Metro bank - new customer review

pmduk

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

The only time I have had a similar problem was when my son's school organised a school-trip/holiday. The travel company went phut on the Friday with the departure scheduled for 07:00 the following morning. Fortunately the foreign hotel had its ear to the ground and telephoned the coach company, who contacted the school, who activated their contact tree, so the parents could to tell the kids, when they woke up they were going nowhere.

I'm not sure a travel industry problem can be equated with the FSCS. Similarly the Icelandic bank problems were down to the fact that the compensation was only guaranteed by an overseas scheme.

I appreciate your comment was meant to be ironic, but in these uncertain times, such comments can precipitate the very problems.

John_Pierpoint

That is true of any bank, if more than about one in 8 want their money out at the same time the bank will go phut.

Suggest that the managing director comes on here and explains to the long standing customer scgf why some parties are refusing to accept his plastic money.
Is it c0ck-up or is it conspiracy?

pmduk

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

That is true of any bank, if more than about one in 8 want their money out at the same time the bank will go phut.

I accept this. Hence my comment about the comment being irresponsible, it would be equally irresponsible to suggest this about any bank. Remember the queues outside Northern Rock?

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Suggest that the managing director comes on here and explains to the long standing customer scgf why some parties are refusing to accept his plastic money.
Is it c0ck-up or is it conspiracy?

The problem is far more likely to be that some retailers haven't updated their systems to recognise Metro Bank cards. Remember how many people had problem with Co-op debit cards, when they changed badges (ie electron to visa debit)?

Similarly, I've always understood Visa to be more readily accepted in the US than Mastercard.

I've absolutely no brief for Metro, I don't have, nor want an account with them, but try to be fair.

reclusive46

pmduk wrote: »

I accept this. Hence my comment about the comment being irresponsible, it would be equally irresponsible to suggest this about any bank. Remember the queues outside Northern Rock?



The problem is far more likely to be that some retailers haven't updated their systems to recognise Metro Bank cards. Remember how many people had problem with Co-op debit cards, when they changed badges (ie electron to visa debit)?

Similarly, I've always understood Visa to be more readily accepted in the US than Mastercard.

I've absolutely no brief for Metro, I don't have, nor want an account with them, but try to be fair.

In the US (Similar to the UK) Visa and MasterCard is accepted at the exact same places. (No acquirers allow just Visa or Just MC to be accepted on its own, they only allow a merchant to accept American Express Only (As a merchant can go direct through them).

Hazzanet

Ironically, the only place I found where I had a Visa refused and a MasterCard accepted is at the Tim Hortons chain in Canada, both in Montreal city centre and Montreal Airport. Bizarre.

john10001

I first heard of Metro bank listening to LBC on my TuneIn Radio App (I don't live in London). The bloke who phoned in, at the time of the Libor banking scandal said he had just opened an account with them and gave them glowing praise.

Said he went in and he had an account opened extemely quickly and he cards were available there and then because they have their own card making machines.

He also praised the coin machines in their branches because you can just dump coins into them and your not charged 7% like in Supermarkets.

On the other hand I have heard a lot of problems like the OP has had, teething problems? Issues with payments being a bit slow and ATM issues as well.

Will be interesting to see if they can live up to expectation and promise of being fresh apprach and better customer service, or whether they will just be like all the other banks.

John

John_Pierpoint

The American chairman and financial promoter Bernard Hill gets an opportunity to comment on progress to date.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p013yq6b

[Unfortunately his accent kept me thinking I was listening to Donald Trump trying to build a Scottish golf resort]

System

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

The American chairman and financial promoter Bernard Hill gets an opportunity to comment on progress to date.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p013yq6b

[Unfortunately his accent kept me thinking I was listening to Donald Trump trying to build a Scottish golf resort]

Was so tempted to contact the programme as an ex-fan to tell them what went wrong . . . trouble is I was listening to the podcast :-(

NManthey

My experience of Metro Bank has been very positive. I opened my account in the Reading branch on 31 Dec 2012. The whole process took about an hour.

They issued the cards and pins there and then. They made sure I could log into the internet banking site.

Used their switching service so far no complaints. I get a weekly call from the Switching Team to let me know how the transfer of my Direct Debits and Standing Orders are going. They have contacted my payroll department to tell me them to payment my salary into my new account. I have checked with payroll and all looks good.

I get paid on the 31st and the DD’s go out on the 1st so will really see how good the switching service is.

Their internet banking site could be better but am sure with time it will be. Currently bank with Lloyds TSB and their internet banking site is very good.

pmduk

NManthey wrote: »

I get paid on the 31st and the DD’s go out on the 1st so will really see how good the switching service is.

Whoever you bank with, it's probably a good idea to leave more of a gap between receiving salary and paying DDs. It can help to avoid problems if there's a delay with your pay.