Anyone tried Starling Bank?

jonnygee2

All I can say in conclusion is that their standards must be terribly low.

Put simply, Starling rely on a third party provider - GPS - to process their card payments. Unfortunately GPS is not fully reliable, so they do experience problems. Monzo used to use GPS on it's prepaid card (they no longer use it), and they had the same problems. Revolut still uses GPS too.

I imagine Starling are trying to get off GPS. Until then I would be cautious about having them as your only card too.

JayRo3

I love Starling Bank - I've never had any issues and their customer support team are very prompt at replying.

I've been able to budget better using the goals and I find the app seamless.

As others have said, you're unlikely to find a bank who hasn't suffered tech issues. Halifax and Barclaycard used to prevent transactions abroad all the time, despite me alerting them before I went. Caxton used to allow one of every 5 cash withdrawals so I'm happy so far and don't see me switching banks, unless it's to another challenger/fin-tech bank.

daisy_jean

I've been with Starling a few weeks now. Been great so far, credit interest a bonus (not much but better than most!).

However... We went to Scarborough this weekend. Sat on the beach for a couple of hours, we needed refreshments but I had no cash. No worries, most of the arcades have free to use cash machines in them I thought. I tried 3 - all declined my Starling card despite having more than enough funds on. Reactions varied from the simple declined to 'error in issuing'. None took off my actual balance.

Ended up having to trail up into the town to 'regular' cash machines - tested 3 of them (big bank names) and all 3 allowed me to take cash out (from available balance). Bit narked if I'm honest, but not sure what could be done about it.

Anthorn

JayRo3 wrote: »

As others have said, you're unlikely to find a bank who hasn't suffered tech issues. Halifax and Barclaycard used to prevent transactions abroad all the time, despite me alerting them before I went. Caxton used to allow one of every 5 cash withdrawals so I'm happy so far and don't see me switching banks, unless it's to another challenger/fin-tech bank.

So therefore when we use a card at an ATM or pay for a purchase with a card or even pay for a meal in a restaurant with a card we should expect the card to be declined and if it isn't it's a pleasant surprise? Personally, I call that ridiculous.

EarthBoy

Anthorn wrote: »

So therefore when we use a card at an ATM or pay for a purchase with a card or even pay for a meal in a restaurant with a card we should expect the card to be declined and if it isn't it's a pleasant surprise? Personally, I call that ridiculous.

It would be ridiculous, but that's not what anybody is saying. You're wilfully misinterpreting replies on here.

Anthorn

This is what they said

JayRo3 wrote: »

As others have said, you're unlikely to find a bank who hasn't suffered tech issues. Halifax and Barclaycard used to prevent transactions abroad all the time, despite me alerting them before I went. Caxton used to allow one of every 5 cash withdrawals so I'm happy so far and don't see me switching banks, unless it's to another challenger/fin-tech bank.

This is what I said

Anthorn wrote: »

So therefore when we use a card at an ATM or pay for a purchase with a card or even pay for a meal in a restaurant with a card we should expect the card to be declined and if it isn't it's a pleasant surprise? Personally, I call that ridiculous.

This is what Earthboy said

EarthBoy wrote: »

It would be ridiculous, but that's not what anybody is saying. You're wilfully misinterpreting replies on here.

I'm not "wilfully misinterpreting it at all". It is clear that it is stated that we are not going to find a bank which is free of errors so we must just accept it. That's an interpretation but not a misinterpretation!

JayRo3

You must have time on your hands.

All banks have tech issues, so I wouldn't leave Starling because of a glitch or two. That is the point I was making. And besides, it's my bank account and my opinion. You can be pleasantly surprised by whatever you like.

JGUK

Question,

Are Starling now reporting to all three CRAs ?

Or is it just still Call Credit and Equifax ?

Also if you don't take the overdraft, there's no hard credit check correct ?

(And if you don't take the overdraft does that influence who they report to ?)

its_all_over

Starling Bank customers can now use the Post Office for making cash deposits or withdrawals.

Reported by Starling Bank on Twitter that the service is available from tomorrow.

There is also a report in the Telegraph

The Post Office has signed a deal with a mobile-only bank for the first time amid concerns branch closures and a drop in free cash machines are leaving those in remote areas vulnerable.

Starling Bank, which was set up four years ago, has become the first digital bank to pair up with the Post Office so that customers living in rural areas or "bank branch deserts" can deposit and withdraw cash.

Link is https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/11/09/post-office-moves-tackle-bank-branch-deserts-amid-mp-probe-finance/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

starM

Email from Starling
As of today, you can deposit and withdraw cash to and from your Starling account from any of the Post Office’s 11,500 branches nationwide. The stats show that 99.7% of people live within just three miles of a Post Office branch*, so for most people it’ll end up being even more convenient than a traditional bank branch.


Post Office deposits and withdrawals only work with our new portrait card, so if you don't have one, get in touch with Customer Service and they’ll help you get your card reissued. Make sure you activate the card within the app before you start using it (and bear in mind that this will deactivate your current card).