Barclays account upgrade from Basic

alastairq

and have had to get into the city to put money into my account as I did not have the 48 hours plus that it takes to transfer money from PO to the bank and that ime and that of others varies and can take days anyway and is not always just 48 hours.

For me, it would be useful to have a branch near me of my bank and better online facilities than I have. Obviously people without disabilities may not appreciate that.

One does not have to possess a disability to have to get around the same issues.

I take it you are not trying to place cash into your account, as above? In which case, a cheque paid over a bank counter will hardly be usable from your account any earlier than one passed over the counter, in an envelope, at your local sub-post office?

As kepar notes above, if you pay cash over the counter at a post office, into a Cashminder account, that account is credited instantly.

I believe a customer now can telephone Co-op for a 'current cleared balance'....although I haven't, as yet, tried that one personally.

I rarely use cash either..... preferring to use my debit card...which has only failed me during a systems crash.

WLITC

droiderm wrote: »

The benefits for me are two fold.
It proves you can get main stream credit again.
Secondly you get an overdraft. I never intended to use it , but there is rarely occasions it comes in handy as a small security blanket .

These are some of my reasons. I get some people are perfectly have with a basic account and if your satisfied then that's great, but for me, I would like a regular account so that I can have the additional services if I want. I would like a small OD as a buffer. For me, I only really hit the skids with money in the year leading up to my BR, prior to that I'd had a overdraft facility with the bank for over 10 years and never once used it. Having an OD is peace of mind should any unexpected payment go through. Secondly I'd like the contactless payment thingy. Is it the end of the world that I can't use contactless payment? No, but doesn't stop me wanting it.. and finally, basic accounts don't help with your credit score, while regular accounts do and I'd like to do all I can to help rebuild my score before the BR falls off my CR.

alastairq wrote: »

For 'available -to-spend' balances for the above, simply attend any hole-int'-wall?

With all due respect, in 2013, people whether they have or haven't been BR should have to walk to a ATM machine to find out their current balance. When I originally went BR I opened a Coop basic account and the lack of real time balance drove me crazy, especially towards the end of the month when the balance was running low. Luckily, I'd also opened a Barclays basic account just before going BR, but I never really used it as they blocked internet banking as part of BR. But as soon as I was discharged I was straight in there and got them to remove the block and then switched my salary to Barclays. Generally I have to say I'm very happy with Barclays. Online banking with them is great and the iPhone app is brilliant and gives real time balance. If anyone has a basic account with Coop and is frustrated with lack of proper balance I would definitely recommend Barclays if you can get an account (I appreciate some have trouble getting even the basic)

MikeJO

WLITC wrote: »

When I originally went BR I opened a Coop basic account and the lack of real time balance drove me crazy, especially towards the end of the month when the balance was running low.

I've known every day since my BR the exact balance of my Co-op account without needing internet or ATM because I keep careful track of everything in and out....can't imagine not knowing.

The delay in the online service doesn't bother me at all.

alastairq

I guess Co-op expect good ol' fashioned budgeting?

I find, having two [plus another, savings account]...accounts allows me to instantly transfer a 'buffer zone' to the running account if I think it might be a bit low....?

Then, when salary hits the account, I transfer out to the savings account all the excess, no matter how much.

PippaGirl_2

Absolutely Alistair. Trouble is occasionally money in hasn't arrived as expected meaning I've had to juggle money suddenly. I can't help other people's mistakes and !!!! ups and living on a benefit means I haven't got money set aside for such things, I tend to rely on income arriving as it is supposed to. I live very frugally, don't drink/smoke/holiday and that's fine as long as the system doesn't fail in some way. I think the key word in your post was 'salary' which could possibly explain why budgeting for the unexpected is easier for you at present.

Opening a 2nd account might be an option at some stage though as a safety net. Perhaps a Barclays basic as I have one of those in my town.

sniggings

PippaGirl wrote: »

Absolutely Alistair. Trouble is occasionally money in hasn't arrived as expected meaning I've had to juggle money suddenly. I can't help other people's mistakes and !!!! ups and living on a benefit means I haven't got money set aside for such things, I tend to rely on income arriving as it is supposed to. I live very frugally, don't drink/smoke/holiday and that's fine as long as the system doesn't fail in some way. I think the key word in your post was 'salary' which could possibly explain why budgeting for the unexpected is easier for you at present.

Opening a 2nd account might be an option at some stage though as a safety net. Perhaps a Barclays basic as I have one of those in my town.

totally agree with this, I have just had a D/D come out of my account for an amount of more than twice what I thought was agreed, £87 instead of £40 (British gas in their wisdom have decided that's a better amount to the one I agreed to, even tho I don't even use £87 a month in electric!), even with an up to date balance with Barclays, it's been a nightmare trying to transfer funds from another account to cover other D/D payments that have now been returned by Barclays and a fee applied for the lack of 57p :mad: so I can totally understand why having an up to date balance is important and like Pippa, I too am on benefits and on £62 a week budgeting is not easily done, it's normally a case of robbing peter to pay paul.

alastairq

Opening a 2nd account might be an option at some stage though as a safety net. Perhaps a Barclays basic as I have one of those in my town.

This I would recommend immediately, to anyone who is dropping out of the credit 'safety net'.....!

It was one of the first bits of advice I received from my own CAB!


Having 2 or 3 accounts running parallel to each other [and accessible online] simplifies budgeting immensely.

Whilst I am employed, and receive a salary [as distinct from a 'wage', which in this country means two different things]...it isn't very big!

What I do not have is the ability to respond to a sudden large payment.

What I get, is what I get!

{However, I do work, and receive, overtime...but unless the claim is submitted within a narrow time-frame...it wont be paid [ie, relied on] for anything up to 6 weeks or more.]

A 'special bonus'.....which in my line of work means, I have done something very very very special..........is a surprise [not guaranteed, as again, the claim has to pass through several 'committees'].......and such payments [winter fuel allowance, for one?] are all I have to increase my savings..or provide that 'buffer'...

Plus...what I don't spend each month-end?

I place all this in a 'savings' account, again accessible instantly..and it is this I use to bung a few quid into my operating account [the one I use on a day-to-day basis]......in case I am getting close to the wire.


Thus far, so far, so good!!


On the topic of direct debits?



The sort of situation sniggings mentions above is all to commonplace, IMHO.

And..is a major reason why...given the choice....I don't enter into DD's where there is an ability to vary outgoings on the whim of the claimant.

So I pay my power bills in the old-fashioned way...currently using my online banking facility...co-op is good in this respect......[the payment out shows immediately...even though the robin' 'oods haven't received it by that point]....I used to take a trip to my local village shop and pay via the payment system....gave them a bit of commission, and annoyed the utilities concerned.

But..importantly, I control when the bill is paid...not the utility.

And since I only have leccy, there are no real financial savings to be made by playing their game at all.


Thus...I don't have to worry about that 'warning-of-an-impending-rise' letter being missed somehow.

And..if I forget....which happens at my age.......they send me a snottogram anyway!.

Nope.....direct debit may be 'convenient' for us....but the convenience is really fro the other parties.......and DD's really have got us 'by the nose'....

I didn't go through all that flimflam of BR, to still be held by the financial extremities!