Co-Op bank - £200 if you switch to them

Mymymy

I'm glad to find out I'm not the only one having problems with this. I have now phoned them 3 times and been told it'll be deposited in my account twice and it still hasn't turned up.
They claimed my January deposits were showing up as February on their system which is why it hadn't been automatically done. Unimpressed.

Voyager2002

Mymymy wrote: »

I'm glad to find out I'm not the only one having problems with this. I have now phoned them 3 times and been told it'll be deposited in my account twice and it still hasn't turned up.
They claimed my January deposits were showing up as February on their system which is why it hadn't been automatically done. Unimpressed.

My experience was the opposite.

I opened an account with them purely and simply for this bonus. I did everything correctly, but there were some problems switching my direct debits (not their fault, something to do with Nationwide) so there was quite a delay in starting my qualifying period.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I had a feeling that I had probably completed the qualifying period, so I rang up to ask when I could expect the money. The woman who answered checked; sounded a bit puzzled; and told me that the money had gone in the previous day! I had not logged on for the last two days and so had not noticed. So personally I am very happy with them.

jakesuk

My incentive was paid promptly and I didn't have to chase. I have no arguments with the customer service but the internet banking is pathetic. I will be closing my account...shame!

Voyager2002

jakesuk wrote: »

My incentive was paid promptly and I didn't have to chase. I have no arguments with the customer service but the internet banking is pathetic. I will be closing my account...shame!

Take a look at Smile: the internet branch of Co-op. I have used them (along with other bank accounts) for about 12 years and on the whole I am very happy with them.

Mymymy

Finally got my bonus today - almost chocked on my lunch I was that surprised!

jakesuk wrote: »

the internet banking is pathetic. I will be closing my account...shame!

What issues have you had with it?
I must admit it's fairly basic but no massive annoyances - apart from not being able to cancel direct debits actually now that I think about it. Just tells me to phone them whenever I've tried.

My main reason (apart from the £200 carrot) for finally switching my account after 2 decades of irritation with the RBS was that I wanted a more ethical bank which I had always thought the co-op was meant to be. However after having looked at the scores linked to from the ISAs page on this site I've found out they're no better than any of the other big banks really so I think I'll be taking my business elsewhere anyway.

jonmcclelland

Mymymy wrote: »

My main reason (apart from the £200 carrot) for finally switching my account after 2 decades of irritation with the RBS was that I wanted a more ethical bank which I had always thought the co-op was meant to be. However after having looked at the scores linked to from the ISAs page on this site I've found out they're no better than any of the other big banks really so I think I'll be taking my business elsewhere anyway.

"The Co-operative Bank is part of the Co-operative Group which - as a supermarket - is involved in the retail of factory farmed meat, the retail of tobacco and other activities attracting civil society criticism. This is why the Co-operative Group has a lower ethiscore of 7/20."
- http://www.!!!!!!.uk/where-can-i-move-my-money-to

jakesuk

Mymymy wrote: »

What issues have you had with it?
I must admit it's fairly basic but no massive annoyances - apart from not being able to cancel direct debits actually now that I think about it. Just tells me to phone them whenever I've tried.
.

1) Can't cancel direct debits (as you say)
2) Interface is lousy
3) Payments in/out never appear straight away. Doesn't show an available balance.
4) Not keen on the login process. This is just personal preference but I prefer logging into Halifax/Santander/Barclays. Yes, even Santander.

The Co-op internet banking just doesn't have any endearing features. It's a shame because I also like the thought of banking with an ethical bank but I can't put up with the utter displeasure of banking online with them.

Dr_Cuckoo3

I can cancel almost all my direct debits using online banking and the facility to cancel direct debits upto 8 pm on the date they appear on statements is one of the main reasons I use COOP Bank and I use COOP Bank for all direct debits that I am likely to cancel - the funds are re-credited to the account within 5 minutes

In that respect I have more experience of direct debits at COOP Bank than others on this thread and most people do not set up and cancel direct debits regularly (I do)

The type of direct debits that are difficult to cancel are recently set up direct debits and financial product direct debits in my experience

Bear in mind that Metro Bank do not have the facility to cancel ANY direct debits via internet banking , therefore CO-OP Bank beats Metro Bank

Co-op internet banking is better than Metro Bank , Clydesdale / Yorkshire Bank and the Northern Irish banks , but not as good as the main banks

Payments take about 5 - 10 minutes to appear during the day and are much quicker than Metro Bank who take an hour to both send and receive payments

Co-op Bank is as quick as the other main banks for outgoing payments

Co-op Bank has the highest faster payment limit of any UK bank (£100,000 compared to £10,000 at HSBC , Barclays , RBS/NatWest/Ulster and £25,000 at LloydsTSB/Halifax/BOS)

Cash paid in at Post Offices appears in the account immediately

As far as the bank's ethical policy is concerned - I see the bank more as a northern English bank and don't think it's staff are knowledgeable on this subject , when I opened my account over 20 years ago it was likely that a customer of the bank will have chosen the bank for it's "ethical policy" - but this has been watered down over the last few years
The Cashminder account has contributed to this

Nine_Lives

In which month did you receive your bonus?

I'm now in my 5th month with no bonus paid.

cptncanary

K_P83 wrote: »

In which month did you receive your bonus?

I'm now in my 5th month with no bonus paid.

You need to call them and ask them for a specific date when you should receive it.