Natwest Black Account versus Black Card

monkeydust_2

Existing natwest private banking customer looking to upgrade to get some of the benefits but bit confused by these two options that seem pretty similar.

I need a higher credit limit for this year (wedding, house purchase) so thinking Black Card would be best and its £250 per year vesus £288 for the Black Account.

The concierge service might be useful but who provides this does anyone know, for example if I wanted a table at the fat duck would they be able to sort it?

Thanks
MD

mclaren32

The Black Card doesn't exist in isolation any longer, it's part of the black account.

rb10

You are only paying for what you perceive to be a 'status symbol'.

Natwest's claimed 'benefits' are:

5 Star Defaqto rated Worldwide multi-trip Travel Insurance
Worldwide Airport Lounge Access
Mobile Phone Insurance for up to four phones
European Car Breakdown Cover
24/7 Black Concierge Service

Open a Halifax Reward account. This'll give you £60 per year, which will pay for a decent worldwide family annual travel insurance policy, including winter sports cover. Or if you mainly go to Europe, Nationwide will give you free European travel insurance.

Mobile phone insurance and car breakdown cover can also be obtained cheaply by shopping around.

The other two are just gimmicks.

Plus, you have to put up with the nightmare of dealing with Natwest.

lolavix

I haven't dealt with concierge myself (don't earn enough) but have been told by customers how great it is, have had a customer who forgot his mum's birthday, rang them and flowers were there within 2 hours - if you call them they'll be happy to tell you what they can and can't do

pacontracting

I have one of the 'old' Black Cards and find the service superb. They have their own dedicated phone line which is answered virtually immediately and the people who answer are always very professional / intelligent. Shame this service is going to Santander!

[Deleted User]

monkeydust wrote: »

I need a higher credit limit for this year ([...]house purchase)

Yeah... you're gonna need quite a limit for that one

jinkster

Currently with Barclays Premier. Concierge service is providedby BP lifestyle management. They are very good and will get you pretty much everything and it's not all about first class everything- even small things! I was looking around for a German number plate surround for my car and they found one for me!

aylithuk

If your on the old 'stand alone' black card rather then the new packaged one, then I'd look at keeping it as it covers existing medical conditions and you can take 5 people on holiday under the travel insurance.

MattF

I have a black account and although NatWest don't know it they're living on borrowed time. I've been actively trying to use the benefits to justify the expense. First off was the mobile phone insurance. Seemed simple to set up but get letter and emails that they're changing the provider of the cover. I haven't made any claim so can't judge it but this messing around is unimpressive. Next up the free credit report. Of course this failed to work online (without disclosing why) so I have to call somewhere or write to someone to get it. Sigh. I want to avoid hassle. That's what I want to pay for. Next the Airport Angel service. Very useful as I make a few flights per year. I register back in August, some initial response but no card ever arrives. I ring up in October, no explanation, they promise to send card out "within 6 to 8 weeks". Anyone in charge of a business which takes 6-8 weeks to send a plastic card to someone clearly needs to be sacked. Nothing happens. I ring again in December. Same story. Nothing happens. I ring again in February. Different story! A possible explanation is provided and my card promised within 2 weeks(!). That was two weeks ago though and no card ....

So basically I'm really underwhelmed with the delivery of these benefits and someone from NW needs to start kicking backsides.

pacontracting

In case anyone still has a 'legacy black card' as they're called (not linked to current account), I was just told by a nice lady at Natwest that the card is still available but not open to new customers.

Mine is due to expire in June and I don't want to move my current account to Natwest so was told it would be renewed as normal.

The only thing they could do to make this card almost perfect is to offer a hotel and /or airline status as part of the package e.g. Hhonors Gold - but then I travel a lot so may not be useful for others.

The insurance is still different to 'black current account' in that still no age limit and no need to advise of pre-existing conditions although you must be medically fit to travel. Nice that it covers 5 additional travellers too who are not family.

A real Amex Platinum competitor in it's current form.

silvercar

5 Star Defaqto rated Worldwide multi-trip Travel Insurance
Worldwide Airport Lounge Access
Mobile Phone Insurance for up to four phones
European Car Breakdown Cover
24/7 Black Concierge Service

I've just had an email to say that travel insurance will no longer include the UK and the excess on mobile phone insurance is increasing from £50 to £75.

That said I can't find anything as good elsewhere.

I've got 4 iphones to insure. I'm not going to get decent iphone insurance at less than £6 a phone.

The travel insurance does include adult children travelling alone or with you until they finish education, so I benefit on that.

I have used the airport lounge at Luton once and twice overseas, though normally fly from Heathrow where I usually access better lounges. No problem getting hold of the Airport Angel card.