and spelling...we work in a bank with figures and numbers, we are not english teachers!!!!!!!

By anon. Posted November 25 2008 at 9:38 PM.

Why our people so quick to lay blame, the only people who are loosing out here is the ordinardy staff workers who like everybody else are affected by the credit crunch and don't even know if their jobs are safe, wer'e getting the blame for a few high flyers why should we suffer its just sad that people like to kick you when your down Britain is notorious for quick to blame not so quick to forgive though............

By jacs. Posted November 24 2008 at 5:34 PM.

why dont all the disgraces from HBoss do three years service in the rowton hall gardens??Teach them a lesson for ruining peoples nights and embarssing their company!!!!

By john. Posted November 24 2008 at 4:33 PM.

So what if I had a few beers an a bit of Charlie?
I have worked hard all year, we are entitled to spend some of the money the government gave us on a party and have some fun, God knows we have caused enough misery this year so what wrong with a bit of fun at Xmas. Very little damage was done and I myself had my wallet and trousers stolen.
Am I complaining?

By Andy Hornby. Posted November 24 2008 at 4:31 AM.

Im an employee of HBOS Chester !Damn, im gutted i never made the party!!! How fun it woulda been !!:):):)
OOOhh and at the end of the day-the cocaine was paid for out of the employees own money-not benefits, not state handouts....A SALARY!!!

By MT. Posted November 23 2008 at 7:15 PM.

I am appauled....

that I did not make it to that party I left just prior to it...GUTTED... I'm not into drugs and i'm not a nympho, but it sounds like it was a good night all round.

I feel sorry for the wedding party but why did the hotel managers and police not intervene?

As for the tax payers money paying for this, please dont forget that the vast majority of HBOS employees are tax payers, this event was organised months (at the very least) before the Lloyds take over and possible government intervention.

How many of you can honestly say you've never done something that you probably shouldnt have?

Lastly to HBOS I am disappointed that you have stopped the christmas party and most incentives! Your staff work very hard and as the first contact for customers they take abuse daily for things they are not personaly responsible for and deal with them the best they can! Grow some manhood and stand by your staff!!!

By ex employee. Posted November 23 2008 at 12:49 AM.

Im loving the comments made by the people who obviously dont work for HBOS

By H. Posted November 22 2008 at 4:22 PM.

I have worked for the HBOS for 15 years, serving customers and looking forward to my christmas do that is PARTLY (£15) funded by the company. The only thing all year at most staff levels that is funded in anyway by the company, as in most other companys. Now I can't go thanks to somebody trying to make a buck for christmas and a few extremists going over the top (as there also is in most companys). I hope everyone thinks of all the staff serving them day after day, just doing their jobs to pay the bills, when they enjoy their own christmas parties.

By very naffed off staff member. Posted November 22 2008 at 6:11 PM.

It makes me angry and a little sick with the comments some of you brave people who sit behind your computer screens and type your venom about HBOS staff. Let me tell you that my nan works for the company, she is 61 and there is a lot more staff her age, mums, dads and grandads who work for the company who where not involved in this party but have had their xmas partys cancelled and also branded as any comment's below.Lets see how you would react to find people like you slagging your nan or your mum off saying that they deserve to loose their jobs just before xmas!!! Just think first this effects a lot of people of all age groups before you go being so brave and slagging all HBOS staff are the same and what they deserve!!!! It was nice to see my nans face drop when she heard the news as for the other workers who have been in he company 20-30 years....

By Graham. Posted November 21 2008 at 12:43 AM.

I am an employee of HBOS who attended that particular function. As regards to ''tax payers money'', this function was booked before any of the credit crunch regarding the bank. Staff should be rewarded as we work very hard for the bank. I would like to think that the majority of you would appreciate this. Some people may of got out of hand, however please do not paint us all with the same brush.

By STAFF. Posted November 20 2008 at 11:37 PM.

I like the bit By sian. Posted November 20 2008 at 3:58 PM about we bail out bank of scotland out. Just you then is it? And oh yeh i'm laughing at you because just shows how narrow minded and sad people are and you really believe word for word what's written in the papers. What a shame!

