Recommendations for an Excellent Online Account Please!

angelavdavis

Hi everyone,

Thought I would ask my buddies at MSE for your advice on a good online account.

In 1996, I opened a mortgage account with (the-then) Virgin One Account which I was really happy with. At the time, I was in a job paying bonuses, etc and I paid an additional £15k off my mortgage the first year.

However in 2002, I had to change job with fixed salary - so pointless being with the same mortgage (I had moved house anyway). I therefore applied for the best rate fixed mortgage I could find.

I kept the One account because I travel a heck of a lot, they were happy for me to continue using them and I appreciate the online access which is absolutely crucial to me. I also liked One for its online account features.

However, I have recently changed job - and salary payment days and with even the best budgeting, suddenly discovered I was unexpectedly overdrawn (got my sums wrong) I immediately transferred some money from my online Alliance and Leicester account to One so £1500 was sitting uncleared in my account.

Nevertheless, One bounced by direct debit payment to Egg (bit annoyed anyway because I had made an additional payment to Egg and should have thought about the dd payment).

I am pretty hacked off by this - they have never bounced anything before (I don't have an overdraft but this has never been a problem) and there was clearly cash in their system when they bounced it - landing me with £29 charge from them and £16 from Egg.

Anyway, I have decided enough is enough and I want to transfer my current account away from One account.

I have an online Halifax account which I have had for donkeys years (handy for paying in cash through cashpoint but otherwise I don't like them). I also have an online Alliance and Leicester a/c. But I do miss the bells and whistles I get on One account, being able to monitor my expenditure by categorising outgoings helps me keep things in check (OK failed once!).

Any recommendations??

Thanks everyone

SparciaM

Online banking that I use is Smile, and the website is great to navigate - one of the best I've used (HSBC, FD, Natwest). It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the One account, but IMO is one of the best online accounts around. Plus you get 3% interest in credit, £500 12 month OD and good rates on savings. Also, they're based in Stockport and are open 24/7 365days a year, so you can speak to anyone whenever you like!

Cypher

First Direct are excellent if you don't mind the £10 charges (easily avoidable by opening a savings account)

I didn't agree with First Direct so recently left and was in the same situation as you looking for a new company.

I did already have a LTSB account but I don't really like them, everything with them is a hassle, "can you go into branch" I have an internet account why would I want to go to branch all the time. So I didn't want to use this account for my main banking.

Initially I picked Nationwide (better interest rates and UK call centres), but I've found them to be an absolute waste of space. I've had problems logging into my online accounts on several occasions, its taken weeks to start to receive things, and their phone service is a nightmare they never answer and just leave you on hold for ages. I have also sent them several secure messages on line which have been ignored So I'm now closing my accounts.


Last Friday I opened a couple of Smile accounts, I already have my online accounts up and running. My Cheque Book, etc arrived today. I've rung them a couple of times and been answered each time very promptly by knowledgable staff. Interest Rates aren't the top rates but on my first impressions I would recommend them.

SparciaM

FD are good if you want to speak to someone on the phone, but their internet banking isn't the best. Their message system is awful and the pay bills section is just confusing. I moved from them to smile as smile was so simple and easy to use!

kerrs69

check cahoot out been with them 3 years cant fault them easy website for setting up dd or standing orders charges minimal.http://cahoot.com

Kerrs

Gambler

kerrs69 wrote:

check cahoot out been with them 3 years cant fault them easy website for setting up dd or standing orders charges minimal.http://cahoot.com

Kerrs

Looking to move from them as they don't offer a statement download facility.

conar686

Just tried to open an account with Smile online & was rejected - referred to experian.

Obviously not as enlightened as most high st banks as they accept you even if you have a poor credit rating (don't have credit cards) providing you are not bankrupt nor a fraudster.

MAC

angelavdavis

Thanks for this everyone - will check Smile, Cahoot and FD this week to compare.