Best bank for customer sevice?

topher_2

I can recommend Smile, if you're happy with an internt bank - however you can phone them (Calls answered in Manchester) and you can use Co-op branches for paying in etc

kenshaz

CopperPlate wrote: »

RBS are good. Despite their size they do offer good customer service. That said I moved from them due to excessive queuing at the local branch. 8 teller positions available yet only 3 were staffed. The place was crawling with staff yet could they be bothered with something as irritating as a customer? Anyway, RBS is a good alternative.

fd is not as competitive as say, A&L with interest rates, but I'd gladly sacrifice the £20 quid or so a year in lost interest if it meant I didn't have to keep phoning back the bank to sort out the most minor of issues as I had to do with A&L - then just gave up!

Head-office would be interested in your experience at your local branch,I am sure that some-one would be in trouble ,cruel ,because the manager would be moved ,they shift staff around.
They will move mountains for customer service and they can be flexible.

vwman_3

James21 wrote: »

Halifax isnt a bank

Is it not........

kenshaz

Would not even consider Halifax,no direct contact with branch ,so if you have a problem ,you have to speak to call centre on a non -geographical number, they are not very flexible and treat you like a number not an individual,they are also usually over the top on procedures.

Milarky

First Direct - everyone else have their own good points and their weaknesses, but First Direct scores for always having a person to talk to after no more than 2 rings

regularsaver1

James21 wrote: »

Halifax isnt a bank

Remember that when you say you have had bad experiences with Natwest, you wil find branches up and down the country vary drastically in customer service, in the greater manchester area(where i live) i know many natwests that are great when you walk in you are welcomed etc and others they just dont give a rats !!!!, you wil get that with any bank or building society i think it depends at the branch you regularly visit and the staff that work there.:cool:

Halifax are a bank. they may not be a clearing bank, but they are a bank.

they have not been a building socierty for years. they are a plc. They are Halifax plc, within HBOS plc

regularsaver1

kenshaz wrote: »

Would not even consider Halifax,no direct contact with branch ,so if you have a problem ,you have to speak to call centre on a non -geographical number, they are not very flexible and treat you like a number not an individual,they are also usually over the top on procedures.

kenshaz - they are rolling out direct contact to the branches, and also as pointed out to you also offer same mortgage products to new and existing customers - something you did not know about

Saying that we all have opinions, - I would never use RBS - simply because of the Natwest bit

gorgirl

Hmm - let me think! I've had a Natwest account for about 16 years and I also opened a student account with them. When I graduated they started charging interest on my so-called interest free overdraft until I went into the bank with my degree certificate. I've also has really bad experiences with their telephone banking and don't get me started on their credit card! I really would like to completely cut my losses and move everything to another bank. I must admit I'm not too keen on RBS either as they're the same company.

I think I might have a look at first direct though it does worry me not being able to go into a branch.

Rumbels

I switched to First Direct a year ago and they are great. The thing I like most (apart from text msg banking) is that when you call them up you don't have to go through ten minutes of menus and recorded messages etc, but actually get to speak to a human being from the UK, who can actually do everything and help you.

How novel is that!

:rotfl:

CopperPlate_2

regularsaver1 wrote: »

Halifax are a bank. they may not be a clearing bank, but they are a bank.

they have not been a building socierty for years. they are a plc. They are Halifax plc, within HBOS plc

1997 from memory. Didn't get a windfall either as my balance dipped under the £100 for about a day!!!!! despite being a 'member' for about 5 years before that. Poor student days you see... Anyway, I digress - not that I'm bitter or anything...ten years on