By Anon. Posted November 20 2008 at 10:41 PM.

hi there,
It saddens me greatly that the great british public seem so quick to judge based on tabloid newspaper stories and seem so willing to tar every employee with the same brush. im employed by hbos and work incredibly hard to earn my money, i also work a 2nd job and study full time for a degree. Im certainly not a scumbag or any of the above. As a result of this article all staff xmas parties, which i hasten to add are arranged and paid for by staff have been cancelled. Those employees who behaved in such a dispicable way are exceptions to the rules not a general.how about the sickening pay rises and bonuses of people running our country, how about directing "tax payer's money" rants towards that or fuel prices!!! In case people dont realise, hbos employees arent tax exempt either- we pay tax too!as it goes the money hasnt been given yet. Just a reminder to those of you who decide this a brilliant opportunity to rant about bank charges..again (yawn) live within your means. if you havent got the money dont spend it. you wouldnt get charged if you didnt spend the banks money-particularly without permission. bank charges are a deterrant to spending money thats NOT yours and to put you off doing it!! if you dont have the capability to manage your finances and insist on exceeding your overdraft limit you're gonna get charged deal with it. same goes for the others of the british public who insist on living beyond their means in a materialistic possesion obsessed society.

By insert my name here. Posted November 20 2008 at 8:21 PM.

When I used to go to Rowton Hall for Christmas Parties I worked for a large Chester company which has now being sold off by the government I would just like to say we had wondeful dinners and parties we respected the Hotel , ambsadors for our company. we would dare not mis behave in any way , we did not even have to be told to behave ourselves it was expected and the meals were never free and we never got bonuses this is a sign of disrespect to their company even by higher managers who abuse the system and their fellow team members seem fit to follow .
I hope this has been a lesson to everyone who moves on to other companies to work for , never disrespect your employers even if you are top dog because the higher you are the harder you will fall . Rowton hall over the years has been a wonderful place to have special dinners parties weddings etc a place of grandour and thrives on exellence and it has been tarnished by these horrible horrible employees of HBOS managers the lot who thought they had big egos good ridance to the lot of you

By carlton queen. Posted November 20 2008 at 5:13 PM.

After reading this article regarding bank of scotland, I am one of their customer's laughing at us in need of help when we bail them out of trouble. Totally unacceptable and I will remove my two current accounts, isa's, saver's accounts and childs account's to another bank who are crying out for customer's!!! That is fine. LET BANK OF SCOTLAND GO BUST !!!!

By sian. Posted November 20 2008 at 3:58 PM.

After reading this article, I am horrendously appalled. For a reputable bank who has been going through hell and on top of that has tried to help its customers through the nightmare of the credit crunch, I think it would be unfair to put HBOS into disrepute on this basis.

Why should the bank apologise for its workers who PROVED that they were clearly incompetent by acting like ASBO stupid idiots?! It wasnt like a gun was put to these pathetic peoples head to misbehave was it?!

What makes me even more angry is all that taxpayer money gone to waste on a bunch of numptys.On this note, am not being biased. I feel sympathetic towards the bank for employing such silly idiots who brought it into disrepute.

It was clearly disgusting and lewd behaviour and the bank should not have to apologise as am sure in the employee contract, it wouldnt have stated to act like perverts now would it?

Moreover, HBOS has been tainted by the disgusting behaviour of these alien and lewd people who call themselve HBOS employees..just because they didnt lose their job doesnt give them the right to disrespect those who did actually lose their jobs by acting so perverted and idiotic.

These idiots who took cocaine and had sex clearly took advantage and should be sacked. They dont deserve to represent the HBOS massive

By Princess_1984. Posted November 20 2008 at 12:55 PM.

Judging by the standard of responses on here by HBoS staff,there is no wonder the Bank has gone to the dogs.Littered with poor grammar,punctuation,block capitals etc etc etc.It really does make one wonder what selection process is in place to employ such people.So the moral of the story is"HBoS staff can do what they want without any recriminations because they pay NI contributions and taxes and are helping clients to get out of a financial nightmare and they deserve their Christmas parties"???????.Am I missing something here???????.or was it banks like HBoS that put a lot of these clients in their respective positions due a total lack of care and due diligence and sheer greed????I think we all know the answers to that dont we?Blame everyone else but yourselves,shallow little people with shallow little lives that feel the need to try and justify their existence.LOL.....now go figure it out Einstein:)

By you must be joking. Posted November 20 2008 at 3:07 AM.

