Passport control at Heathrow Airport

There is a sign at passport control saying Non EU passports including US. Is there a problem with Americans not knowing they aren't part of the EU and go in the EU line?
So I wait in line and  observe the IO's letting men go with few questions but there was a trend subjecting women to long questioning.  One IO had a woman put all her money and cards on the podium and he counted out loud how much she had and said oh you only have £500 for a week? He also asked her about how much money she has in her checking account. I sat next to a Great Grandmother on the plane, visiting her  Daughter, here on a work visa. The IO had her pull out her credit cards and he was holding them up asking how much credit she has on each of the cards. He also asked how much money she had.  She was travelling alone and going on the Picadilly Line on a weekday night.
I think it's a bad policy having people announce how much money/credit they are carrying. It would be better to add a line on the landing card so it's just between you and the IO and not everyone in the front 2 lines of passport control.

Which terminal was this in?

That's scarey.  Never encountered anything like that any time I've entered Heathrow (the last time I went through there was Sept 2007).  I was only ever asked what the purpose of my visit was and where I was staying. 

When was this?  My husband and I are flying in there at Christmas.

The last time I entered the UK was last year in autumn. I was called stupid and an idiot while being interviewed about my student visa. It really made me feel horrible, I love this country so I deal with it. I understand it's not the best job in the world, they need to protect our borders, and they need to make sure I'm coming for good reasons. I just wish they were polite about it, I want to feel welcome, this is my future home.

I guess I will be scum until I'm carrying a UK passport.

The last time I entered the UK was last year in autumn. I was called stupid and an idiot while being interviewed about my student visa. It really made me feel horrible, I love this country so I deal with it. I understand it's not the best job in the world, they need to protect our borders, and they need to make sure I'm coming for good reasons. I just wish they were polite about it, I want to feel welcome, this is my future home.

I guess I will be scum until I'm carrying a UK passport.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, littleheart. Did they doubt your student visa? Why in the world would they insult you like that?! I'm here on tier 4 as well and have never dealt with such officers. Actually, all of my officers were nice and straight forward. I found it shocking that this happened to you and anyone else. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though...

 If they doubted the legitimacy of your visa, they had the right to interview you, but such behavior is downright bullying and abuse of power.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, littleheart. Did they doubt your student visa? Why in the world would they insult you like that?! I'm here on tier 4 as well and have never dealt with such officers. Actually, all of my officers were nice and straight forward. I found it shocking that this happened to you and anyone else. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though...

 If they doubted the legitimacy of your visa, they had the right to interview you, but such behavior is downright bullying and abuse of power.

Well, I carry all of my information on me so there was no doubt of my intentions to come to the UK were to study. They didn't even ask for any of that at all. So, I'm dubious as to their reasons why I have to be hassled at the gate. I'm an open book though, if I have to sit there all day, well bring me a chair, I'll tell them everything!

There's a difference between what they did and what a serious officer would do. My family members have been entry clearance officers for the US, so they always make sure I'm going by the books. I just feel like I'm being targeted because I'm an American woman and I have "hussy" stamped on my forehead lol.

Water under the bridge, I just want to get home and be with my new family at the end of the day.

i was hassled in heathrow as well.  they asked me everything from what my mother makes to what her plans were for the future to what my relationship with my son's dad was like.  i can understand that i didn't come in with a lot of money, but the IO asked me everything under the sun even though i, specifically, told him that i have a 6 year old to return to.  i suppose it didn't help that i was unemployed at the time of my trip.   they detained me for about 2 hours while letting everyone else through.   by the time i actually got clearance, my fiancee and i were the only people in that part of the airport save for the employees.   they checked my bags and documented everything.  saw i didn't bring anything that would give them reason to believe i would try to overstay, but i was still treated pretty poorly.    i'm not as forgiving as you are though and will probably retain a grudge against the IOs at heathrow.   hopefully they won't give me the same hassle when i have my settlement visa in hand.

That is horrible. But you're lucky you were able to enter, I've read a lot of stories here stating a worse outcome.

I'm grateful that the ECO's at the consulates are so kind to me though. I rather have the good ones dealing with Visas and the mediocre ones at the gate. At least, I'll have enough documented evidence for them to not deny me when I go there.

An IO made me do that once at Heathrow! She asked me how much money I had. I was a little more ignorant back then so I didn't have any bank statements with me. I had £900 in cash*, though. She had me pull it out of my purse. All of it. I was not happy.

*Yes, I know this isn't the brightest thing to do. It was for my hotel bill. I didn't want any grief trying to charge about $1800 to my debit card.

I'm going to London in 4 weeks for 8 days.  I'm going to bring my job offer letter, my last couple of pay stubs, as well as the lease for my apartment.  And the exit ticket, of course. 

I really hope that all of that will be enough to show that I won't be staying.  IO's really stress me out!

Which terminal was this in?

Terminal 1. I've heard there is a sign like that at Gatwick too.

Terminal 1. I've heard there is a sign like that at Gatwick too.

They must have changed it recently because I don't remember seeing that last November when I last went through T1 (United Airlines). But, the IO also told me that I can go through the returning residents line and not the 'other passport' line so...sounds like the IO was having a bit of a bad day...I do agree they could have gone about it in a more secure manner without airing the laundry in front of everyone else, but in the end they were just doing their job. 

I'm going to London in 4 weeks for 8 days.  I'm going to bring my job offer letter, my last couple of pay stubs, as well as the lease for my apartment.  And the exit ticket, of course. 

I really hope that all of that will be enough to show that I won't be staying.  IO's really stress me out!

I'm going to do something similar.  I'm going to ask my boss for a letter on company letterhead stating that they expect me to return to work on a particular date.  Not to mention a copy of our lease showing that we are here until at least July 2011.  Doing this because this time when I enter, I'm stating that I'm there on holiday to visit my BIL with my husband, but also to take the KOL test, so I want to show I'm still planning on returning to the US after my visit.  Better safe than sorry, I say.   

They must have changed it recently because I don't remember seeing that last November when I last went through T1 (United Airlines). But, the IO also told me that I can go through the returning residents line and not the 'other passport' line so...sounds like the IO was having a bit of a bad day...I do agree they could have gone about it in a more secure manner without airing the laundry in front of everyone else, but in the end they were just doing their job. 

It wasn't the overhead  hanging from the ceiling sign but a little sign right next to where you enter the "other passport" line.
I agree and I know people abuse the system.
The good news is this is the first time since I was refused my student visa 5 years ago I wasn't made to sit in the naughty chair. 

There is a sign at passport control saying Non EU passports including US. Is there a problem with Americans not knowing they aren't part of the EU and go in the EU line?

Those signs have been up for at least a year. I have seen them in T1 and T5.