I want a NICE current account!

feesh

Over the years I've had accounts with all the major banks. Most of them have peed me off quite spectacularly, the most recent of which is A&L which have hit me with about 10 different bank charges in the past week (it's been a BAD week and I didn't realise I was over my overdraft limit until today).

I'm going to claim them back, as they didn't even bother to write to me, or to stop me from using my card, so what's the point in charging me?!

That will have to wait a month or so until all the charges have come through and I can start claiming for them.

In the mean time I'd like to open a new bank account. Although I am usually overdrawn, it doesn't have to have a good o/d facility as I could transfer this overdraft to my Egg card and pay it off.

I don't qualify for the Halifax £100 switching incentive as we already hold our joint account with them.

So after a bit of thought, with there not being many other offers around, I'm thinking of switching to Smile.

I like their ethical policy and I'm hoping they would be a bit friendlier and more helpful than A&L.

The only thing putting me off is that I had an ISA with them a few years back and I could never remember the number of passwords/answers to questions they needed to let me in to my account, and they had to be case-sensitive (there are about 3 different names for my school, none of which I use consistently!)! Even on the phone I had a series of questions which were pretty obscure, so I closed the account in the end.

Are they a 'nice' bank to deal with? I'm sick of all the high street banks. Does anyone know what their internet log in procedure is like these days?

Secret_Wookie

I'm not sure how many nice banks you are going to find when you admit to being overdrawn alot.

Why not focus on trying to get in a position where you aren't running the risk of overdraft charges (appreciate this may not be easy or even possible).

Many have also tightened up their overdraft and charging structures so don't expect to be able to claim them back for ever more.

jonesMUFCforever

I think first paragraph sums it up.
You don't want to play by the rules and then its the bank's fault.

Sooner or later you will run out of banks. What do you do then? - start from scratch with bank A etc?

Homework

I'm not sure how you would define a nice bank.

I have a basic account with Clydesdale Bank (Yorkshire Bank in England) and am very pleased with it. It has a UK call centre (I'm Scottish, with and accent, and have a name and address that I have to spell so this is vital for me) and I have a direct line to the branch if I have a specific enquiry. I explained why I needed a basic account and there was no difficulty and the promise that the banking history would be taken into account in the future if I wanted to upgrade the account.

After being offered in the HBOS branch to upgrade my account I went through the application process and at the end the girl went away and returned telling me the 'printer' had said that I could not have the account. That's when I decided to start looking for a nice bank.

One that treats me like a human being, excellent customer service and the hope that I can move on with them. I have a Maestro card that I can use everywhere and it does not take me nearly as long to get a cheque cleared. I have been in various branches and used the call centre a few times and have never felt that I am any less a customer than any other even though I have a basic account.

I would point out thought that I have used the online banking to make sure I don't go overdrawn as I am sure if I did and got charged I would not be enjoying their service as much. A lot of the niceness you get from the bank I think is created by yourself.

Homework

I'm not sure how you would define a nice bank.

I have a basic account with Clydesdale Bank (Yorkshire Bank in England) and am very pleased with it. It has a UK call centre (I'm Scottish, with and accent, and have a name and address that I have to spell so this is vital for me) and I have a direct line to the branch if I have a specific enquiry. I explained why I needed a basic account and there was no difficulty and the promise that the banking history would be taken into account in the future if I wanted to upgrade the account.

After being offered in the HBOS branch to upgrade my account I went through the application process and at the end the girl went away and returned telling me the 'printer' had said that I could not have the account. That's when I decided to start looking for a nice bank.

One that treats me like a human being, excellent customer service and the hope that I can move on with them. I have a Maestro card that I can use everywhere and it does not take me nearly as long to get a cheque cleared. I have been in various branches and used the call centre a few times and have never felt that I am any less a customer than any other even though I have a basic account.

I would point out thought that I have used the online banking to make sure I don't go overdrawn as I am sure if I did and got charged I would not be enjoying their service as much. A lot of the niceness you get from the bank I think is created by yourself.

Homework

Sorry, for some reason it has come through twice

Hazzanet

I don't think there's any such thing as a "nice" bank. Pretty much all banks are businesses and as such seek to make a profit from their punters. I'm yet to find one that's run as a charity as the OP suggest (s)he's looking for.

As for Customer Service, Smile are pretty good, although recently I feel that it has dipped somewhat. Login procedures are still a/c number and Sortcode, a 4 digit security number along with one of a memorable date, memorable name, first or last school.

HTH

Hazza

feesh

Sorry, I guess I didn't explain myself enough - by "nice" I really mean "good customer service".


And when I say I have got fed up of the major banks, I am talking about over the past 16 years or so since I had my first grown up account, it's not a recent development!

First bank was Natwest when I was 16, but they made an error which made me overdrawn (aged 16!!!) and charged me. Mum kicked up a stink and we closed the account.

At Uni, I encountered terrible customer service with Lloyds TSB and Barclays, both of whom seemed intent on leading me into more debt and not actually helping me to live within my means. They were fine when they were giving you the hard sell, but if you tried to do something useful like reduce your overdraft they didn't want to know!

For most of my Uni life and about 8 years after I was with HSBC, who used to be fantastic, but a couple of years ago started to give me the hard sell almost constantly. I asked a few friends who work for them in the City and apparently the staff were on sales-related bonuses. Add to that a previously very friendly and helpful Leeds call centre being moved out to India, and suddenly the A&L account looked very appealing!

A&L have been OK, as long as you don't need anything extra from them or have to deal with their call centre, they are OK, but their staff are pretty surly and unhelpful on the phone.

I am a bit annoyed by their exhorbitant bank charges though, as due to my amazing !!!!-up this week of managing my accounts, I've racked up over £100 in charges already, with more to come. Yes it is my fault, it's been one hell of a bad week! However....

I know that by claiming back these charges under Martin's technique, they will end up closing my account.

The overdraft could be super balance-transferred to my Egg card and I'll pay it off with my bonus.

In the meantime, I would like to start a long term relationship with a bank that has good customer service, doesn't try and give me the hard sell, and has nice friendly people on the end of the phone if I ever need them!

I am particularly attracted to Smile or the Co-op bank because of their ethical banking policy, but would love to hear of people's experiences with them (or any other recommendations of good quality banks).

topher_2

I've banked with Smile for a while - I moved from HSBC. I'd say they have good customer service, products are ok, internet banking works well but isn't the most advanced system in the world (for example you can't download statements in any format). All in all I'm happy with them and am pleased I move away from HSBC.

Dylanwing

I have found Nationwide to be OK.

s1h

I think it depends if you need customer service!

I don't really in fact I rarely have to call them. I check my balance, set up my s.o online , do bill payments online.

In fact the only time I have had to call my bank in the last year I think was once when i lost my card and to order a new one and the other time was to arrange a swift transfer of money to spain.

Is there a reason why you need to call them all the time? In my experience most people who moan about bad customer service are those that have late payments, missed dd's , charges etc and then have to call the bank about it and dont get what they want therefore they think its bad c/s.