Bank account loves and hates...

MORPH3US

Hi folks,

Couldn't find a similar thread about this so thought it might be helpful to start one...

I have recently left one bank (Nationwide) to go to another bank and one of the reasons I left was because I hate the stupid little card readers that I need to use every time I need to make a transfer etc. So I left for co-op but have now found out that they use the card readers too...

So I thought it might be good to have a thread about what people love and hate about how their bank works... not the obvious things like the headline benefits and interest rates but the little things that really annoy or are really good that people might not know about until they become a customer....

I'll start with my many banks:

Co-Op:
Love - Apart from the headline benefits, I am yet to find anything.
Hate - use card readers to make certain transactions possible through online banking (annoying if you need to transfer money for example and don't have the card reader with you), don't have any secure online messaging feature to speak to customer services

Nationwide:
Love - Used to love the free cash withdrawals abroad, not anymore although they do still only charge 1% and with the better rate Visa offer over most foreign exchange places, still good value. Also they DO have a secure online messaging system once logged in.
Hate - They also have the stupid little card readers to transfer money etc and soon to even sign on.

Santander / A&L
Love - Unlike the two above Santander (and A&L?) use your mobile phone and text a code to you to confirm transfers etc... much better IMHO
Hate - No faster payments which is a joke for such a big banking group.

Anyone else got any for these or other banks?

[Deleted User]

The Chelsea Building Society
LOVE: The amazing customer service. The people in branch are so happy lol at mine and manager keeps wanting me to take a picture with him. Offers you coffee etc. Savings account fairly good and avaliable all the time
HATE: The fact that penalties are applied if withdrawed. NOT so many branches

Yorkshire Building Society
LOVE: Best 'clean' savings account with cash card. Online Banking is all good and simple. Branch staff excellent also (normally the branch is empty)
HATE: Only can deposit online and not in branch, Not as many branches but more than Chelsea

Santander
LOVE: Pretty good customer service and low waiting times in branch, Faster Payments avaliable most of time (phone), excellent debit card with free withdrawals in Spain + chequebook included. Best online banking in very good detail as to the retailer you spent your money with
HATE: High fees abroad on card

Lloyds TSB
LOVE: FPS avaliable Online Banking, loads of branches with 24/7 UK Call Centre Support, Account comes with loads of benefits
HATE: The fact that you have to have your account for 6 months to have debit card / chequebook in some cases, Online Banking is not as well featured as other banks

Natwest
LOVE: Long opening hours inc. Saturday, Online Banking is good and loads of branches avaliable
HATE: CUSTOMER SERVICE and some branch staff who take their time with things, SLOW service especially when sending paperwork off

Halifax
LOVE: The fact that there is a machine in branch to deposit your money and cash without waiting in queues, ONLINE banking has FPS and well-featured,
HATE: They only issue Visa Electron (in my case <18), worsest telephone customer support but branch staff pretty decent


Ah there we go
But i have never experienced a bank such as Chelsea who is so happy to see a customer :T:T:T:T:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rb10

vinh1000 wrote: »

Natwest
LOVE: Long opening hours inc. Saturday

This is a marketing gimmick.

The proportion of Natwest branches open on a Saturday is actually one of the smallest of all the banks in this country. (At least, this was true when they increased the number that they had open in 2008(?); it may have changed since then).

It's just that they make a big thing of it; other banks take it as read that they'll be open on a Saturday.

In fact, even during the week, many Natwest branches close at 3.30/4/4.30pm, whilst other banks are open until 5pm.

tellmeitsfriday

vinh1000 wrote: »

Santander
LOVE: Pretty good customer service and low waiting times in branch, Faster Payments avaliable most of time (phone), excellent debit card with free withdrawals in Spain + chequebook included. Best online banking in very good detail as to the retailer you spent your money with
HATE: High fees abroad on card

Is this the same bank as the hated Spanish bank who took over Abbey, Alliance and Leicester etc and broke them?

Love: Erm... when you ring up to complain they bribe you to not do so by giving you £30. However you can't check if they've done so, because you internet banking is still not working 10 weeks post migration

Erm, the branch staff are quite friendly, but this is negated by the fact that they are queued out of the door - possibly by people complaining about the lack of internet banking and inept call centre staff

Erm, come on I can think of one... you only have to pay in £500 to no incur under funding charges. I think this is quite low.

