First Direct Vs NatWest - best overall and for customer service?

alanq

opinions4u wrote: »

Expressions of dissatisfaction. The vast majority of which are verbal. Banks and building societies record these as complaints.

<However, there are industry concerns that the FSA's figures do not paint an accurate picture of service quality at individual banks. A survey of nine major retail financial services companies by Ernst & Young found industry fears that the complaints figures were being misinterpreted. "In a hypothetical example, if we compare a firm that applies the full FSA definition, and so only counts complaints that have caused customers 'material distress or inconvenience', to a firm that applies 'any expression of dissatisfaction' throughout the process, the firm using the FSA definition would, in theory, record fewer complaints," said Jenny Clayton at Ernst & Young>



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9171964/Barclays-most-complained-about-bank.html

dalesrider

innovate wrote: »

I would discard all the "rip-off!" threads outright, as well as the "bank closed my account", "bank wants my overdraft back" etc ones..

Of course.

username

I've banked with both (and still do).

Never had any real problems, but FD were pretty good. I think what swung it for me to use FD as my main account were that the mini statements actually had the names of the transactions printed on, as opposed a load of codes with Natwest, and also you didn't need to use the stupid card reader thing to use online banking.

Plus their phone banking was straight through, to someone that could help, and HSBC branches have good technology in, such as coin counters and cheque/cash deposit machines so I didn't have to hang around queuing for the counter.

Can't fault Natwest, as they were fairly helpful during my student years in bumping up the OD, which is now clear. I wouldn't ever use them as my main account due to all of the computer issues they keep having. I don't rate their branch service, always had loads of queues and never enough windows open.

FreddieM

How many times have Nat west computers messed up over recent months (even this week!!),,,,,,,,,,, that should help you make the best choice FD for me everytime