Moving Banks

[454697819]

Lloydstsb have burnt their final and very flimsy bridge with me...after many years of committed service from me, despite the fact they have never been competitive on insurance, mortgages loans etc etc etc...

I know everyone will have a bad experience with their bank once in a while but from asking around the office and home - Nationwide seem to be the best bet,

Im not transferring thousands and thousands of saving, I just need a joint current account (for holding money for the three minutes I own it before the DD's go out), a savings account (ill start one day) basic credit card (for company expenses only) and internet banking.

However is there an independent review site, or official report on the customer satisfaction?

any help guidance appreciated, I have been with Lloyds 14 yrs but their latest antics have pushed it too far.

Cheers
Alex

[speedplay]

I had massive problems with the Halifax a few years ago and moved all my savings/mortgage etc.
Having looked about, they all seem as bad as eachother.
I'm with the alliance and leicester now and while their Northampton branch is run by a clown, the santander opposite is much better so I use them (all under the same corporate umberella now).
Customer services is pretty good, theres real people answering the telephones and believe it or not, they all speak english too...:rolleyes:

I had a problem with Jenn "borrowing" money from the account when she wasnt supposed to have access...(well a girls got to feed her habit from somewhere;) :rolleyes: ) and they took it on the chin and replaced what she had taken within half an hour, no problems.

It's all a case of suck it and see with banks.
If you keep money in the account, they are always nice to you!

[Bri w]

I'm with RBS, and they've been good but since moving back to the Northeast the nearest branch is miles away and a pain to get to.

Mrs B is with Santander, who will soon be buying RBS in England & Wales, and they've been brilliant. I'm moving to them before the buyout as they give you a lump just for switching to them.

[RichT]

We recntly opened a joint account with Santander. Overrall good service, however be aware that their switching service is pants - ended up doing it all ourselves.

[collis]

i've considered opening an account with the Co-op as they seam pretty good, customers first profits second, but they are the one company that have not needed government payouts or assistance.
currently, i have no bank account, all my money goes into my other halfs account and i use a PAYG credit card for my spending

[lily]

Me and drew are with Nationwide, and I can't rate them highly enough. I moved from HSBC as I was fed up with their crap service, and the final straw was when then cancelled my credit card while i was using it due to it being on a watch list of data they had lost! So they cancelled it in case it was a fraund transaction, I did try and explain to them that if they where watching it and cancelled it the first time it was used since they lost the data, why not just cancel the card when the data was lost and re-issue then rather than leave me unable to pay for items! Amazingly the person in Delhi or wherever didn't understand that!

We moved everything over to Nationwide who are really helpful. They gave us an overdraft easy when we went in and saw them regarding Drew not being paid for a month and half due to switching jobs. It's a UK call centre and they can't be more helpful if they tried.

[Dave20046]

first direct are offering £100 to swap current account to them.santander also might still be.

[Dave20046]

oh and another £100 if you're unhappy with them and leave.
read an independent thing somewhere that they were best for customer satisfaction

[Milky Bar Kid]

I'm with HBOS (Halifax Bank of Scotland) and they are pants. I really need to get my butt into gear and change accounts.

[speedplay]

first direct are offering £100 to swap current account to them.santander also might still be.


First direct Asked me to provide more account stability.
When I asked what the problem was, they said they didnt like the fact that different amounts were going in each week.
They asked for a minimum of 1000 a month going in which I was doing in a week, then they said it would be better if I made one payment in a lump rather than in bits.
I explained that I was self employed and was getting invoices paid at all different times and didnt really want to wait till the end of the month to pay cheques etc into the account.

Their customer services are shocking.

HSBC though, so says it all.

[Drew Carey]

To back up what lily has said, I have actually been a Nationwide customer for approx 12 or so years. I can honestly say that their customer service has always been brilliant.

Even to the extent a number of years ago, that when I ran into difficulties they fully supported me in advising what options I could do and helping me to sort things out.

The online account is also very good too. With a decent savings account automatically available to all customers at request where you can transfer in and out of it anytime you wish.

[metalangel]

HSBC have given me a lot of crap over the years (not to mention cancelling the missus' credit card on the first day of our vacation in Zakynthos and then NOT TRYING TO CONTACT HER) but lately they've been okay.

Certainly better than my experience with RBS, back in 2004. In spite of all the money I had with HSBC, they would only give me a cash card (only works in ATMs) until they saw proof of my earnings coming into the account for six weeks.

Six weeks later I went back and asked for a Switch card now as I've jumped through your very inconvenient hoop, they declined so I closed the account then and there, took it all in cash back down the street to the HSBC branch and deposited it back into my still open HSBC accounts. F*** them, basically.

[tigersaw]

After being with HSBC (Midland as it was) for 30+ years, and probably running a million through the account in total, they still treat me as a lowlife. I recently openened an account with Barclays to change over to, but they seem to have fecked that up at the first hurdle by way of not listening to what I wanted, so I'm also all ears for reccomendations.

[Viney]

Im with Nationwide. Remember, its not a bank, but the UK's largest building society. Therfore run slightly different to a bank, and i think better for it.

