Basic bank account feedback thread

Di_B

RB3,

Make an appointment in branch to see Barclays.

I posted on here a while back.
Had account for a month, and its all problem free.
Very happy here.

Ask for their basic account. it can have a visa debit card IF you want it to.
Whether Visa or Cash card only, you can have STO's and DD's set up and make payments etc.
No credit check.
We were treated as human beings at the branch as opposed to those infected with the 'bad credit' bug! :-D

I always thought they were rubbish due to an ex having issues with them.
Boy, was I wrong! They are good (AND if you phone them in the daytime you get a UK call centre too!)

So pro-barclays now I'm getting my hair dyed blue!

RGN007

Perhaps, after banks like Barclays having their fingers burned, they may have changed attitude.

My ex and I had business and personal accounts with Barclays from the early 80's when it was the days for a local branch manager. We didn't get any problems until they installed "relationship managers". Some were human and reasonable if we had temporary cashflow problems, whilst others were positively power mad. My ex was only a man with a van, small overdraft on occasions, but I nearly ended up in the canal with the threats from some of those managers.

It was such a painful experience I don't think I could go anywhere near them again. We just felt £'s off the hoof with charges upon charges for what might start as being a £1 short for a direct debit.

RB3

Thanks Di B,

All's gone well (So far), went into the branch last Friday afternoon with the paperwork, also completed online a request to open up a basic bank account just in case and took that along as well. All very efficient as was handled at the reception, thought I'd have to wait half an hour to see someone but no! The gentleman on reception took my passport and did the usual photocopy and went off into the back room. A few minutes later he came out with the account details, he'd said earlier that the account had been authorised so no need to open up the basic account, I was in and out in 15 minutes. Received a email notification at 11 that night to say my account had been activated and a number of texts allowing online access, I also set up a savings account online with ease. Yesterday received notification that my bank card and PIN would be with me within the next 3 days and this morning received the card, hopefully should have the PIN tomorrow or Friday? All very efficient, only other things I'm waiting for now are the chequebook and card reader code generator thingy to setup payments.

I have to say I'm very impressed with Nat West with the ease of setup and the whole process has been very prompt, in less than a week I have a functioning account. Seem to remember that when I joined the Co-op it took 2 weeks before I received the ATM card and PIN after they provided incorrect account details, so goodbye Co-op, thank you and now I've drawn down my account I don't expect to receive any more excess charges please?

Shame they're operating like this with basic accounts but it's a free market and I differ from a previous poster on here saying they don't make any money from basic accounts, in the 2.5 years I had it I must have put through £70k or so, so if they can't make any money out of that? Well you're a poor banker! And I also would advise you to sort out your online systems and show a near to real time balance, in this day and age that's easily possible.

However so far so good and long may that continue!

dr_adidas01

RB3 wrote: »

Thanks Di B,

All's gone well (So far), went into the branch last Friday afternoon with the paperwork, also completed online a request to open up a basic bank account just in case and took that along as well. All very efficient as was handled at the reception, thought I'd have to wait half an hour to see someone but no! The gentleman on reception took my passport and did the usual photocopy and went off into the back room. A few minutes later he came out with the account details, he'd said earlier that the account had been authorised so no need to open up the basic account, I was in and out in 15 minutes. Received a email notification at 11 that night to say my account had been activated and a number of texts allowing online access, I also set up a savings account online with ease. Yesterday received notification that my bank card and PIN would be with me within the next 3 days and this morning received the card, hopefully should have the PIN tomorrow or Friday? All very efficient, only other things I'm waiting for now are the chequebook and card reader code generator thingy to setup payments.

I have to say I'm very impressed with Nat West with the ease of setup and the whole process has been very prompt, in less than a week I have a functioning account. Seem to remember that when I joined the Co-op it took 2 weeks before I received the ATM card and PIN after they provided incorrect account details, so goodbye Co-op, thank you and now I've drawn down my account I don't expect to receive any more excess charges please?

Shame they're operating like this with basic accounts but it's a free market and I differ from a previous poster on here saying they don't make any money from basic accounts, in the 2.5 years I had it I must have put through £70k or so, so if they can't make any money out of that? Well you're a poor banker! And I also would advise you to sort out your online systems and show a near to real time balance, in this day and age that's easily possible.

However so far so good and long may that continue!

Good to hear that all so far has been good. It still has to get past the AVU still as they check the details even if you open it in branch.

Hopefully you'll pass the AVU additional checks and your account will stay open.

RB3

Will see on that... However if they do decline it I'll be in that branch kicking up a right old fuss! Will advise and thanks.

RB3

And thanks Di B as well concerning Barclay's. Bit reluctant with they as I had an account with them whilst I was a student, OK that's 22 years since I graduated now and they've likely changed but not really for me afraid. was a very happy HSBC customer for 15 years, current, business account, income protection insurance, savings and pension with them but they changed in around 2004. Used to have a great relationship with my manager(s) but that changed and the bean counters came in, the manager(s) became glorified salespeople and many of them took early retirement as it was no longer the banking industry they knew or wanted to be a part of. Such a shame and since then I don't expect too much from banks...

Don_Maverick

Has anyone got a Nationwide cash card account? What are you experiences with it?

I'm trying to get my house in order. I've got most things sorted. I've already had a Barclays cash account which had some CPA's set up under the account for some Payday loans (all paid off now thankfully) which made the account overdrawn so I can't go there.

Had an account with co-op (closed for three DD's bouncing in a row).

Got a current account with Natwest that I'm paying off the overdraft on, pretty sure they will shut it off once it's paid off.

Currently using a Lloyds TSB basic account but find it quite frustrating that you can only use their ATM's. Have a halifax account with a visa electron I'm using for bills.

The only requirement really is to be able to use any ATM and be able to setup DD's. It's very frustrating to be treated like filth because of previous credit endeavours even after they've all been settled/cleared etc.

RGN007

I wish they'd bring back the small bank manager with some humanity and common sense. Thankfully, I haven't had any banking problems but two of my adult children have. Neither had more than £7000 debt and both are in progress of paying it off.

It's easy for smug people to judge as it isn't as simple as not spending as in both cases my children had mental health issues.

My daughter's account is with the Co-op as she has not bounced anything for years, and my son has restarted his old account with Santander and also managed to open one with Barclays. Neither have CCJs or credit cards unpaid.

I don't know what banks have to lose if a customer has no overdraft risk as they still charge is a payment bounces, in my son's case money was paid in the same day but the Co-op still used it as an excuse to close on him.

I don't think there is anything ethical about them these days.

LotsOfOtters

The Co-op threatened to close my account for the same reason (unpaid DDs). Yes I know I should have kept better track of my account, but it really isn't easy when their online and telephone services are so inaccurate.

newbee007

Due to my horrible credit circumstances, I've been rejectet by most of high street banks and finally opened current account with Cooperative (Cashminder Acc) in January this year. Some time ago I've decided to open second account with Barclays - just to separate money for bills and shoping and help with budget. I arranged appointment, described the situation and asked for Cash Card Acc (even repeated three times). And then, with big suprise, I passed credit check for standard Current Acc with all its bonuses! Woooha, very nice :j