Natwest Step current account v Lloyds classic vantage

Deep_In_Debt

cbassno3 wrote: »

Yeah the step account is a basic bank account but it's classed as a current account. It's also credit checked too so who knows they may report to cra to produce an internal score and general behaviour?

I'm surprised the Step account is credit checked. I'm on a dmp and my credit rating is shot to pieces and I got one with no problems.

They've even offered to upgrade me to a current plus account no overdraft which is fine by me as I don't want or need one but they did give me a £20 "buffer".

RuthnJasper

I don't have any experience of Lloyds - I'd been with what's now HBOS since 1986 (school account - mum opened it for me as they were giving away free PE bags !!). But when I got my IVA back in 2007, I switched to a Natwest STEP account.

I looked around for my new account and, for me, it came down to Barclays or NatWest (I live in a small rural town, choice is limited if one needs a physical local branch). Barclays were openly rude to me and so I went to NatWest, even though they weren't uppermost in my list of choices.

Basically, NatWest could not have been more helpful. I was open and honest at all times about my finances. They were civil and understanding, whilst being realistic about my options. To date, I have only experienced two problems with them (one major, one minor), both of which they dealt with speedily and satisfactorily. I use their online banking extensively without any problems and am assured that, once I have cleared my IVA next year, they will be happy for me to upgrade my account to include (if needed) a cheque-book and overdraft facility.

Others may have had differing experiences with NatWest - but I am very happy with the service I've received from them over the past four years and intend (all being well) to remain with them once I'm IVA-free.

Whatever you ultimately decide Cbassno3, I wish you lots of luck. xx

RuthnJasper

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

I'm surprised the Step account is credit checked. I'm on a dmp and my credit rating is shot to pieces and I got one with no problems.

They've even offered to upgrade me to a current plus account no overdraft which is fine by me as I don't want or need one but they did give me a £20 "buffer".

Me too DiD. I don't think they looked for a Credit Check on me. I told them I had an IVA and the reasons behind it, and they were happy to accept me on a no-overdraft-basis initially.

Keep smiling! x

Deep_In_Debt

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Me too DiD. I don't think they looked for a Credit Check on me. I told them I had an IVA and the reasons behind it, and they were happy to accept me on a no-overdraft-basis initially.

Keep smiling! x

They can't have credit checked me...I've seen my credit files and they're not pleasant viewing! :eek:

They keep trying to offer me an overdraft but as I'm on a dmp I can't have one and don't want one now anyway as I've lived without one for the past 3 years so can do without it now - £20 buffer is nice though.

Love my little Natwest account.

RuthnJasper

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

They can't have credit checked me...I've seen my credit files and they're not pleasant viewing! :eek:

They keep trying to offer me an overdraft but as I'm on a dmp I can't have one and don't want one now anyway as I've lived without one for the past 3 years so can do without it now - £20 buffer is nice though.

Love my little Natwest account.

Hehehe... me too. NW STEP is just right for me. My credit file is more scary than a Stephen King/Edgar Allen Poe novel! Bit like "Saw III", only with more gore... :rotfl::D
xx

Deep_In_Debt

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Hehehe... me too. NW STEP is just right for me. My credit file is more scary than a Stephen King/Edgar Allen Poe novel! Bit like "Saw III", only with more gore... :rotfl::D
xx

:rotfl:

Bloomin' heck! Run for the hills... :rotfl:

coolesticeking

The only downside to a Lloyds TSB Classic account vs. NatWest Step account is the Debit Card.

You get the Offline Debit Card (Green) with Lloyds TSB where as with NatWest you will get the (Blue) Full-Auth Debit Card instead.

Not a problem I guess if you don't use Pay@Pumps, Trains, Airplanes or have access to a Credit Card for these uses.

cbassno3

coolesticeking wrote: »

The only downside to a Lloyds TSB Classic account vs. NatWest Step account is the Debit Card.

You get the Offline Debit Card (Green) with Lloyds TSB where as with NatWest you will get the (Blue) Full-Auth Debit Card instead.

Not a problem I guess if you don't use Pay@Pumps, Trains, Airplanes or have access to a Credit Card for these uses.

Is it better to have a Full-auth card or an offline card?

Twister84

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

£20 buffer is nice though.

Do you mean the buffer zone with Natwest before you start getting the daily charges?

If so, then it's £10.

coolesticeking

cbassno3 wrote: »

Is it better to have a Full-auth card or an offline card?

Offline is the better of the two, all it means though is you have a Step Account with NatWest then you won't be able to pay with your Visa Debit card at Pay@Pumps, Trains, or on Airplanes. Reason being it called a Full-Auth card is each time you attempt to pay for anything with your card, it has to check to ensure the funds are available and Pay@Pumps, Trains cannot check in realtime due to not having an active connection to the banks.

If you have a Classic account or above with Lloyds TSB and have the green Visa Debit card then you have the Offline type of card.