I have found the entire Northern Rock debacle to be so ironic. Let me say that for the day-to-day workers at Northern Rock, I realize that it is a job and source of employment for you and I’d give you a big hug to ease your worries. But for the policy makers and now dispatched heads of Northern Rock, it is just so refreshing to see that old adage come true, “What goes around, comes around.”

The mine field that Sir Richard and his team are walking into is one where Northern Rock has not treated consumers in pain and trouble with any sort of compassion or understanding at all. In fact I think it is safe to say that the Northern Rock legacy of dealing with consumers in financial trouble is one of utter disregard for decency. And the Northern Rock policy of not letting debtors repay through an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is an intentional policy of pain and punishment.

So to the Virgin team, contact me, I’ll help fill you in why Northern Rock is in a consumer lawsuit about violating the Bank Code and why Northern rock collections has abused their duty to treat customers fairly. In fact, Virgin, if you are serious about fixing the Northern Rock attitude that debtors are liars, cheats and thieves, I will donate my time, for free, to work with your turnaround management team to help them fix the mess left by Appletart (that’s what I like to call him) and his buddies.

I’m not a bank hater, I’m a helper as well, as long as you are ready to address the issues head on and want to improve the way debtors, your customers are treated by collection departments, I’ll be part of the solution.

Of course, I’m now waiting for the Northern Rock lounge, like the Virgin first class lounge at Heathrow. I’ve been in that place once and all I have to say is “Oh My God”, if you had one of those at my local Northern Rock branch, I might even be tempted to bank with the new you.