Anyone tried Starling Bank?

JezR

Yes, opened one a week ago after invitation.

Gfamily

JezR wrote: »

Yes, opened one a week ago after invitation.

Thanks - were you on the waitlist? How long had you waited?

pinkdalek

Opened one last month, took it to Prague and used to pay for various items, really impressed, no fees and a decent exchange rate. Transaction shows straight away on your phone and app.

Easy to top up also, you transfer money from other banks via FPs.

d123

pinkdalek wrote: »

Easy to top up also, you transfer money from other banks via FPs.

You can also deposit cash in at any post office.

jonnygee2

As an update I've given up on Starling for now.

I had a bit of a run in with their customer service. I needed them to change my address because the app wouldn't let me. They asked for proof of new address (bit of a faff but fine) and said they'd update it.

But it took SIX weeks and through all of that time I had no card. I chased them several times and got totally stonewalled each time. They kept saying the 'relevant team was working on it', as if it were a major app update or somethingmI got a bit more disgruntled each time I spoke to them but didn't help. No one was able to give me a time estimate or idea what was happening. For an address update!!

Eventually I got an email saying it was updated and a card was in its way without any sort of apology. Actually the tone was pretty insulting, it was brief and had several exclamation marks and read a bit like they thought they had done me a friendly favour.

I'd be careful about using Starling as a main account now, I wouldn't want my money somewhere I could lose access for several weeks due to them being unable to update an address. Shame because their customer service used to be alright.

bd10

Hi all,

My update on Starling. Have been using them for 3 weeks now as primary daily spending account (in place of Amex).
No technical issues, daily transactions show up immediately, good card control, it allows to attach receipts which I really appreciate. Top-up/transfer in from my primary current account and post office was immediate and without issues.
Got in touch with their customer service via chat. They helped me out. Waiting time was minimal. Same goes for their email support, had feedback the next day on a technical question.
Overseas spending was without issues too which is important as it is now my back-up card to Clarity and also to take out cash to avoid having "cash advance" showing up in my credit file. Did not run into any DCC issues (although I did not expect any anyways).

What I would like to see: more detailed FAQ and T&C, also them simplifying their interface. The app has categorization of cumulative spending of the current month but the daily breakdown is under the main button. Doesn't make much sense.

penners324

Strange your address change took so long.
I've juat got into the area where the address can be changed in about 20 seconds.
Was there something else going wrong with your account at the time?

System

I opened a Starling account but was very unhappy how they include pending transactions in the account balance. You could make a few purchases in shops and have those purchases immediately appear in the transaction list and reflect in the running balance, yet if you make a few purchases via PayPal, for example, and they are invisible for a few days. It makes no sense - rather than having a better understanding of your finances you are in a more confused situation. Trying to use software like many of us do, to reconcile your account, is made much more difficult. It all seems rather amateurish to me. I also decided I don't like having a smartphone only interface - IMO it's not particularly good, unintuitive and of necessity the screen is too small. I am now closing the account.

penners324

Surely the advent of account aggregators makes having your own spreadsheet irrelevant now?
Also, why would PayPal transactions show in the Starling transaction list before PayPal processes the transaction from your Starling account?

JezR

Gfamily wrote: »

Thanks - were you on the waitlist? How long had you waited?

Yes I was on the waitlist, but I don't think I signed up particularly early.