You can see in some reaction that HBOS has no regrets and is not making any excusess at all. They blaime everybody else accept themselves. Those people who were at that party are an insult for their company and the society.

By Brian. Posted November 20 2008 at 7:31 AM.

I have been with HBOS for over 5 years...

THE BANK IS BRILLINAT!!! SO WHAT IF THEY TREAT THEIR STAFF HERE ANDTHERE????

We all pay our taxes and NI and HBOS give loads to charity aswell.. Just shut the **** up all you low lifes and let the people do what they want..

WHO ARE YOU'S TO JUDGE

By Joker. Posted November 19 2008 at 10:10 PM.

Ooooh take a look at the story about the benefit family living in a £1.2 million mansion That the taxpayer pays for including me. Mmmmmmmmmm that is acceptable is it? And narrow minded people are crying over a company party that got out of hand. OMG you need to get out more and take a reality check.

By Anon. Posted November 19 2008 at 9:14 PM.

The colleagues in question should be fired that was inescusable behaviour and now every other employee at the company has to suffer for them idiots. For the hipocrits out there who think it's just your hard earned money and no one elses including mine I pay my taxes too. But i'll say, think there are other tax payer issues to moan about like how the government award themselves big payrises above inflation (Who pays for that then) Mickey mouse? but our emergency services don't even get what they deserve, jobs being lost and the country is in a total mess. Maybe the hipocrits out there who think it's just there hard earned money alone should be concentrating on more important things like the state the country is in as a whole. In my opinion the hotel isn't to blame, how did they know this was going to happen? People are so quick to judge.

By Jennie. Posted November 19 2008 at 8:54 PM.

hey all you HBOS staff at chester , when you get made redundant now I hope MBNA and m&S money "as its so easy to get in there as you say " will shred your CV.s in a job lot because its no more than you deserve you stuck up p....s thought you had it easy with your bonuses trips to moroco etc welcome to the real world happy job hunting

By carlton queen. Posted November 19 2008 at 9:01 PM.

Oh my god i cannot believe some of the comments on here i work for HBOS and you CANNOT tar us all with the same brush. The story has blatantly been exaggerated by the whitsleblower as previously stated why would you have a work pass at a party....hello. If the whitsleblower is reading this you are pathetic and you must sleep very well considering you have ruined every1s xmas parties which were paid for by us, .
Also all of you complaining about bank charges get a life you got yourself into this mess why the hell you blaming us for.
FYI Most of the people who i work with are worrying about redundancies not partying on "cocaine binges"!

By lippy. Posted November 19 2008 at 7:50 PM.

Re: you have to be joking's comment, why didn't the wedding couple call the police or ask to speak to the manager. Perhaps they have also been well paid for this pack of lies. Do you honestly believe that a paper like the news of the world may have made up or sensationalized this story. As for overpaid peasants you stuck up p**ck I work very hard for very little pay as do most of my fellow members of hbos staff. Manage your money better and you will not be charged idiots, nothing in this world is for free.

By anon. Posted November 19 2008 at 7:42 PM.

Dont ya just love some of the comments these HBos staff make?."lets just forget about this incident",lets just forget about it?,try telling that to the bride and groom you arrogant,ill-educated,overpaid,peasant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!."back to a hotel room,took some drugs and had sex",well firstly it may have escaped your notice that taking cocaine is illegal and can carry a custodial sentence,and secondly the chances of the participants in the sex were probably married....no wonder the social fabric of this country has broken down.sad but true.

By you have to be joking. Posted November 19 2008 at 5:51 PM.

