Sticking with Natwest?

pmduk

£talk wrote: »

I can't wait for a mass exodus from NW, it'll free up more customer service and cashiers for me!

Unfortunately that doesn't follow. A reduction in customers in branches would rapidly lead to a further reduction in branch staff. Branches (cashiers in particular) are the most expensive way for the bank to operate.

Gentoo365

The thing is, people don't really care about customer service as much as you think. Nor about 'ethical banks'

For evidence witness the fact that both Santander and First Direct offer people money to switch to them.

If customer service really mattered then Santander would have to improve it's own standing in the 'customer service' surveys and First Direct would not have to offer cash to open an account.

EDIT -

Oh, and when the whole 'bank ethics' issue was raised. You would expect that banks such as Co-op would gain loads of customers and be praised for their more ethical stance.

Instead people stuck with the big banks and nothing really changed.

TheBanker

I don't work for NatWest, but I've banked with them since I was a kid (when they were National Westminster Bank and gave out piggybanks!). This week has been annoying and what happened should never have happened. But when it did I think they've done as much as they can to help people, opening branches in the evenings and over the weekend.

Would whichever bank you're thinking of moving to have been able to organise that? I think most would struggle at such short notice.

epm-84

Just remember RBS Group including Natwest will likely solve the problem and see that it never happens again.

Other banks like Halifax and Santander have had smaller problems with their online banking system and refused to admit to customers that there has been a problem and forced customers to go through lengthy security checks because of their errors.

pmduk

I've just had to call them with an unrelated query. My call was answered immediately by someone in the UK. Many banks don't achieve this as normal service! It's reinforced my instinct to stay with them.

nlper678

epm-84 wrote: »

Just remember RBS Group including Natwest will likely solve the problem and see that it never happens again.

Other banks like Halifax and Santander have had smaller problems with their online banking system and refused to admit to customers that there has been a problem and forced customers to go through lengthy security checks because of their errors.

I am with thinkbanking (managed by RBS) online and this is the 4th time that my State Pension has not been paid in on time due to RBS "technical difficulties" or "updating software" should be paid every saturday and has been been held til Monday previously but never this late. Because Thinkbanking accepts low credit reference check many of it's customers are people who cannot get a normal bank account (Iam a discharged bankrupt) and have tight financial constraints without this nonsense.

epm-84

nlper678 wrote: »

I am with thinkbanking (managed by RBS) online and this is the 4th time that my State Pension has not been paid in on time due to RBS "technical difficulties" or "updating software" should be paid every saturday and has been been held til Monday previously but never this late.

Are you sure that each time it's been RBS' fault and that the money isn't in your account?

When I've had missing payments in before I've usually found that the payee is the culprit not the bank and not being able to login to online banking doesn't mean the money isn't there and available to spend.

lovepepper2012

I'm going to stay with NatWest... for now.

When I got myself into a financial mess nearly 10 years ago now (and I blame nobody but myself for my own stupidity!) NatWest were the only bank after a couple of years of a basic bank account who gave me a Switch Maestro card and a chequebook.

I've only had a couple of issues with them where they've taken a Direct Debit out earlier than I anticipated (again, it's my fault, I should be more organised!) they've generally been a 'good' bank all-round.

I have a 'review' on Monday with my local branch to go through the closure of some accounts that I hold with them, but no longer use.
If for whatever reason it leads to them trying to sell my their paid for current accounts/loans/credit cards then I'll reconsider.

michaelvintner

Never had any problrms with them before and no one will give me an overdraft at the same limit Natwest have given me.

It was a computer problem and it could happen to any bank. Hopefully Natwest will learn from this to ensure that they minimise the risk of it ever happening again.

I had a direct debit paid on Thursday even though I was in my agreed overdraft and my wages were showing on my account on Monday. From what I can work out my balance is about right.

They have opened branches earlier, closed them later and even opened on a sunday.

Gra76

I've been with Natwest for 20+ years and this is the first time I've ever had any problems with them.

Luckily I'd built up a decent sized 'rainy day fund' so it really hasn't affected me at all, other than my 'rainy day fund' was reduced down further than it usually is because it took a while for my wages to appear (and my balance still looks lower than it should but I'm giving it a few days to sort itself out).

I'm going nowhere. They've always been very good with me for all the years I've been a customer.