Nationwide

CopperPlate_2

will-in-estoril wrote:

If you are hesitant about opening a Flex Account because there is no branch local to you ask for a Bank Giro paying in book with your account. This way you can pay in via a clearing bank: whilst some banks will make a charge, others will not, particularly if you have an account or credit card with them. If you work at an airport, most bureaux de change will let you deposit foc there, too! (This is how airport shops do their business banking.)

I take it that you can't use this to deposit via the Post Office?

Can you deposit cash/cheques at any Nationwide ATM?

CP

CopperPlate_2

There is a branch of NW in a nearby city, so it would only be a ten min drive to get there. No great problem.

The issue of customer service is a bit concerning. Being with smile has maybe spoiled me but I've always found their responses to be really quick and clear. Was a customer of NW a good few years ago and thought their online banking was a bit clunky, but I think that's changed.

Basically it comes down to a choice:

smile v Nationwide

Preferences?

CP

NervousYetFeisty

The online services are great, as in the interface makes it very, very easy to set up bill payments and so on and generally control the financial side of you life. I love internet banking.
I'd recommend opening your account in a branch though. I tried to do it online and they lost two applications in the ether, and the one that I finally managed to open took weeks to set up, because of silly little things like when I went into a branch to confirm my ID with a passprt and utility bill, the info initially didn't reach whoever it was meant to. I had similar problems with NatWest though (got the letter from them telling me my local branch would be in touch, the local branch had never heard of me when I called in a couple of weeks later) so it's not just them.

scorour

I have had my FlexAccount since 1992 and have compared with various of accounts over peroids to see if it was worth changing and it never has been so far. I have several accounts, Flexaccount, E-Savings, 2 x Children Smart Accounts, Child Trust Fund and Visa. Most of these link to my Microsoft Money which is essential.

We holiday around Europe at least twice a year so the Flexaccount is ideal for withdrawing holiday money without charges (as long as in credit ;-) )

I use the online messaging for various things and am happy around 90% of the time, it does depend on who deals with your request, you do get some who seem to cut and paste from a training manual and do not read your question, however I also have an Egg card and would say I am only 20% happy with the responses I get from them, definately cut and paste,waste of time!!

In reference to a previous post about not receiving Visa assistance via message's, Visa queries are via telephone, not internet.

So, rather than waffle further, I would (and do) recommend the Flexaccount to anybody, I have no major complaints in 16 years of use.

BWZN93

CopperPlate wrote:

Can you deposit cash/cheques at any Nationwide ATM?

CP

Yup - all nationwide ATM's should have the deposit facility!

Jo xx

CopperPlate_2

jw1096 wrote:

Yup - all nationwide ATM's should have the deposit facility!

Jo xx

That's good, as that would've been a major factor for NOT going with them as I don't think you can pay in at the Post Office (only w/d cash or balance enq?) There's an ATM nearby in my town so if I needed to do that I could - although with smile the cash clears instantly at the PO...but then, how often am I putting money BACK IN to my account...:D

Have opened the NW account anyway so will get the forms - if nothing else I can use the e-savings account and just keep the Flexaccount until I decide if I'm going to use it as the main account.

Tess

I have used e-saving and the flex account for a number of years now and have had no problems whatsoever. Also on holiday abroad it is great as there are no extra charges for using the automated cash machines. I have also got a credit card now and they provide a good rate of exchange on transactions abroad. The only way I think they can improve their service is to speed up the cheque clearance time, seven working days is a ridiculous time for a cheque to clear.

ceebee_2

I and OH both have accounts with N/Wand whilst, in general, they are OK, you need to be wary of a few quirks with their systems.
I have complained about Debiting before Crediting. Thus, when cash was paid in on the same day as a DD was paid out, you could find o/d charges, etc.,being imposed because of a 'virtual' overdraft. This may have been modified recently since I now read on the internet payment account that money must be transferred/cash payed in to Flexaccount by 8.00pm the day before the Bill payment is due.( by 8.00pm Sat. for Bill payment on Mon.) This is relevant to me since we keep all our spare money in my OH's e-account for tax purposes.

There is also a peculiarity with their credit card in that they do not always pay a DD (minimum payment as a safe guard against forgetfulness).Thus, say, £100 is owed on c/c. £5 s/b paid by DD, you therefore transfer £95 in good time to your c/c. N/W card company 'see' this £95 payment and therefore don't activate the DD. You are therefore £5 short of paying off the whole balance and are charged interest on the whole £100. The figures I have quoted are minimal, but could be quite large. I've noticed other c/c companies now do the same.

In conclusion, on balance, they are probably one of the best of a bad bunch but 'be careful out there'.

grumbler

Tess wrote:

...cheque clearance time, seven working days is a ridiculous time for a cheque to clear.

Where does this figure come from? From my experience it takes 3-4 working days.
Also: How long will it take a cheque to clear in my FlexAccount? :

Cheques paid into your FlexAccount will start earning interest after 3 working days.
NB: Although the society will allow members to draw against cheques paid into their accounts after a few days (as shown), this does not always mean that the cheque has cleared. Cheques later returned unpaid will be debited from the account.

For a FlexAccount with a chequebook money is available for withdrawl on the 3-4th working day.
For a FlexAccount without a chequebook - on the 5th-6th working day

GrumpyOldMan_2

Just to echo all other people's thoughts.

I've been a customer of Nationwide since 1992. They are always competative with their rates on savings, mortgages and credit cards.

I've often been tempted to move savings to headline grabbing rates but what I like about them is that year in year out their rates are excellent give or take 0.25%.

Never had any problems with Customer services, always helpful and willing to go the extra mile. :T