A load of financially illiterate idiots.

David, bexley, kent

I think people withdrawing their money from Northern Rock are doing the right thing. Why should they trust our so called "policy makers"? This problem with Northern Rock is just a symptom of a more serious problem. This problem is the nature of our present monetary system in which central banks create hundreds of billions of dollar, euros or pounds out of thin air. I dread to think what would happen when people realise that even the Bank of England notes are IOUNs or I Owe You Nothing!

Mario Innecco, Bromley,

Not wanting to be simplistic about this but can someone please explain why this is so bad for the banking system. Whilst I understand that from a Northern Rock perspective it is awful news, but the money which savers are withdrawing is not disappearing. People will either spend it (unlikely) and it goes back into the economy, or they will put it into another bank. Mattresses aren't suddenly groaning under the strain of £50 notes. All the other financial institutions must now be benefittng from this money going into their accounts as Savers send it across. What effect is this going to have on the other banks now benefiting?

Chris, London,

Who can blame the folks for taking their money out?
The so called 'financial experts' and politicians have patronised the public over this.
If I had any cash in Northern Rock, it would be removed ASAP.

PBS, Edinburgh,

It have to agree with James. If the Investment bankers cannot price their srtuctured product derivatives that are highly leveraged why should the man or woman-in-the street entrust the banker's with their hard earned savings! Gold sovereigns seem like a good alternative to I Owe You Nothings!

Mario, London,

We were told don't worry about BSE; that the latest foot and mouth scare was over; that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction; that we would have a referendum on the new EU constitution - need I go on?

Pamela Rogers, Bude, England

The money from my N.Rock saving account didn't arrived yet!!!
I ordered eletronic transfer with extra charge, Friday morning, 9.10 am, and the money still is NOT IN MY OTHER BANK ACCOUNT YET!!!

IS ONLY PROMISES ??

Name Withheld, LONDON, UK

Nothern Rock and Alistair Darling promised we NotherN Rock savers would get the money. Friday morning, 9 .10 am I ordered eletronic transfer of £132,000 to my other bank account, and today the money is still NOT THERE!!!

I payed extra charge for eletronic transfer, and still didn't get a penny!!

Mr. C.S.S., LONDON, UK

its all well and good for the authorities for tell people not to panic....but these are the same authorities who actively caused the problems .The BOE,FSA, ratings agencies and Banks in general have created this chaos though basic bad lending practices,woeful ratings and risk analysis and (in this supposed 'stringent regulatory framework") just poor governance.I work in a city trading room and can fully understand why Joe Public wants to buy himself a safety deposit box and bolt it to his floor at home with his life savings in. Whilst I saw a 'Financial Expert' on TV trying to explain how the average person on the street would not understand the underlying issues- it would seem that the entire Global Fianancial markets arent really fully up to speed with it either!
Dont film customers outside northern rock branches...go film inside a bank trading room on the credit trading desk and watch people really panicking-and they caused their own mess.

james, london,

its all well and good for the authorities for tell people not to panic....but these are the same authorities who actively caused the problems .The BOE,FSA, ratings agencies and Banks in general have created this chaos though basic bad lending practices,woeful ratings and risk analysis and (in this supposed 'stringent regulatory framework") just poor governance.I work in a city trading room and can fully understand why Joe Public wants to buy himself a safety deposit box and bolt it to his floor at home with his life savings in. Whilst I saw a 'Financial Expert' on TV trying to explain how the average person on the street would not understand the underlying issues- it would seem that the entire Global Fianancial markets arent really fully up to speed with it either!
Dont film customers outside northern rock branches...go film inside a bank trading room on the credit trading desk and watch people really panicking-and they caused their own mess.

james, london,

its all well and good for the authorities for tell people not to panic....but these are the same authorities who actively caused the problems .The BOE,FSA, ratings agencies and Banks in general have created this chaos though basic bad lending practices,woeful ratings and risk analysis and (in this supposed 'stringent regulatory framework") just poor governance.I work in a city trading room and can fully understand why Joe Public wants to buy himself a safety deposit box and bolt it to his floor at home with his life savings in. Whilst I seen a 'Financial Expert' on TV trying to explain how the average person on the street would not understand the underlying issues- it would seem that the entire Global Fianancial markets arent really fully up to speed with it either!
Dont film customers outside northern rock branches...go film inside a bank trading room on the credit trading desk and watch people really panicing-and they caused their own mess.

james, london,

its all well and good for the authorities for tell people not to panic....but these are the same authorities who actively caused the problems .The BOE,FSA, ratings agencies and Banks in general have created this chaos though basic bad lending practices,woeful ratings and risk analysis and (in this supposed 'stringent regulatory framework") just poor governance.I work in a city trading room and can fully understand why Joe Public wants to buy himself a safety deposit box and bolt it to his floor at home with his life savings in. Whilst I saw a 'Financial Expert' on TV trying to explain how the average person on the street would not understand the underlying issues- it would seem that the entire Global Fianancial markets arent really fully up to speed with it either!
Dont film customers outside northern rock branches...go film inside a bank trading room on the credit trading desk and watch people really panicking-and they caused their own mess.

james, london,

I am abroad and tried to find information about my online NR account. I have £23500-odd in there and merely wanted to check if a transfer had gone through. Their system 3 times refused to accept my credentials - claiming I had mis-entered the key, my mother's maiden name. I'm hardly likely to get that wrong 3 times. After that they blocked access to the account. This morning a friend called to tell me of the problems and I realised NR had deliberately prevented me from accessing my account. I need hardly say that I will withdraw as much as I can, as soon as I can if there's any left when I get home in October. It's not so much their problem that worries me as the cack-handed way they deliberatly deceived me as an excuse to prevent me accessing my money. That is indefensible.

Michael Powell, Symi, Greece

Don't blame 'em, we've seen and heard it all before. If I were in their position I'd be in the queue too.

Robert D., Almeria, Spain