Erm.. nope that's it

HATE: That it takes an hour for them to answer then phone, and then they lie, pretend to do things, and contradict each other

That you ask them to cancel one direct debit and they do the whole lot

That they take complete sets of direct debits out of the bank 3 times in one day, 5 days early, just before bank holidays and then deny this has happened when you call up to enquire/whinge

So many more, but I am not ranting!! Escape, escape while you can.. to anywhere!

I like my new account with First direct. You could, if you fancied, just ring them up for a chat at 4am... seriously, nothing is too much effort. They call you back when they promise to. THey reply to emails, they actually do transfers that you ask them too... I have had a bad time with scamtander I admit, but FD would be good, even if that was not the case.

[Deleted User]

tellmeitsfriday wrote: »

Is this the same bank as the hated Spanish bank who took over Abbey, Alliance and Leicester etc and broke them?

Love: Erm... when you ring up to complain they bribe you to not do so by giving you £30. However you can't check if they've done so, because you internet banking is still not working 10 weeks post migration

Erm, the branch staff are quite friendly, but this is negated by the fact that they are queued out of the door - possibly by people complaining about the lack of internet banking and inept call centre staff

Erm, come on I can think of one... you only have to pay in £500 to no incur under funding charges. I think this is quite low.

Erm.. nope that's it

HATE: That it takes an hour for them to answer then phone, and then they lie, pretend to do things, and contradict each other

That you ask them to cancel one direct debit and they do the whole lot

That they take complete sets of direct debits out of the bank 3 times in one day, 5 days early, just before bank holidays and then deny this has happened when you call up to enquire/whinge

So many more, but I am not ranting!! Escape, escape while you can.. to anywhere!

I like my new account with First direct. You could, if you fancied, just ring them up for a chat at 4am... seriously, nothing is too much effort. They call you back when they promise to. THey reply to emails, they actually do transfers that you ask them too... I have had a bad time with scamtander I admit, but FD would be good, even if that was not the case.

i've never heard of First Direct LOL until you mentioned it
In my experience i like Santander because i use a freephone and normally get through instantly or 3-5 mins max.

indeed this is the same bank that took over

@ rb10 - true point

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

Cumberland Building Society

Love: Everything about them!

Mrs_Ryan

Santander/A&L - Love - the fact my wages now go in at 11pm the day before Im paid discovered by accident and has actually come in useful!

Hate - everything else :rotfl:

tellmeitsfriday

vinh1000 wrote: »

i've never heard of First Direct LOL until you mentioned it
In my experience i like Santander because i use a freephone and normally get through instantly or 3-5 mins max.

indeed this is the same bank that took over

@ rb10 - true point

They're just the phone bank of HSBC...

Very good customer service (imho).

I think I am more calm than when I instigated my anti satan-dander rant... I still think they're carp tho and wouldn't even recommend them to my ex!

Joe_Bloggs

I like the way I can instantly deposit money into my Halifax Reward ISA from my Halifax reward account. What I don't like is the four working days to pay off the balance of a Halifax Clarity credit card !
Faster payments are a trusted means of payment to many between institutions. It is sad when financial institutions impose archaic delays within their own accounts.
J_B.

Azrael_1701

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

I like the way I can instantly deposit money into my Halifax Reward ISA from my Halifax reward account. What I don't like is the four working days to pay off the balance of a Halifax Clarity credit card !
Faster payments are a trusted means of payment to many between institutions. It is sad when financial institutions impose archaic delays within their own accounts.
J_B.

If you intitiate the payment after 6pm, its 5 working days also

rb10

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

I like the way I can instantly deposit money into my Halifax Reward ISA from my Halifax reward account. What I don't like is the four working days to pay off the balance of a Halifax Clarity credit card !
Faster payments are a trusted means of payment to many between institutions. It is sad when financial institutions impose archaic delays within their own accounts.
J_B.

Do it by direct debit? Then it goes instantly.

With Halifax you can choose minimum payment, full amount, fixed amount or percentage of the balance.