I was with Abbey for over 20 years. Thier service just got worse over time. I got out 4 years ago, so didnt go throught he Santandar stuff.

I like Nationwide. I dont have much to do with them Money is paid in, i take it out. Dont have credit cards, not overdrafts/loans, so nice and simple. The last time i went into a branch was over a year ago, and that was to use the cash machine inside! They do have some benifits. When using your card abroad its free to do that, however, Visa now charge 1% of the transaction fee, something that Nationwide fought tooth and nail, but sadly lost. It was going to be 3% but they kept it at 1%.

You also get to vote on the board of directors which is fun :)

[the_lone_wolf]

To back up what lily has said, I have actually been a Nationwide customer for approx 12 or so years. I can honestly say that their customer service has always been brilliant.

Even to the extent a number of years ago, that when I ran into difficulties they fully supported me in advising what options I could do and helping me to sort things out.

The online account is also very good too. With a decent savings account automatically available to all customers at request where you can transfer in and out of it anytime you wish.

Another vote for Nationwide from me

Lloyds had the best offer when they were doing student accounts and if my experience with them is anything to go by for all the banks I'll stick to what I've known for probably 15yrs or so now!!!

Current account pays meagre interest but their eSavings is usually good if usually not the best around. Credit card services are good as well, problems handled quickly and very rarely left in a telephone queue

Until they ROYALLY **** something up I'll be staying with them:cool:

[454697819]

Another vote for Nationwide from me

Lloyds had the best offer when they were doing student accounts and if my experience with them is anything to go by for all the banks I'll stick to what I've known for probably 15yrs or so now!!!

Current account pays meagre interest but their eSavings is usually good if usually not the best around. Credit card services are good as well, problems handled quickly and very rarely left in a telephone queue

Until they ROYALLY **** something up I'll be staying with them:cool:

who lloyds or nationwide?

[the_lone_wolf]

who lloyds or nationwide?

Staying with Nationwide, had accounts with them since "I was a lad"

They didn't do a student account so I opened one with Lloyds - who were OK, but just little things that made life difficult...

[Dave20046]

First direct Asked me to provide more account stability.
When I asked what the problem was, they said they didnt like the fact that different amounts were going in each week.
They asked for a minimum of 1000 a month going in which I was doing in a week, then they said it would be better if I made one payment in a lump rather than in bits.
I explained that I was self employed and was getting invoices paid at all different times and didnt really want to wait till the end of the month to pay cheques etc into the account.

Their customer services are shocking.

HSBC though, so says it all.
I was with HSBC for about 10 years, they were utter ****s but I was just lazy. Forever cocking up cards etc (that said I did kick off and got some money in compensation), general ****tishness. First direct are managed slighty differently and have 24/7 uk call centres who have been good thus far. Text alerts are useful and the staff have been flexible and helped me out a few times. Not had a major misfortune with them yet but will see how it goes.

[keith_d]

I've been with Natwest since I was a student and the only problem I've had was transferring my overdrawn student account to my local branch. I'm a pretty basic customer so there's not too much for them to screw up. Pay goes in, bills go out and I manage to stay in the black until the next payday.

Unless they do something stupid like charging a monthly fee I'll probably keep my account with them because it meets my needs.

[anna]

I can honestly say that up until 2 years ago I had no real problems with Barclays but honestly it has all gone down hill.

They have cancelled my entire account twice now for no good reasons causing me mahossive fines with my direct debts.

Bad customer service, I have complaints with them and they come back to you within 14 days only to tell you they still havent fixed the problem.:smt104

[fizzwheel]

Been with First Direct since 1996 or 1997 ish.

Always found them really good. Which basically means they leave me the hell alone and dont keep pestering me etc etc. If I need to do anything. I can it myself through the online banking website which is very good and easy to use. I have rung them a couple of times and found the people on the phone, polite courteous and helpful.

They send me letters now and again for pre approved loans and every now and again they up the limit on my credit card, never had a problem with them so I stick with them.

[Dave20046]

They send me letters now and again for pre approved loans and every now and again they up the limit on my credit card, never had a problem with them so I stick with them.

That reminds me, I set a limit on my credit card with HSBC so as to keep damage to a minimum if it got nicked/keep tabs on myself. I accidentally went £5 over and they automatically extended my limit to £1000. Seemed a bit irresponsible to me....but meh- grand limit baby!

[Ed]

+1 for Nationwide

[northwind]

Santander/Abbey have their good points but when they're bad they're really incredibly bad. HSBC more sort of generally slightly poor.

Barclays are the only ones I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole after having to deal with them professionally. It's not that they don't have good products, it's that almost everything they do goes through the same monster callcentres but they just don't have the knowledge or the processes to deal with even some routine enquiries so it just becomes impossible to get even basic things done, you couldn't design a worse process if you tried. For a laugh one day I decided just to stick with it and see how many times I got transferred between departments. 13, was the answer, for something that any other bank would have dealt with at first or second contact. Then they hung up.

