MSE News: RBS bottom in our banking poll as First Direct remains top

Former_MSE_Ben_S

First Direct remains top of our banking table for customer service, while RBS has ranked bottom...

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'RBS bottom in our banking poll as First Direct remains top'

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eskbanker

According to the detailed results of this poll, there were more votes for First Direct than any other institution (more than Barclays and Lloyds combined for example) except Santander 123, but I'd be amazed if their share of the current account market was anywhere near the top five.

I know this sort of thing is really just a bit of fun but anyone who takes them seriously should be aware of how these flawed polls are so heavily distorted by a vocal minority (however happy they may be)....

Roll on the introduction of a genuine and impartial approach to measuring service!

System

They also strangely separate the Halifax Reward (from other Halifax accounts) when this is their only free account you can apply for.

I wonder if there was surge of First Direct staff on MSE during voting

Caddyman

Never been a customer of First Direct, so couldn't comment.

I've had a Lloyds account since 2010 and to be honest, had no issues with them. I also have accounts with both Nationwide and more recently, TSB. Nationwide in my opinion, are superb, never ever had an issue with them. I've got one of their Flex Direct packaged accounts with Travel Insurance, car breakdown etc and it suits me and 'er indoors just great.

As for TSB, early days yet. I've only just switched to them from M&S bank using the MSE link and TSB have just very kindly given me £130 of completely free money for a totally hassle free switch! How nice of them! However, so far, so good!

I left M&S because of their truly appalling banking App, which was at the time, virtually useless to man and beast. They have just, in the last week or so, completely updated the App apparently, so that it is as useful as the other major banks. From a daily banking experience, M&S Bank were ok and I'd switch back to them again if the deal was right. It was just the mobile banking, it was truly awful. Why they ever launched a fully fledged bank account without providing a proper functional banking App, is anyones guess!

I have a friend of mine who constantly whinges and moans about his bank, but to be fair, I know his financial situation and he's moaning because he is fiscally incompetent and cannot manage his personal finances. It is of course his banks fault lol!

jamie_02

So 29 people voted RBS as 'poor'. 29 people, out of how many tens of millions of customers they have?

eskbanker

jamie_02 wrote: »

So 29 people voted RBS as 'poor'. 29 people, out of how many tens of millions of customers they have?

I'd be surprised if they have tens of millions of customers, although many like to think they have tens of millions of 'shareholders', aka taxpayers.

To be fair, that 29 is out of the 139 RBS customers who could be bothered to vote, but that's my main point, that those who choose to do so shouldn't be seen as representative, in the same way that First Direct (in my experience anyway) shouldn't be held up as the ultimate answer to the country's banking needs just because of an enthusiastic posse of customers who use MSE more than most.

The high response rates for of FD (and Santander 123) on an MSE poll can't be entirely unrelated to the promotion these banks have received on this site....

colsten

Caddyman wrote: »

I left M&S because of their truly appalling banking App, which was at the time, virtually useless to man and beast. They have just, in the last week or so, completely updated the App apparently, so that it is as useful as the other major banks.

The new M&S app is literally as useless as the old one. It isn't even remotely like any of the apps of other banks - not even like the HSBC or FD one.

Caddyman

colsten wrote: »

The new M&S app is literally as useless as the old one. It isn't even remotely like any of the apps of other banks - not even like the HSBC or FD one.

Thank you for putting me straight on that one! I don't feel at all guilty then about leaving and jumping ship to TSB!

I cannot understand why M&S Bank who are owned by HSBC, don't just use a customised version of the HSBC Banking App, which I'm assuming is a proper App that is usable? Odd that.......

MABLE

Been with Lloyds Bank since 1984 and found them to be really good. The only issue I had was in early 1984 when I wanted to make my £150 overdraft facility permanent. The assistant manager said ok with him but the manager did not like me so was rejected. How times have moved on. Also Nationwide brilliant.

gadgetmind

I have my RBS bank manager's mobile number and he calls me from time to time to check the service is OK.

Lloyds in the past "requested" that I provide personal guarantees for some business borrowing and once this was in place immediately foreclosed!

GingerFurball_2

First Direct are anecdotally rubbish.