Top Bank Accounts Discussion Area

colsten

theshed said:

Agree with you there Roger '. I recently lost access to my account online while waiting for my new 'card'.
I find the recent changes to online banking very frustrating, having to enter security codes plus passwords just to log on is time consuming. I can understand if you are transferring funds, but just to check balances it is OTT.
If you call them they try and push you onto the Ap'. I have very poor mobile signal at home and actually struggle using the small 'phone screen for many tasks.
My wife recently changed her Bank twice due to them insisting on calling to confirm online set-up. As mentioned mobile signal is poor and we have call guardian on the landline and the banks do not use 'regular' numbers.
I have been with FD just about since they started in UK but am now seriously considering moving on. Which would be a shame as I am otherwise happy with them.

Presumably you have WiFi at home. Had you considered WiFi calling? Just about all major mobile providers in the UK are offering it as part of their basic service. Obviously you would need a WiFi capable phone and be with one of the main providers or their resellers. 
Cue a tirade of further objections - don't have/want one of those new fangled phones, don't want to pay more than thruppence for my SIM card, I don't want the extra security against hackers etc etc. It can't be helped if your glass is half full at all times.

Consumerist

lagib said:

To Consumerist. Thanks for your reply but opening 2 accounts would require 2 monthly minimum pay in's which would be prohibitive.

Not if you each pay in to the other's account. It's the same money going back and forth - a common tactic used by MSEers.

Anyway, hope you can resolve your problem o.k. Keep safe.

theshed

colsten said:

Presumably you have WiFi at home. Had you considered WiFi calling? Just about all major mobile providers in the UK are offering it as part of their basic service. Obviously you would need a WiFi capable phone and be with one of the main providers or their resellers. 
Cue a tirade of further objections - don't have/want one of those new fangled phones, don't want to pay more than thruppence for my SIM card, I don't want the extra security against hackers etc etc. It can't be helped if your glass is half full at all times.

Believe it or not, not all providers support WiFi calling and it only works if the caller is using it.
So, I am with EE and use WiFi calling, fine, but if someone calls me I have poor reception, unless, they use Whats Ap'.
 Confused ? I am !
My local Dr Surgery uses a generic 'phone number that is accepted by call guardian but does not accept call backs.
Why can the Bank not do this ?

Roger.Wilco

lagib said:

To Consumerist. Thanks for your reply but opening 2 accounts would require 2 monthly minimum pay in's which would be prohibitive. I think the local Halifax branch may now be open so I may be able to solve the issue with a visit.

I use to think that - but in reality - not needed - just make it a chain or merry-go-round using the same money like eg. £500.

• 2nd of Month = £500 from Bank 1 -> Bank 2
• 15th of Month = £500 from Bank 2 -> Bank 3
• 28th of Month = £500 from Bank 3 -> Bank 1
• Repeat the next month. etc..
  

Set the transfers up as Standing Orders and then forget about it.

I myself have setup a chain - using the same money - while meeting the minimum monthly pay-in's and balances to obtain the benefits from each bank etc...

• Salary A/C -> Bank 2 -> Bank 3 -> Bank 4 -> Mortgage Offset

Roger.Wilco

colsten said:

... Had you considered WiFi calling? Just about all major mobile providers in the UK are offering it as part of their basic service. Obviously you would need a WiFi capable phone and be with one of the main providers or their resellers.

Agree - WiFi calling as a technology may be a solution in many cases - but why add yet another level of complexity just to be able to do what could be done before? 

Although, WiFi calling is sold as a "feature" to the consumer - it really is a way for mobile operators to push the issue of lack of investment in infrastructure and coverage onto the subscriber.  Even if you have your Internet connection as unlimited and with the same provider as your mobile - you are effectively paying twice for the ability to just make a satisfactory call (paying for a mobile plan as well as a broadband plan) - while allowing the mobile operator to save money.  Do they pass that saving back to you the paying subscriber for the extra complexity and hoops you have to jump through - to effectively solve their problem?  After-all this is MSE and money in my pocket is better than in the Mobile Operators pocket!

For satisfactory WiFi calling you must have:

• A phone (Make/Model/Version) supported by the Mobile Operator.  If you switch operators this is still not guaranteed.
• A solid reliable good broadband connection (connection quality required for voice calls is much higher than what would be suitable for browsing Internet pages and Online banking).
• A house and location that is suitable for a quality WiFi signal (WiFi in old thick stone walled houses won't work well, WiFi in high-density flats also won't work well).
• The user has to then be technically capable enough to be able to configure the phone onto the WiFi. For some this is easy-peasy for others it would be easier to speak Greek.
  

So to bring this back to CSA and the use of calls / text messages etc... to just be able to access and operate bank account transactions - WiFi calling will be a solution for many but also introduces many additional hoops and issues to solve just to keep the same level of usability.  What happens if any of the above start having issues?

Cue a tirade of further objections - don't have/want one of those new fangled phones, don't want to pay more than thruppence for my SIM card, I don't want the extra security against hackers etc etc. It can't be helped if your glass is half full at all times.

We are starting to get into philosophical arguments...

There are those folks that are technophiles who are willing and able to solve real or imagined problems with the application of technology and deal with the hassle, cost, complexity and hoops that, that might entail.

Then there are those that are technophobes or those that just want to get stuff done with the minimum hassle, cost, complexity, hoops.  Especially, when the level of usability decreases when compared to what went before - for limited to no benefit to the user.

blue.peter

@Roger.Wilco have you considered Nationwide? You can use their online banking without a mobile phone. One option for logging in etc. is an SMS one-time passcode, but they do offer an alternative: using a card reader and your debit card. so if you don't mind carrying a card reader around and it doesn't infringe your work security policy, that's a possibility.

Roger.Wilco

blue.peter said:

@Roger.Wilco have you considered Nationwide? ...

@blue.peter - thank you very much for the suggestion - it is much appreciated.

lagib

To Consumerist and Roger Wilco. Thankyou for your further advice which I have been taken on board.

paulyuk6

I'm sure we all appreciate Lloyds Bank's lavish TV advertising campaigns featuring beautiful wild horses, stunning landscapes and carefully selected emotional music.
But here is a little thought for you, Lloyds Bank - How about you dismiss the expensive advertising agency, fire your marketing team and cancel all planned future campaigns. Then use the millions of Pounds you waste on making you feel good about yourselves to pay your savers a DECENT rate of interest?    See, it's not that difficult!!

I resent every penny that Lloyds spends that isn't going into my account and millions like me.

regards

Mrs. Sarah Dolland

Mill Road, Cambridge

colsten

paulyuk6 said:

I'm sure we all appreciate Lloyds Bank's lavish TV advertising campaigns featuring beautiful wild horses, stunning landscapes and carefully selected emotional music.
But here is a little thought for you, Lloyds Bank - How about you dismiss the expensive advertising agency, fire your marketing team and cancel all planned future campaigns. Then use the millions of Pounds you waste on making you feel good about yourselves to pay your savers a DECENT rate of interest?    See, it's not that difficult!!

I resent every penny that Lloyds spends that isn't going into my account and millions like me.

regards

Mrs. Sarah Dolland

Mill Road, Cambridge

Have you tried your luck with a Credit Union? Whilst they won't pay you an ongoing average of 1.2% var on £5K, plus cinema tickets or a magazine subscription, and won't have a Regular Saver account that pays a fixed 2% AER, they spend next to nothing on Marketing and might pay you an annual dividend of 1% if you are lucky. On the other hand, they might not pay any dividend but at least they don't do any Marketing.