Which Current Account - Internet Banking

456789

book12 wrote: »

HBOS and Lloyds TSB don't have card readers too... Not sure about A&L and Abbey though.

They don't either

I would say HSBC, Halifax or FD for the OP's question

EarthBoy

gt94sss2 wrote: »

A year or so ago, everyone needed to register to use FD's online banking - I understood that this was due to a massive upgrade of some sort.. including changing login details etc.. ?

Regards
Sunil

They did change the method of logging on about 2 years ago, now I remember, but once you get in the system is the same as it was before.

gt94sss2

book12 wrote: »

HBOS and Lloyds TSB don't have card readers too... Not sure about A&L and Abbey though.

Lloyds are/were planning to introduce dongles or card readers of some sort. I suspect that HBOS will now follow suit..

I wouldn't want to recommend Abbey or A&L to anyone who hoped for a trouble free banking experience!

Regards
Sunil

mitchec1

Here's a link for the op to look at demo's for FD's internet banking, I'd assume cahoot, smile etc would the same on their websites for the op to compare. Just click on the internet banking demo

http://www.firstdirect.com/ourservices/



Imho their online banking isn't confusing and has a reasonable layout but it seems people on this forum are struggling with it.

Natti_A

If you want to stay with Barclays you can downgrade from pinsentry by calling the online banking helpdesk, i did this yesterday as it was driving me mental! It took about 10mins (once they had run thru the risks with me), and i will have a new pin sent out.

I will add that i only use Barclays for my ISA & Regular Saver though so i dont need to transfer money out very often.

tommot

menhim wrote: »

I agree with you about First Direct internet banking. The colour scheme and layout is messy and confusing and has a few niggly little points that are starting to annoy me immensly. Probably the worse online banking I have used, never having used RBS ;-) First Direct telephone service is good, with extremely friendly staff you can understand !!! Except I dont like telephone banking and have only ever phoned them when their online banking hasnt been clear and not given me the information I required

Guess there is no such thing as a perfect bank ;-))

I also agree that First Direct's online banking is rather messy especially with the black background. It would be great if they changed this to white.

Other things which I think are not so great include:

- no option to manage bill payments. It is not possible to cancel a bill payment, so you end up with a long list of bills you no longer need.

- internet banking opens in an annoying pop up window which makes it difficult to have a sneaky peek at your balance at work.

- the colour scheme also draws attention to your screen whilst at work.

- it is not possible to save and read previous secure messages.

- you can only view the last three months credit card statements

- online bank statements do not indicate whether the transaction was a debit card, direct debit, standing order etc.

Blimey, I did not realise that I disliked it so much. Time to change banks?

sssiii

Many thanks for all the responses, I am OK with the idea of a dongle but I think I'm going to try A&L, their internet banking demo looks good.

Before I take the plunge can someone point me in the direction of the negative points about dealing with A&L?

I'm not going to close my Barclays account (yet) so I can move across at my own pace whilst finding out A&L's foibles.

Thanks
Simon

Lokolo

From what I've learnt from this forum:

- Customer Service is shoddy
- Not everything goes 100%
- Stay away. lol.

But then again banks are very subjective, so you may end up loving them.

EarthBoy

tommot wrote: »

.....Other things which I think are not so great include:

- no option to manage bill payments. It is not possible to cancel a bill payment, so you end up with a long list of bills you no longer need....

True, but they automatically drop off if you don't use them for 12 months.

tommot wrote: »

.....- online bank statements do not indicate whether the transaction was a debit card, direct debit, standing order etc....

I agree with you there. Most of the time it doesn't matter, but occasionally you see a payment and wonder what it was.

Milarky

Be aware that the best / worst banks for online are not the best / worst banks for customer service.

First Direct are the best bank for customer service and also do not use the card reader at present. Their online service is a bit 'clunky' but more than adequate for most purposes. Very easy to make payments from..

By comparison, Nationwide has some really excellent online features (the only real reservation being the absence of same date details and a 'mini statement' limited to the last 12 transactions on screen) But their 'offline' service is bery limited if you need 'help' AND their use of card reader security is over the top. And no outward faster payments - yet

Lloyds have some nice easy-to-use features (like 'search') but the failure to implement faster payments is a drag (requiring you to register for phone service - freephone 0800 015 2000 - not the number they give you - to make instant payments) Once they get that right it will be fine again... ...no card reader use - yet!

Halifax has OK (but a bit clunky) and does not use a card reader. They do have faster payments. Thus I would move this slightly above Lloyds - particularly given the £5 per month payment just for in-out £1000 payments. However no secure messaging and no obvious free phone number to use to ask for help. Still no card reader here.

A&L. Well you can't fault them for rates of interest (currently 6% for 1 year) but their site is very poor in not being accurate about balance information. Use this account for the 'freebies' and not for banking IMO


So I'd say its a toss up between perks and usability in general.....