HBoS have today announced that all staff Christmas parties are to be cancelled. This is in direct response to this article (which I find quite hard to believe, or at least greatly exaggerated). Is it not bad enough that recent events have caused a lack of faith in the company? why try to cause customers more upset with stories like this? if anything like this article pertains, then it was the actions of a few individuals and is certainly not the usual behaviour of HBoS colleagues. But, yet again it is the staff as a collective who are being hit the hardest. It has been a tough year for all of us, we are working harder than ever and with the fear of losing our jobs. Please leave HBoS and it's staff alone so we can start having some sort of normality back in our lives.

By sensationalist clap trap. Posted November 19 2008 at 5:17 PM.

Yes I agree,why should the bank be held to account for its drunken,loutish,drug taking staff???Is it really the banks fault?can they be held responsible for all their staff members actions?Just like in the past,the bank will close ranks,slap a few wrists,crack open another bottle and jolly holidays...LOL.Banks are banks at the end of the day and are run by human beings,take for instance the Halifax(pre BoS).When the Halifax had staff bang to rites and caught red handed forging clients signatures,fraudulently claiming expenses and host of other potentially criminal activities,did they fire them????of course they didnt,they just swept it under the carpet by offering ex gratia payments to people that were considered under law to be"not fit and proper to hold a position in financial services"!and off they walked into another job by having their references ?managed" by Halifax HR department.What a great society we live in,dont you think??

By Mark D Cullum. Posted November 19 2008 at 5:05 PM.

I work for the company and attended this party, i can honestly say i never saw any of this, not saying this didnt happen! Every company that i have worked for does party's like this for the staff, what do people honestly think when their is alcohol involed, its a party!!! But i do agree it sounded like it did get out of hand, as i said before i didnt see anythink of the sort so ive just heard rumours, and thanks to the whistleblower we have no xmas party which isnt fair as i no alot of people here that work extremenly hard!!Even tho we have to pay anyway!

By H. Posted November 19 2008 at 4:40 PM.

I work for the Halifax and have never been to any of these parties! Nor would I go but people kicking off about this clearly have too much time on their hands and should get some bloody work done! Nobody died get over it!

By c. Posted November 19 2008 at 4:21 PM.

ok lets get this straight right now.

1. The People who are involved in this fiasco at the hotel should be ashamed of themselves, they acted like children. It DOES NOT reflect the behaviour of all staffthat work for HBOS, Me included. I work hard for my bonuses and salary and along with my fellow colleagues deserve to be rewarded for are efforts.

2. for the general public on here complaining about how we unfairly charge customers is not true. Understood if a charge is put on your account in error then we will take it off straight away. But if you have a zero balance or a very limited balnce, STOP spending money. We will help you where possible but we will not be held responisble for your financial incompetance.

3. This is for the wedding party at the rowton hotel. I apoligise on behalf of the individuals who caused destress to yourselves, its was innappropiate and not a reflection of HBOS and the rest of its staff. I pride myself on my level of customer service and always endeavor to ensure my customers are 100% happy with the service i provide. I myself wasn't at the location but i can only imagine the evening was anything but a happy time for you and you have my deepest sympathy.

I hope the people involved get diciplined to the full extent of the company policy. The rest of us, its work as usual as it is for the customers so lets forget about this incident and start concentrating on our customers. After all they are the ones that matter the most.

By never mind. Posted November 19 2008 at 3:43 PM.

Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

By thunar. Posted November 19 2008 at 5:08 AM.

This night out as with many others is paid by the company, the only parties we pay for are the team ones, these functions are for the higher management and the people they know they can have a good time with why else would the same faces be there time after time , weather it be a night at a concert or a day at the races all company paid for and the same guest list !!

By ronnie. Posted November 19 2008 at 12:21 AM.

I want to work in that bank too.

HBOS A place for career a place for fun!

By Hasan. Posted November 19 2008 at 12:10 AM.

Having worked in Retail for over 15 years, the last 4 of those being with HBOS, I find it incredible that this is a news worthy story!

All of the companies I have worked for over the years hold Christmas parties for their hard working colleagues to say thank you for their efforts over the year, HBOS is no exception. Many of the staff parties are funded and organised by colleagues themselves!

There are over 80,000 colleagues in HBOS, many of whom are concerned that they may lose their jobs next year. A vast majority of them have nothing to do with the companies recent failings, merely doing their job on a daily basis and providing the best customer service they can against the current negative press.