Oh and Lloyds Group, the Artists Formerly Known As LTSB and HBOS, we suck donkey balls. But on the plus side we get generous redundancy payouts :mrgreen:

[L3nny]

Get a job working for a bank, open a staff account then leave and never close the staff account.

Free overdrafts for ever :D

[cb1000rsteve]

I recently switched to nationwide and the only problem i have sometimes is finding a branch!! there isn't one near my mum and dads whcih makes deposits or cash/cheques annoying.
Other than that they've been brilliant.

[454697819]

booked in with nationwide this saturday.. I think i will go with them and their branches are as common as lloydtsb around here..

[maviczap]

+1 for Nationwide but I'm also considering the Co op, because I'll get dividend at the end of the year.

Don't forget that Co op and Britannia merged, so you can use their branches. Co Op have an online bank called Smile which is worth considering.

Currently our main bank account is with the Halifax, but not for much longer, as despite being loyal customers for 15 years they aren't looking after us.

[454697819]

I am also with Britannia, but they stopped the dividend on my mortgage and accounts... I think i forgot to opt in... and now I cant, tbh I didnt really read the letters

[Iansv II]

Been with Smile (co-op) for around 10yrs now after various issues with hsbc and natwest

Would always recommend them, always very helpful

[PsychoCannon]

I was going to say steer well clear of HSBC but you seem to have that one down :)
£28 overdrawn this month (corrected it same day) they still returned two direct debits despite only one of them going out while over drawn which was due to the 2nd DD taking it slightly over (That DD had gone out a day early), they then charged me £200 for the privelage! (£75 for each DD, £25 for going Overdrawn + £25 to arrange an informal Overdraft to cover said overdraft, oh and this doesn't include the 20something percent interest on the overdrawn amount despite it having been only for a few hours..)
Phoned them up about it and was basically told to go fish and better luck next time 0_o.

I'm now changing banks myself as I've had it (they charged me £280 last month for going £80 over drawn when the missus pressed the wrong button on a cash point again despite putting the money back next morning, couldnt do it same day as they don't have any branches open near us (anywhere near us) on weekends anymore!)

We have a Nationwide nearby as well which I'm going to look at as I've heard good things.
Thinking Natwest personally as it's right next door and seem to treat the wife well.

[maviczap]

I was going to say steer well clear of HSBC but you seem to have that one down :)
£28 overdrawn this month (corrected it same day) they still returned two direct debits despite only one of them going out while over drawn which was due to the 2nd DD taking it slightly over (That DD had gone out a day early), they then charged me £200 for the privelage! (£75 for each DD, £25 for going Overdrawn + £25 to arrange an informal Overdraft to cover said overdraft, oh and this doesn't include the 20something percent interest on the overdrawn amount despite it having been only for a few hours..)
Phoned them up about it and was basically told to go fish and better luck next time 0_o. .

Another reason to not use HSBC is they keep sending me questions about my online security, transaction in process and a load of spam that Google kindly filter for me :p I don't even have an account with HSBC ;)

I'm sure its their Nigerian branch :smt019

[barwel1992]

im with santander and they are pretty good, getting £100 for £1k in a month for the first 3 months

natwest are useless as far as money transferring goes

mum n dad are having problems with santander though, as my dad can't access any info or do any thing on there joint account, so even though its in my mums and his name they wont let him change any thing.

[Dave20046]

I was going to say steer well clear of HSBC but you seem to have that one down :)
£28 overdrawn this month (corrected it same day) they still returned two direct debits despite only one of them going out while over drawn which was due to the 2nd DD taking it slightly over (That DD had gone out a day early), they then charged me £200 for the privelage! (£75 for each DD, £25 for going Overdrawn + £25 to arrange an informal Overdraft to cover said overdraft, oh and this doesn't include the 20something percent interest on the overdrawn amount despite it having been only for a few hours..)
Phoned them up about it and was basically told to go fish and better luck next time 0_o.

I'm now changing banks myself as I've had it (they charged me £280 last month for going £80 over drawn when the missus pressed the wrong button on a cash point again despite putting the money back next morning, couldnt do it same day as they don't have any branches open near us (anywhere near us) on weekends anymore!)

We have a Nationwide nearby as well which I'm going to look at as I've heard good things.
Thinking Natwest personally as it's right next door and seem to treat the wife well.
HSBC told me if you correct it in the same day they wouldn't charge.

[PsychoCannon]

Funny, they just told me on the phone that they can reject and charge you within 4 hours not only regardless of if you correct, but also based of "pending charges" that haven't actually come out yet and that I have no way of seeing...

which is allegadly why they rejected the second direct debit despite their being enough funds as far as I could see (some company that shouldn't be charging me had a pending charge for £60 to go through which I had funds in for before it came out but that's by the by, having to fill out a visa dispute form now to get money back from the cowboys debiting my account without my permission...)

Oh they also cancled all my Direct debits (without telling me...) so I've got to set them all up again...but I'll do that at the new bank!

The security is a joke as well i agree! i keep getting calls from an unrecognised number and it's an automated recorded message asking me to enter all my bank details!! BUGGER RIGHT OFF!!

[G]

Santander are pretty good, I have everything with them.