Lloyds TSB PLC Bank - Are they any good?

noah271007

I just opened a current account with Lloyds TSB, and having been looking on the moneysavingexpert forums, there appears to be not much information about Lloyds TSB.

I have been approved to have a platinum visa debit card with £250 interest free overdraft. I am currently with HSBC PLUS but have become unhappy with their service for various reasons and are looking to use them as a secondary account (bills etc).

I would be very grateful if anyone could care to offer their experiences in dealing with this particular bank. Are they highly recommended? Is the customer service any good?

grrmich

I'm with Lloyds, although I now use them just for bills as the interest wasn't very high last time I overhauled my finances. I have gone overdrawn a couple of times without an agreed overdraft facility and on one occassion didn't get charged at all. The second occassion I was charged but I cheekily telephoned them and asked if the charge could be waivered. They refunded the charge. I haven't had any bad experiences with them.

markelock

I have a couple of accounts with Lloyds (one being my current Account for the past 10+ years), not excellent, in fact the fast pay system doesn't work (yet again today), but they are ok. Generally in the bank, the staff are very very good.

I'm also with Barclays and First Direct, and to be honest they're all much of a muchness. FD have the best call centre though.

grrmich you're lucky you got the charges refunded. wife has gone overdrawn in her account, and is having to write to Lloyds to ask for the money back. (to be fair it's her fault, and was due to an oversight on our part, but I'd like to think they'll see the long term of my custom being more important that £60 in charges. we shall see.)

tokyophil

In my experience, Lloyds are awful and wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

My GF paid 3 cheques into her account - she was refused a receipt in the branch but being Japanese and new to the country she didn't question it. they lost all 3 cheques for over a month before they mysteriously disappeared - didn't get a single apology in the meantime but just rude staff.

She also changed her address in branch. A week later she applied for internet banking, only for her details to be sent to the old address despite us phoning up to be on the safe side.

I also have an old account with them - receive countless junk mail and the rates are low for all accounts.

Just my opinion, I'm sure others will have varied opinions.

noah271007

Thanks for your time in replying. It looks like to be a hit and miss really on the dealings with LLoyds TSB - just like the other so called big five banks (soon to be 4).

Please do make a comment about your experiences with Lloyds TSB. Do you have AVA (advance value account) held with lloyds tsb? Have you used any benefits on offer with the account? For Platinum card holders, have you made a reservation with AirMiles? Did you receive lounge voucher to access most airport lounges?? Are they any good? Or are they basic and rubbish! Any information will be greatly appreciated. And I might give away a mystery prize for the most valuable post!

jonesMUFCforever

AVA is actually added value account.
I don't actually see the connection between the Platinum account and Air miles?
If you want Air miles you need the Airmiles Duo card or have I missed something?
Never used the airport lounge thing as normally travel with kids.
Interesting you have to ask other people's opinion of LTSB - what do you think of the service they offered you when they opened the account and since?

noah271007

Hi jonesMUFCforever (i guess you are a Man Utd fan - im a Liverpool fan!)

Yes you are right, it is added value account -sorry for my mistake!

You are wrong in assuming Air Miles is only connected with the AirMiles Duo Card.

Anyone who have one of the AVA whether it is silver, gold, platinum or premier can get air miles by booking via Airmiles.

Only platinum and premier have addtional benefits for airport lounge access provided you booked a holiday reservation via Air Miles Travel Service.
You can request a lounge access voucher at the time of booking the reservation and it can includeyour family as long they are included in the booking!!! By the sound of it, you are actually missing out on the full benefits! The platinum membership entitles me to choose either the lounge access at Uk airports OR choosing Airport Meet and Greet service.

For Premier members, they can have both in one go!

You can also collect Airmiles using the Airmiles Duo card as well.

I was very impressed with Lloyds TSB when i applied for the current account last week, the branch manager was really fanastic and are keen to have me as a customer. She sorted out everything for me on my behalf and i have nothing but praise for her service. I am mindful some customers don't always get a good service with Lloyds TSB which is why i started this thread and wanted to know people's experiences dealing with Lloyds TSB. I am with HSBC but i felt i am not getting the full benefits of using HSBC PLUS; found their level of customer service getting more and more poor each year (i have been with HSBC for 10 years).

I did some shopping around and found Lloyds TSB AVAs more suited to my needs like phone insurance for example. HSBC plus DO NOT offer this. I also often travel out of UK so having access to airport lounge in most airports in UK (if you booked with Air Miles Travel Service) sounds ideal.

It cost me more per month than I am with HSBC Plus but i will be using more benefits added with the platinum account. In fact taking into account the additional phone insurance, I actually be saving money of about £20 a year!

Are you a platinum or premier holder?

Richard_Cocks

I wouldn't rate their credit card, but their current accounts are excellent. Their internet banking is the best I've experienced for a current account so far. (Best internet banking I've used was sadly Icesave!)

Their customer service varies wildly from branch to branch but mostly what I've experienced has been good, but not outstanding. The best customer service I've experienced recently has actually been from Natwest.

I would certainly recommend lloyds as a current account but ONLY if you can be sure to not get into difficultly, their charges and charge structures are very expensive, something like £6.50 a DAY for going unauthorised OD.

Likewise their normal credit card is very expensive APR, with no bonuses but of course fine for using if paid off every month.

TomJ

I've had at least one Lloyds acct since before they merged with TSB and have never had a major problem with them.

noah271007

Cheers Richards_Cocks and TomJ for your posts.

What type of account do you hold with Lloyds TSB? Classic? It seems like most banks that as long you are in credit and not getting into financial difficulties then it is generally very good and no problems. Is Lloyds TSB very understanding and supportive when customers go through financial difficulties? I guess to that would be a no because of their high charge structure perhaps. However they do have a policy called The Grace period when the account goes over its limit, you have until 15.30pm on that day to prevent from incurring overdraft charges fees.

I have a question here. If i accidently went over the limit say at 4pm, will i have until 15.30 the FOLLOWING DAY to pay into the account to prevent incurring overdraft fees??

noah271007

Does anyone know what Save the Change is? I found this on internet banking.