Norwich & Peterborough Application

aldredd

Hi,

I'm shortly going to be spending quite a bit of time working overseas, so am looking for a Current Account where I can withdraw money & make payments without incurring huge fees (which is a lesson I learnt last time using my Natwest debit card!)

Norwich & Peterborough seem to be the only company I can sign up with who have a zero charge.

Has anyone got any experience applying for their current accounts?

I do have 1 three-or-four-year-old default against one of my credit profiles, but otherwise everything is in shape, though may be a bit high on the number of credit searches in recent months.
Would I still be in with a shot of getting this account? I have a pretty high salary, I'm on the electoral register, I don't need an overdraft (have one with my existing bank), so as far as having a current account, I think I'm pretty low risk!

Thanks for any help / advice!

Mikhail

There is absolutely no way to find out, even through logical thinking, my application was declined by them and very happily accepted by First Direct (even with overdraft facility) I'm not on the electoral roll and not a EU national, no bad credit history what so ever, but only 7 years in the UK. Try. Good luck!

aldredd

Well I applied, and got told to day that my application was 'on hold', which they tell me means I've been accepted in principle, pending me signing their paperwork, so all good!

Sounds like they're a decent bank / BS to deal with - not decided if I'm going to use them as my primary bank yet, I will probably keep my D/D's etc with my existing bank, though may move one or two of the larger, regular ones to them to keep the £500p/m requirement in check.
From what I've read, they're not part of the Faster Payments scheme, which is a shame, but I can live with that!

baby_frogmella

I'm with N&P and I think of them as the new first direct. Customer service as good as FD but with free overseas cash withdrawals, free sentinel gold card protection (great for peace of mind) and the most user friendly Internet banking I've used to date...IMHO better than Nationwide's, HSBC & FD. Of course N&P aren't perfect eg no faster payments, limited branches etc but IMHO they're great for day to day banking!

SaveTheEuro

baby_frogmella wrote: »

I'm with N&P and I think of them as the new first direct. Customer service as good as FD but with free overseas cash withdrawals, free sentinel gold card protection (great for peace of mind) and the most user friendly Internet banking I've used to date...IMHO better than Nationwide's, HSBC & FD. Of course N&P aren't perfect eg no faster payments, limited branches etc but IMHO they're great for day to day banking!

Is there any catch with the free Sentinel protection? Any charges after the first year or pressure to upgrade etc?

baby_frogmella

SaveTheEuro wrote: »

Is there any catch with the free Sentinel protection? Any charges after the first year or pressure to upgrade etc?

Nup, zero charges for sentinel as long as your N&P gold current account remains open and not had any sales spam from n&p or sentinel

SaveTheEuro

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Nup, zero charges for sentinel as long as your N&P gold current account remains open and not had any sales spam from n&p or sentinel

Good to know. Thanks.

adindas

Comparing N&P with First Direct in customer service is absolutely rubbish.

I have used both banks so I can tell the difference based on my own experience. If you have a problem and try to call N&P, it takes you ages to get though. It happens to me in a lot of occasions.

The one behind the telephone do not know what s/he is doing they have to refer you to other people cost your minutes again ......

They are in the process of taken over by Yorkshire Bank ..

How come the people compare N&P with First Direct ????
It is about comparing Heaven and Earth ...

baby_frogmella wrote: »

I'm with N&P and I think of them as the new first direct. Customer service as good as FD but with free overseas cash withdrawals, free sentinel gold card protection (great for peace of mind) and the most user friendly Internet banking I've used to date...IMHO better than Nationwide's, HSBC & FD. Of course N&P aren't perfect eg no faster payments, limited branches etc but IMHO they're great for day to day banking!

adindas

If you are traveling to London, then try Metro Bank. It is straight forward and easy ..

You will get your Debit Card straight away ...

Alternatively, if you are living in North West area, try "Cumberland" Building Society ...

Another alternative is Santander Zero A/C if you qualify ...

aldredd wrote: »

Hi,

I'm shortly going to be spending quite a bit of time working overseas, so am looking for a Current Account where I can withdraw money & make payments without incurring huge fees (which is a lesson I learnt last time using my Natwest debit card!)

Norwich & Peterborough seem to be the only company I can sign up with who have a zero charge.

Has anyone got any experience applying for their current accounts?

I do have 1 three-or-four-year-old default against one of my credit profiles, but otherwise everything is in shape, though may be a bit high on the number of credit searches in recent months.
Would I still be in with a shot of getting this account? I have a pretty high salary, I'm on the electoral register, I don't need an overdraft (have one with my existing bank), so as far as having a current account, I think I'm pretty low risk!

Thanks for any help / advice!

callum9999

adindas wrote: »

Comparing N&P with First Direct in customer service is absolutely rubbish.

I have used both banks so I can tell the difference based on my own experience. If you have a problem and try to call N&P, it takes you ages to get though. It happens to me in a lot of occasions.

The one behind the telephone do not know what s/he is doing they have to refer you to other people cost your minutes again ......

They are in the process of taken over by Yorkshire Bank ..

How come the people compare N&P with First Direct ????
It is about comparing Heaven and Earth ...

Thinking your personal experience with banks (or indeed any major company) are representative of their service to everyone is the only "absolutely rubbish" thing here.

When I call them, I speak to someone within a couple of minutes at most and they've always helped. They even called me on an Australian mobile at my request - how many banks would ever do that?

adindas

HSBC do that, ...
They called me while I was in Poland so what ...
I fully believe First Direct will do that as well ......

Nowadays, making an international phone call could be cheaper than making a phone call to someone in the UK, so what is so special about that ....

I am commenting about comparing N&P and first direct ...

We could start by investigating various threads in this forum, I have read many people have provided compliments to First Direct Services.

Apart from this thread, I have not seen enough people do this to N&P (if any) ??

How come N&P is comparable to first direct ... ???

I am also suggesting the initiator of this thread, aldredd to apply for Metro Bank rather than to N&P as N&P is notoriously known to decline people application, although in possession of an excellent credit record. These things have been reported in a lot of threads in this forum. In the meanwhile people apply for a current a/c in Metro Bank get approved in the same day, ..

callum9999 wrote: »

Thinking your personal experience with banks (or indeed any major company) are representative of their service to everyone is the only "absolutely rubbish" thing here.

When I call them, I speak to someone within a couple of minutes at most and they've always helped. They even called me on an Australian mobile at my request - how many banks would ever do that?