Metro bank - new customer review

dezza

One thing they don't seem to be able to do is to process bill payments via giro credit slips. I took one into a branch (to pay off a Halifax credit card) and was told that they can't do giro credit payments to any company. This is the only bank I've used that can't do it.

Metro's an alright bank, benefits being the extended opening hours, free overseas use and very friendly staff. However everything else is either average or lacking, such as the speed of faster payments and frequently poor internet banking. On several occasions it has also taken quite a bit of time to clear a queue in branch of two people - and much to my annoyance on one occasion, I had to wait as the person in front of me had to go and put some money on the meter - and the cashier couldn't serve me as his details were still on the cashier's screen. He was gone for almost ten minutes and I feel this really isnt acceptable, especially just to pay in a cheque.

blackrat779

Just timed a fast payment from Nat West to MB for £2000 took just over an hour, I think this is ok (11:10 to 12:15)

Bought something with my MB card in Boots, took 3 days to show up on line. Bought some roses yesterday midday (no horse in them) for VD, for she who must be obeyed at Tesco. Hasn't shown up yet.

This may well be batch processing by the shops or Mastercard rather than MB.

A cheque paid into Nat West yesterday cleared today, not bad.

My point is, it's not all doom and gloom, some people have had bad experiences, sure, but for me so far so good.

Cheers
Blackrat

John_Pierpoint

dezza wrote: »

One thing they don't seem to be able to do is to process bill payments via giro credit slips. I took one into a branch (to pay off a Halifax credit card) and was told that they can't do giro credit payments to any company. This is the only bank I've used that can't do it.

I had the same problem with a branch of Alliance and Leicester (Then owned by Santander but not yet re-branded) about 4 years ago. There were threats of a postal strike at the time, so I did not want to post a cheque.

[Deleted User]

I've got to say, I had to phone Metro's call centre today, and like FD, there was no "now press this or that", I was through to someone in about 10 seconds.

System

Non-clearing banks and building societies (current & former) often won't process paper based Bank Giro Credit payments.

Most of these payees will accept Faster Payments or BACS so not really a major issue.

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

I had the same problem with a branch of Alliance and Leicester (Then owned by Santander but not yet re-branded) about 4 years ago. There were threats of a postal strike at the time, so I did not want to post a cheque.

benjus

billbennett wrote: »

I've got to say, I had to phone Metro's call centre today, and like FD, there was no "now press this or that", I was through to someone in about 10 seconds.

This is true, and a plus point. However, the quality of customer service agent you get through to with MB doesn't seem to be on a par with FD.

blackrat779

blackrat779 wrote: »

Bought something with my MB card in Boots, took 3 days to show up on line. Bought some roses yesterday midday (no horse in them) for VD, for she who must be obeyed at Tesco. Hasn't shown up yet.

This may well be batch processing by the shops or Mastercard rather than MB.

I have been monitoring how long things generally take with Metro Bank to try and clarify what is being said on this thread for people thinking about getting an account with them.

It seems fairly uniform on my account with cash withdrawals from ATMs showing up the same day but purchases typically taking 2 banking days (when viewed online).

Not sure whether this is any slower than any other bank and may be down to retailers. I think my Nat West account is quicker than this but I will have to check. It seems to me that if you make a lot of purchases that this could lead to you believing you have more money in your account than you do and going overdrawn.

Blackrat

System

benjus wrote: »

This is true, and a plus point. However, the quality of customer service agent you get through to with MB doesn't seem to be on a par with FD.

No it is absolutely not. Often you think you've got through to the 'bank' but are actually talking to an overflow call centre where operatives email the 'bank' about your problem.

What did it for me was when the operative dismissed my complaint about my debit card being rejected on a US shopping site saying I needed to have a US $ account to buy from a US web site.

Those of you follwing the threads on here will know that I was a fervent admirer of Metro Bank and now I wouldn't recommend them to anybody. Bunch of amateurs.

richardmk

It would be good if Vernon Hill or Craig Donaldson perhaps could contribute to the thread and tell those of us who are having such a terrible experience what they are going to do learn and get things right

Hazzanet

Would be nice...