It is unfair to those who actually take pride in their work, like myself even who feel betrayed by the board for the shambles they are in, to whip up this kind of storm over at out of control party ... something I have seen with other companies but funnily enough that wasn't deemed news worthy.

And as for bleating on about government hand outs, HBOS hasn't received any yet. Next Christmas there will probably be more government hand outs for HBOS staff, unemployment benefit, I am assuming you won't be running such sensationalist headline stories about that.

By Thomas. Posted November 18 2008 at 10:47 PM.

I have worked for HBOS for three years and have attended end of year celebrations ,just a few things to consider, we have to pay for our tickets so most events are not paid for by customers but the staff , most parties are actually ran very well and i have never seen anything like the story states and i believe the whistleblower has probably exaggerated to get a few extra pennies before xmas, very sad.Also HBOS especially the division i work for are actually doing very well and giving customers an excellent service.
this needs to be put into perspective, oh well could have been a lot worse , i imagine the public sector i.e police balls are just as bad and they cost us more in taxes than any bank ever will.(food for thought)

By anon. Posted November 18 2008 at 9:27 PM.

This is hilarious, SO WHAT????!!!!!!!!!!

People want to enjoy themselves, who cares whether its HBOS people or if its Gordon Brown!!!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE LIVE IT UP!!!! It happens in EVERY company, take the wool off of your eyes fools!!

By Hahahahahah. Posted November 18 2008 at 6:50 PM.

Life goes on!!

By Anon. Posted November 18 2008 at 6:18 PM.

I worked at hbos for 2 and half years at the chester call centre, as said below this is he tip of the iceberg, what happened on this particular night was pretty much common knowledge in the dept i worked in. Im no longer with the company.

By anon. Posted November 18 2008 at 5:43 PM.

Thanks to these people all the christmas doo's in HBOS have been cancelled.. Its not fair that people who have worke hard should lose out

By Anon. Posted November 18 2008 at 3:30 PM.

this hotel has acted apaullingly, why didnt the general manager or any senior person phone the police and report this. I looked at having my wedding here. thank god i didnt. the reputation of this hotel would of caused me complete embarrasement. This isnt the first rumour of inappropriate behavior at this particular hotel that has been broadcasted.

By Lesley. Posted November 18 2008 at 10:25 AM.

Wow, this sounds like a crazy party! fair play! wish i was there!

By Rix. Posted November 18 2008 at 11:47 AM.

So let me get this straight, the story is a Xmas party gets slightly out of control. The end.

People under the threat of losing there jobs go a bit wild, no police, no arrests no story!

By Bob Smith. Posted November 18 2008 at 9:39 AM.

For CR.:

Hey buddy, you don't have to be "truthful, hard worker and intelligent" in order to get such a position.
In the whole world, those guys from the top are from those who didn't do too much school...they always tries to get used of "good" boys like you :)
When you were loosing time learning math or something else, they were loosing time learning how to cheat and control hard working people!
You cannot be like them, simply because you've lost your time with an education system created by them, instead of learning school of "life" and how to make money by controlling others :)

Cheers!

By John. Posted November 18 2008 at 8:13 AM.

The managment should be held accountable for this mess after all they picked who got an the invite and who attended the party and as in most cases it is those in their "click" or family members but nothing will happen to them .Yet some member of staff will be made an example of whilst they will remain in their job preparing for the next award night that I am sure is happening soon

By CR. Posted November 17 2008 at 11:26 PM.

tell me why employee like me who is truthful, hard worker and intelligent too dont get job and person who just do fun get into work to enjoy benefits. Who is wrong my skills or hiring system

By arihant. Posted November 18 2008 at 2:27 AM.

i worked in the chester call centre for 3 years. trust me, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

By mike . Posted November 17 2008 at 9:51 PM.

I think personnaly this has been blown out of all proportion, these things happen at Christmas / company parties all over the country, the only reason this one is making the headlines is because it is a bank, would people be as interested (in the current financial climate) if it had been tescos or a M&S staff gathering, i seriously doubt it. Having attended many HBoS staff parties over the past 5 years i find it hard to believe that staff were openly "cutting cocaine with their staff passes before snorting it off hotel tables", although again these things happen all over society.

