Best banks for customer service: are they rated anywhere?

cashferret

I have a load of money to put into cash savings for my elderly parents. I am tempted by Santander's products, for example, but have read news stories lately of their awful treatment of customers.

I don't want to rob my parents of good interest rates because of what might be just one or two horror stories, though. Are there ratings anywhere online based on surveys like Which? do for banks in terms of their customer service?

I have to spread the money across several banks/building societies to get the £50k savings protection and I don't want to end up dealing with horrible institutions!

rb10

I'd say to steer clear of Santander and Natwest, most of the others are fairly good though.

Primrose

I've always found Saga very helpful, especially their telephone service. Birmingham Midshires has been good for me too but bear in mind that these two share the same registration for the £50K compensation limit.

alanq

Surveys are not that good a guide. Co-op gets good reviews but they managed to foul up on the few simple transactions that I made with them. Nationwide BS used to get good reviews but recent reports that I have read confirm my own experience of poor customer service.

Halifax's complaints-handling department made more serious mistakes than the one that I had contacted them to complain about.

I have never had any problems with Northern Rock as a building society, plc or nationalised bank - apart from the very long queues when there was a run on the bank.

I have had least problems with building societies - Nationwide excepted.

fairtrade

Which review :-
http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/current-accounts/page/owners-views/

dunstonh

I am tempted by Santander's products

Investments or savings?

Their investment range is dire. They have even taken to bribe people into them on some of their plans (by cross subsidising).

Sceptic001

If the accounts are available to open online then it should be relatively trouble-free, regardless of the quality of customer services. Most institutions check ID automatically if you are on the electoral register, so the entire process can be done without speaking to a human being at all, which suits me fine!

The only online application I ever gave up on was with Abbey/Santander, who denied having any record of receiving my application, even though I had an email from them with a reference number. Fortunately I had not got as far as sending any money, so I simply walked away. Looks like I had a lucky escape!

juicyjude

I would re iterate a lot of what has been said here. Yes I would steer clear of Santander, my dealings with Saga so far have been very good and efficient. Nationwide I would also give a wide berth, too long a story to go into here, but they have been pretty dire with my transfer of ISAs and general inefficiency. However, it may just be us, but I completed a Saga online application, I am on the electroll register, but still had to send off proof of ID, as my husband also did for ING. Hope this helps

Primrose

The other building society I've had efficient dealings with in the past has been Kent Reliance but in view of the fact that they're proposing to link up with an American organisation which hasn't received very enthusiastic press reports, probably best to steer clear of them until their situation becomes a little clearer. In my experience when banks/building societies merge, all their management focus is directed on integration policies and their customer service goes to pot, especially when staff are unsettled and wondering who next is going to be made redundant.

cashbackproblems

The WORSE are Santander/Abbey by a mile, having opened many accounts over the years for myself and family. Closely followed by Halifax.

The best/efficient service iv had would be Barclays and ICICI.

juicyjude

I must say I do like to deal with Barclays bank branch. I have got to know the staff quite well and are very efficient and friendly. So nice to deal with real people who actually listen to what you are saying and deal with your enquiry in a professional and efficient manner. Quite a novelty nowadays