Why wont people use their local Building Society when they can get a full account?

notts_phil

I dont know why people wont use thier local building societies complain they cant get a proper current account and so either end up just using a paid for account or dont bother with one.

I know a lot of the smaller ones dont offer cards/direct debits, but what is what with having a passbook

If you have had problems managing your money in the past then surely this is a good way to control your spending?

I think people dont think enough of what options are open to them

Casati

Well that would depend on whether you actually HAVE a local building society, unfortunately I no longer do and I'm sure I'm not alone. A lot of people were most upset when the last building society left town.

seven-day-weekend

I live on the edge of a city centre and we don't have a 'local' BS. Our nearest is Nationwide in the City Centre.

I agree with you about the budgeting though. If you can't handle an overdraf or debit cards, don't have the facility.

olly300

My "local" building society is the Nationwide who have swallowed up a large number of smaller mutuals. A lot they swallowed up to stop them going bust.

You also need to remember the Halifax swallowed up a few in it's time before it became a bank.

Also building societies have much stricter criteria in who they open current accounts to and are also trying to discourage people from using the counter service.

rb10

For a current account, a basic bank account (as opposed to a full current account) is more convenient for most people than a passbook-based account, whether that's at a bank or a building society.

callum9999

rb10 wrote: »

For a current account, a basic bank account (as opposed to a full current account) is more convenient for most people than a passbook-based account, whether that's at a bank or a building society.

I agree - I'd hate to have a passbook account, it would be like being 10 again!

innovate

callum9999 wrote: »

it would be like being 10 again!

oooooh lovely - being 10 again, and having all the money and experience you have now ............ the possibilities would be endless! :cool::cool::cool::cool:

Not sure where / how a Building Society account would figure in it though

lollipopsarah

I used to have a great relationship with Alliance and Leicester until they closed our branch and then became girobank, which is ok if you have a local post office to pay into. We also used to have a joint account with N & P but they closed as well and to make a payment meant a half hour car journey to another branch, so needles to say we had to go elsewhere.
x

notts_phil

I think my point us when people get rejected for you everyday card account.

They just don't consider the free alternatives.

Ok a passbook account might not give you 24/7 access but most will let you pay your wages and pay bills.

I am not talking about the big names but smaller local ones such as the nottingham/principaliry/cumberland

EarthBoy

notts_phil wrote: »

Ok a passbook account might not give you 24/7 access but most will let you pay your wages and pay bills.

If you work 9 to 5 then you can only get your money on Saturday mornings. This is extremely inflexible and highly inconvenient for the majority of people in the 21st century.

callum9999

innovate wrote: »

oooooh lovely - being 10 again, and having all the money and experience you have now ............ the possibilities would be endless! :cool::cool::cool::cool:

Not sure where / how a Building Society account would figure in it though

I meant like being 10 money-wise. I.e. no internet ordering, no cashpoints, no using cards in shops etc. If you ever want money you have to walk into town with your book and queue up for it.