The vast majority of HBoS staff in the current economic environment are working to help customers, as for the bank scandering public money, i believe the bank has not actually recieved any of the funds from teh government.... like wise people who say the banks are using the monies from unfair bank charges to fund parties such as this should remember that if people keep there accounts in order then they wouldnt have any bank charges (whether they believe them o be faor or not)

By anon. Posted November 17 2008 at 10:04 PM.

Well donewhistle blower , lets see em try to get out of this one , it aint the 1st time its happened it wont be the last !! It happens at every doo

By rr. Posted November 17 2008 at 9:30 PM.

I have read all your comments and would just like to say. hbos have spent money on parties freebies for staff like water for many years my friends have been going on freebies for years yes they work hard but so does everybody else in life free car good salary pension stuck uppness , you really think you are something but now you are being villified good I say what goes around comes around comes on everybody lets give these scum bags the stick they deserve cant you tell everbody hates you by the replies to the story

By carlton queen. Posted November 17 2008 at 7:56 PM.

Thank to this whistle blower who has no axe to grind with there former employer i'm sure, lots of hardworking and poorly paid people's job are now that little bit more likely to go.
As a long standing customer with BOS over the last 30 years I would like to thank the 99.99% of staff that have helped me over the years.

By anon. Posted November 17 2008 at 7:15 PM.

so what! its a staff party!! these things happen! so everyperson on here is saying stuff like this doesnt happen at there work parties, *** off it does!! doesnt mean the rest of the staff at Hbos have to suffer!! deal with the people who did it, and let the rest of the staff have their parties!!

By dudette. Posted November 17 2008 at 7:55 PM.

Ok, the evening got out of hand and I hope that HBOS handles this issue the way they should.
But, to everyone complaining about the money spent, (as an HBOS staff member, trying to continue doing my job on a day to day basis as well as I can) the Government haven't yet put a penny into the company and why should we not have rewards for jobs well done and Xmas parties. The people in the brnaches and the call centres are the ones working make things easy for the customer. Target the big wigs if you wish, but the staff being rewarded shouldn't be mad eto feel bad for accepting the rewards.

Those that overstepped the line are the exception rather than the rule.

By KD. Posted November 17 2008 at 6:33 PM.

more like H - BOSS ! Any jobs going i am working in the wrong place!

By dominic. Posted November 17 2008 at 4:46 PM.

If things got to the levels reported (?) then its obviously not the best advert for the company.
Why does everyone always think its high level well paid execs at these things? Chances are those at this function were lower level analysts or branch staff who don't exactly make a great wage.

"why hasnt anyone been brought to book over the mess the banks have got the decent hardworking people of this country into, we are the ones who are suffering while these lowlifes party."

--Much of the trouble at HBOS has been an effect of the turmoil in the USA, its not the cause, and exactly how are you suffering? Is it your job thats at risk? Is it your shares that are worth a fraction of what you paid for them?

Kudos to the 'whistleblower' though, a quick buck for you for breaking this one i bet!

Ps. if you're paying bank charges its your own fault, your spending other peoples money!

By Pedro. Posted November 17 2008 at 6:24 PM.

You only pay bank charges if you try to live beyond your means and are incapable of simple tasks like managing your own finances. I'm sick of hearing bank charges this, bank charges that. It's always somebody elses fault, you need to take a good long hard look at yourself in the mirror... Uggghhh the Lower class make my skin crawl!....

By Elle Oh Elle. Posted November 17 2008 at 6:12 PM.

What's the big deal. There's no story here.

People went to a party, then back in a hotel room they took some drugs and had sex......oooh big deal.

It happens every night of the week!

By G. Posted November 17 2008 at 4:35 PM.

I work for HBOS (thought I'd get that bit out of the way)

I would like to thank all those slating the company for rewarding their staff for their night out, (I'm sure that none of you will be going out at Christmas courtesy of your employers) and I'm sure you are right, a company that has been in the press recently as they have had some difficulties should not be spending money on nights out (even though I am sure that most big companies budget for Reward & Recognition events), but why stop there...why not stop paying bonuses that we work hard for, and why not stop paying us so that people who feel the need to comment on these types of stories are pleased...or is that too extreme???

