Just before the hols I went to my local SMBC to send some money back
to my UK bank account. It was the first time I tried at this branch,
and judging by the guy serving me, the first time he'd tried it too.

So after filling in the usual form, we got to the bank name - mine is
First Direct, a telephone & net bank with about a million customers in
the UK. He went off and did the usual 10 minutes of whatever they do
when doing these transactions, then returned and muttered something
about not being able to find the bank name. I pointed out to him on a
statement I'd brought in with the International Bank Reference Code
and International Bank Account Number printed on it, but for some
reason me suggesting I knew the "kokusai ginko bangou" and "kokusai
ginko kouza bangou" just brought on the startled rabbit "gaigin
speaking nihongo" look to his face.

The next day my wife took a call from the bank - they said they still
couldn't find the bank name, but they sent the money anyway! However,
if they'd made a mistake and it came back, we'd have to pay an extra
reprocessing fee to send it again!

After the BYJW reported this to me, I said there's no way I'm paying
an extra fee for their screw-up, but she didn't seem to comprehend
this idea of customer service.

Disappointingly, in a way, the money made it through without any
hassle, so I was deprived of my opportunity of complaining and telling
SMBC they were the most useless Japanese bank I'd ever dealt with this
month...

Ken