Top Bank Accounts Discussion Area

Emily_Joy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I like the Santander online set up too..

Their online banking seems too complicated to me. How does one identify the payee's account? The payment reference isn't shown in the list as with other banks, all one can see is rather useless "mandate number". Is there a way around it?

polymaff

I agree about liking Santander. For the monthly gush of payments out required as part of servicing interest-bearing accounts they are ideal in that they show last payment date and amount paid. The former in particular in that when interrupted, one has no problem in identifying - "Now, where was I?"...:)

polymaff

Emily_Joy wrote: »

Their online banking seems too complicated to me. How does one identify the payee's account? The payment reference isn't shown in the list as with other banks, all one can see is rather useless "mandate number". Is there a way around it?

1.Add some identifier to the NAME field, e.g. John Smith HX345 for a payment to John Smith's Halifax account ending 345.

2. Particularly for the monthly payments I mentioned, recognise the payee from the amount last paid and date last paid. For instance I recognise a monthly servicing of a Club Lloyds account as being any payment last made for £1,520, last made a month ago.

Hopefully, suggestion 1. will survive any future tightening up of the payee details verification.

colsten

polymaff wrote: »

Hopefully, suggestion 1. will survive any future tightening up of the payee details verification.

I hope so, too. I noticed yesterday that Lloyds/BOS/Halifax now display a message when you set up a new payee, saying "Please use the recipient's real name". I ignored that message, as I do as you say and name my recipients in a way that is meaningful for me (e.g. My Barclays 1234), and I intend to keep it that way.

russellsnr

Hi, We will be moving back to the UK from Europe after 14 years we still use Clydesdale Bank for our income to be sent to (45 years as customers) but because we live outside the UK they are not interested as customers it feels like loyalty does not come into it anymore anyway we will after selling our house be depositing a large sum into the CB but we are going to move it straight away to another bank or society and would like to ask for recomendations for those that give customer service up front and you can go in and talk to a person face to face in the need be. Thankyou in advance for any advice.

polymaff

I'm afraid that your loyalty song is a cracked 78rpm shellac.


That was then.


What I'm suggesting is that if face-to-face service is your primary requirement you're severely limiting the advice you'll get...:(

theshed

From my limited European travels I note there are a lot more High St Branches in Europe. Something you may notice when you return to the UK. So face to face banking is now limited and does not always go with customer service.
I can recommend First Direct for good customer service and you can always visit HSBC branches if you need to.
Do some research and you can always spread your cash.

I-LOV-MONEY

russellsnr wrote: »

Hi, We will be moving back to the UK from Europe after 14 years

Dare I ask, if this is anything to do with B..x.t ?

russellsnr

No, Familey comes first.

Emily_Joy

russellsnr wrote: »

Hi, We will be moving back to the UK from Europe after 14 years we still use Clydesdale Bank for our income to be sent to (45 years as customers) but because we live outside the UK they are not interested as customers it feels like loyalty does not come into it anymore anyway we will after selling our house be depositing a large sum into the CB but we are going to move it straight away to another bank or society and would like to ask for recommendations for those that give customer service up front and you can go in and talk to a person face to face in the need be. Thank you in advance for any advice.

HSBC. I've recently opened a foreign account with them which was rather painless. They also have been very helpful in transferring credit history from one country to another. However, as you are interested in face-to-face service, you might like to see what is your local branch is like and whether HSBC is present in the EU country in question.