By Bobbbb. Posted November 17 2008 at 4:29 PM.

i dont think the bank should be put to shame, as it is out of works hours, even thou it was a works due, most poeple want to party, and wherever you go you get these kinds of people, you cant say no one are **** that their job because its not there behaver at work isit, you lot are takin it out of perportion are people not aloud to go out having fun?

at every hotel you have drunken people...this is posh hotels or not..
and just cos its a hbos work due dont judge the company.

By sarah. Posted November 17 2008 at 3:50 PM.

stu why is it an embarrasment to everyone who works at HBOS??? Why should I be ashamed I haven't done anything wrong I come in do my work and go home to my family I am proud to do my job everyday..

By di. Posted November 17 2008 at 2:52 PM.

You can pick holes in this all day long. People are charged bank charges because they dont manage their accounts properly. People have over spent over the years hence problems now. As for goverment hand outs (begging) - you only need to look at those on benefits for cocaine fuelled spongers. and thats your "hard earned money" that the government take off you in taxes to feed the "spongers" habits. People on benefits have more disposable income than most, but thats ok is it ?? You dont find them contributing to society.
The vast majority of people at HBOS are working hard to support customers particularly the customer facing staff. Staff contribute to social occaisions such as christmas do's. Arguable the management of the hotel failed miserably to control any given situation before it escalated to the "alleged" level. Change the tune and focus on people that are really "abusing" tax payers money !!!

By anon. Posted November 17 2008 at 2:39 PM.

This is an embarrasment to everyone who works at HBOS - the whole company should be ashamed of these idiots who should all be fired on the spot once its clear who the culprits are. I hope the couple whose wedding it was the day after sue them for every penny.

By Stu. Posted November 17 2008 at 2:17 PM.

why sack the lot of us I dont have the money to go out and party dont paint us all with the same brush. Also I think some of the comments below have been blown up as why would people have work passes to a party now that made me laugh

By di. Posted November 17 2008 at 1:40 PM.

I live very near to this hotel and am discusted with what happened, i also know someone who was there with HBOS, but they left when they saw the direction the "party" was going! I no that the MANAGEMENT is terrible and has been for some time there as i have been to parties there before. Im surprised something on this scale hasnt happened at the hotel before. as for the HBOS staff they should be sacked following investigation and for those who have posted "sounds like a good party" im sure you wouldnt be saying that if it was your wedding. have some respect!

By laura ashley. Posted November 16 2008 at 8:28 PM.

sack the bloody lot!

By paddy. Posted November 16 2008 at 4:35 PM.

'At last these jollies have been discovered. Boughty and paid for by poor customers who dont have the money to party like this cause they are paying bank charges!!!'

You wouldn't be paying bank charges if you acted responsibly and didn't spend more than you could afford!

By Anon. Posted November 16 2008 at 5:02 PM.

Not saying this alleged behaviour is acceptable (to all!), but, do realise not all works do's are paid for by the company themselves - often other companies that they do business with will fund the do's, sponsor them if you like.
Again not saying this is the case here but just because they were all drinking, doesn't definately mean the bank were funding this. Staff may well have been paying for their own drinks. I don't think this behaviour will be totally out of charachter for that of a lot of large companies with a large amount of staff/young staff earning decent salaries the length and breadth of the country.
Also consider the event/venue will have been booked months in advance of all the financial turmoil.
Totally agree with comments above - if it was so bad why didn't the hotel management deal with it and then call the Police if required??? Go rake up some worthwhile muck and leave them be - sounds like a good do to me!!!

By Howard. Posted November 16 2008 at 4:03 PM.

they have had a tough year and are just blowing off steam, give them a break you unfun people!

By pimp. Posted November 16 2008 at 1:43 PM.

Where the hell was the hotel manager - if they couldnt control it why werent the police called. Apart from the anti social behaviour taking cocaine is illegal. If I was the bride or a member of her party I would be furious with the hotel for not doing anything about it.

