Advice on opening a new account

PMBrady85

I currently have my account of HSBC but I am sick of them for a number of reasons, the security keypad things that never works. The unhelpfullness from them when you ring up and more.

My account is currently in credit but by payday I will probably be about 900 overdrawn. Is it possible to switch accounts while in this situation?

My alternative is to open a new account and have my wages paid into that then each pay day transfer enough money to cover all my bills and pay a little of my overdraft off but I am worried that HSBC will reduce my overdraft as there will be less money going in each month.

ideally I want an account where I can easily check my balance and statement on-line or via my iPhone or android.

I see Halifax and First direct are offering £100 at the moment.

What would you recomposed?

Thanks

abaxas

Aint FD also HSBC?

amiehall

Not a new bank suggestion but just checking you've found HSBC's app as it was only recently released for Android. There's no need to use secure key to access it. It took a while for me to set up but once it's done, it seems to work well.

dixon-bainbridge

PMBrady85 wrote: »

ideally I want an account where I can easily check my balance and statement on-line or via my iPhone or android.

The majority of high street banks have some sort of internet banking

PMBrady85 wrote: »

see Halifax and First direct are offering £100 at the moment.

I have had both FD and Halifax accounts have had no problems with either. You do realise FD is part of the HSBC group though?

Also, the Halifax comes with very steep overdraft charges so you may want to think carefully about that one if you are regularly overdrawn.

FD comes with a £250 interest free overdraft buffer and CO-OP with £200, if that's any help?

zerog

Being overdrawn does not affect switching. However your new bank may give you a smaller (or no) overdraft. If you don't want to keep the HSBC account open, then you'll need to pay it back to HSBC.

AdamJK_2

If you are regularly exceeding £300 in overdraft each month then Halifax isn't for you - they'll sting you with the £1 a day overdraft fee.

If it's below £300pcm then consider their URCA account. Comes with mobile phone cover, AA cover, Home Emergency cover , worldwide travel ins for you, partner and kids, Sentinel card protection and that nice £300 fee free overdraft for £10pcm. One of the best fee accounts in my opinion (providing you don't go more than £300 overdrawn, then it turns into the account from hell!)

PMBrady85

I didn't know about the HSBC android app, thanks a lot.

I forgot to say HSBC are quite good with the overdraft thats why I didn't want to just switch