Top Bank Accounts Discussion Area

Cantraig

Sorry if it's posted In the wrong place.
I have banked with Natwest since I was a child, and held a full current account. but when I was 19 I moved to Barclays, I was with them for about 2 years but my local branch closed so I moved back to Natwest. When I moved back to them they would only give me a basic account, I held this account for about 2 years and then asked for a full current account, they said they couldn't but instead could put me on the Select Silver Account costing £10pm, I would have most the features of a full current account but it would be credit restricted. They said if I keep this account in good order it will be good for my credit file and I could request a full upgrade in the future, (I had had difficulties with a mobile contract damaging my credit file previously).
so 3 years later (last month) I requested the full account, but again they wouldn't let me, I asked for a contactless card they wouldn't let me neither, so then I asked for a full debit card (the card I held I couldn't use at pay at pump and as I just passed my test I could really do with this ability now) but again they wouldn't let me have that. They said I fail credit checks for the upgrade, so I check my file using the checkmyfile website and I know it's not the best but was O.K I decided to apply for a credit card thinking I would use that at the petrol pump, and I got accepted for two (capital one and vanquis), I asked natwest why this may be but they couldn't give me any answers.
I explained I was not happy paying £10pm for my account for benefits I don't use, the only reason I had done for 3 years was because they said it will help me, clearly it hasn't with them but has improved my credit file, the only options Natwest gave me was to carry on paying £10pm for my account or downgrade to a basic account. I complained formally and got nowhere, so I applied with Halifax, guess what, they paid me £100 to switch, will pay me £5pm, I got a contactless card and a cheque book, they offered me an overdraft but I declined that as I don't like the idea of them.

I don't understand why Natwest who I have banked with for years wouldn't give me a single thing, but a bank who I have no history with give me everything! And not only that two credit card companies gave me credit cards. Anyone else had similar problems?

Piratepete_2

Am new to this forum. Can't see a box that says 'New Thread'. Help!

badger09

Piratepete wrote: »

Am new to this forum. Can't see a box that says 'New Thread'. Help!

Blue box 'New Thread' on left, just above the green bar at the top of this thread 'Threads in Forum: Budgeting and Bank Accounts'

Emmab178

First direct is an absolute joke of a bank. They are constantly mentioned as the best on all polls. No one has asked me my opinion! They are awful , arrogant, rude, unhelpful and not even good value for money.
One example the 6% regular saver account I set it up for the 18th as I got paid on the 15th. I paid in for 6 months. I then changed jobs. I cancelled the standing order as I could not amend it online. I then phoned up to reinstate the payments to go after the new salary went in on the 24th of the month. I was informed I missed Septembers payment! I told them it is September and I was trying to pay, so how can I miss a payment in the month??? Anyway no interest for me and apparently I should have allowed myself to go overdrawn rather than be a reasonable person with my bank account and stay in credit. Unbelievable!

YorkshireBoy

Emmab178 wrote: »

Rant snipped!

You simply didn't read (or understand) the account T&Cs when you opened the account. See condition 5.5 (on page 45) here...

http://www1.firstdirect.com/content_static/pdf/account_terms_0114.pdf

...which very clearly states that the payment must be made on the same day of the month that you opened the account.

colsten

My oh my. Why don't people just learn that T&Cs are a good thing and there to define the rules of their relationship (rights and duties) for a given account?

Does anyone seriously believe

• ticking the "I agree to the T&Cs and wish to open an account" (or whatever it is called) box is there for fun?
• that you could have any account with a bank that operates on unwritten terms, and behaves as you fancy it to behave in whatever circumstances you might find yourself in?

mcgsp

We are considering opening a Santander 123 current account. How much hassle is it likely to be to transfer the water, council tax, gas/electricity, phone/broadband and tv direct debits but to keep my existing current account open and in use for our other direct debits?

dr_adidas01

mcgsp wrote: »

We are considering opening a Santander 123 current account. How much hassle is it likely to be to transfer the water, council tax, gas/electricity, phone/broadband and tv direct debits but to keep my existing current account open and in use for our other direct debits?

As much hassle as you want to make it!!

How can we tell if its going to be a hassle we don't know the method you want to use to tell your providers your new account details for your direct debits.

I personally found it very easy, just opened the account then told the necessary companies the new details for the direct debits.

badger09

From my experience, no hassle at all

Some I was able to transfer myself online, others eg Council Tax needed a phone call. All worked perfectly :T

colsten

Very easy to do but you need to think about it a little. Your payees will probably want a few days notice so tell them about your new sort code and account number immediately after they have taken a payment. Then monitor that the DD disappears from the old account and appears in the new one.

If you tell them just a few days before payment is due, they will literally certainly still collect the next payment from the old account.