By Jane. Posted November 16 2008 at 10:31 AM.

They've blown our minds by their disgusting behaviour so let them get on and blow their own minds away - the sooner the better.
They have got the world in this mess - aided and abetted by his Uslessness Himself, Gordon Brown and the useless hapless noolabour in this country

By ROGER. Posted November 16 2008 at 10:10 AM.

"An HBOS spokesman said last night: “We will undertake, as a matter of urgency, a full investigation into this alleged series of events."


Oh well, thats all right then !!

By John de Wokingham. Posted November 16 2008 at 9:59 AM.

I used to work for the Halifax and the 'star gala' is a reward for the 'best' employees in the company. My how times have changed, I attended one once, the company spares no expense on this event, but this event should not have gone ahead due to the financial problems the bank are having especially when customers are suffering due to the banks incompetence. The behaviour of the staff is appalling, their actions have brought the company into disrepute and at the very least they should all be disciplined and dismissed for gross misconduct.

By Clurry. Posted November 16 2008 at 9:11 AM.

I have an account at this bank and I believe we have just found the 1st 100 or so for the sack. They make it easy!

By keith. Posted November 16 2008 at 8:37 AM.

Chubb you/HBOS are still on the waiting/BEGGING list for handouts from the government (MY HARDWORKING MONEY)...aren't you or are we all missing some very important point!!!!

SACK THE LOT OF THEM USELESS AND HEARTLESS

By o123. Posted November 16 2008 at 7:03 AM.

Sounds like a fun party.

By Phil. Posted November 16 2008 at 6:02 AM.

I don't care what any one says but all these banks shouldn't have been saved by the taxpayer, but left to go "to the wall" through bad business practices. When we the account holder, all the banks can do is add to our plight and pile on the bank charges. They have no feelings for us and I have none for them. From the top execs down they should have all been left to take the full force of the credit crunch.

By Mike. Posted November 16 2008 at 5:39 AM.

lm curious here- why werent the police called at the time of the alleged disturbances? Does the hotel have any night staff, or were they asleep as most hotel night staff do - does the hotel have a General Manager?..... hmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

Thanks for the story anyway - will NOT be staying there for Christmas!

By Jez Sagaris. Posted November 16 2008 at 5:21 AM.

These people should be sacked straight away, why hasnt anyone been brought to book over the mess the banks have got the decent hardworking people of this country into, we are the ones who are suffering while these lowlifes party.

By Devo. Posted November 16 2008 at 2:51 AM.

I personally am appalled by the behaviour of these people, yet it is irrelevant who they work for. As, if you go into any hotel in the world there are always "that" group of people who are disruptive to the other guests.
They should be made to apologise to the other guests, but only for their behaviour outside of their rooms. Their behaviour within their rooms was probably intended to be private between themselves and the guests they invited into their room, so should be kept that way "private".
There are probably examples of this behaviour taking place at every party that has ever happened in every area of business and the world.

By harry's friend. Posted November 16 2008 at 2:35 AM.

At last these jollies have been discovered. Boughty and paid for by poor customers who dont have the money to party like this cause they are paying bank charges!!!

By Maggie. Posted November 16 2008 at 1:39 AM.

After everything colleagues and everyone has said in support of HBoS, if...IF...this debacle actually occurred then I am completely appalled. The colleagues in question, if they did what they are alleged to have done, should never be allowed to return. I am old enough to know that there are people out there taking drugs, I'm wise enough to realise that people need other ways to enjoy themselves, but what irks me is that they have upset other visitors to the hotel with their lack of respect and dysfunctional behavior.

In this climate, 99.9% of HBoS colleagues are working for the people to try and help them through the horrible economical crisis we are all facing. If true, these idiots have put shame on us with behaviour they probably thought was "cool".

Fools.

I will argue one point though. HBoS has not yet received the government funding, so the constant anti-HBoS comments by NOTW, when all of us here are just doing our best, should not have such rancour and volatility in them.

By Chubb Chubb. Posted November 16 2008 at 1:22 AM.

Absolute disgrace and utter madness!!

By dwayne. Posted November 16 2008 at 12:20 AM.