Any Halifax customers?

garth549

I love Halifax! I've had many current/savings/share trading accounts, credit cards, mortgages and loans with them over the years and haven't a bad word to say about them.

But then again I've not really had any bad experiences at all with banks, other than Natwest 20 odd years ago.

martinthebandit

Switched my 'main bank' from HSBC to Halifax a few years ago and never regretted it.

Get excellent service at my local branch and their app is far better and user friendly than HSBC.

Fingerbobs

I've had my Halifax current account since 1989, when they were still a Building Society.
It's changed names a few times, and is now a Reward Current Account, but it's retained the same account number and sort code. It even paid 4% interest for a while!
It's no-longer my "main" account, but my salary has been paid into it throughout my working life, and it still is, and I keep a couple of Direct Debits running on it to qualify for the monthly reward. I've never had a single problem with it 30 years.

YorkshireBoy

Fingerbobs wrote: »

It even paid 4% interest for a while!

Mine was paying 5.xx% and later 6.xx% in its 'HICA' designation. Yours must have been too?

SlovakianGuy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Mine was paying 5.xx% and later 6.xx% in its 'HICA' designation. Yours must have been too?

What was the inflation rate at the time? Sorry for offtopic

YorkshireBoy

SlovakianGuy wrote: »

What was the inflation rate at the time? Sorry for offtopic

A quick Google search for the 6.17% AER account pointed back to a thread on here from October 2007. So same question to you.

SlovakianGuy

I have 9 current accounts in 7 banks so I can compare.

I switched to Halifax only for the £135 switch bonus last year and planned to get rid of it later if I don't like something about it. There were a few minor problems, but there's more positives than negatives. I can't speak too much about banking in their branches as I don't use them. I was there once and the waiting time was rather long, but this will vary from branch to branch.
I really like the app and online banking though. Would be better without annoying offers for their saving accounts, etc., but I still like it.

What I didn't like was the account opening process including endless waiting for all those letters... Card, PIN, online banking code. With a modern bank you should be able to use your account on the day of the registration. I think I typed in some wrong number for the first time and the code from the letter then didn't work. Ordered another one, didn't work. Had to wait for the 3rd letter with another code until I was finally able to log in. This was a bit onerous process.
When I later opened app-only Monzo and Starling, it felt like both banks were 20 years ahead of Halifax, NatWest, Metro, etc., in every respect.

Halifax don't have a card reader like NatWest and Nationwide which is good.
Also don't charge fees for using your arranged overdraft like NatWest do.

I don't like their telephone banking. With Metro, for example, I call the number and speak to a real person within the first minute. With Halifax not so easy. Last time I accidentally typed in wrong last digit on my phone screen during my account identification process. Had to hang up (twice) and call again. Press this, press that, press don't know what, then wait until someone is available... It really takes too many steps and much time until you finally can speak to someone.

When I opened the account and made the first transaction of £800 to my own other account, the transaction got blocked. I had to spend about 10 minutes on the phone passing various security questions, explaining what operating system I have, what Linux distribution, etc. But OK, security is important, I get it. Still better than having my money stolen.

I originally planned to get rid of Halifax after I receive the £135 switch bonus, but now I actually like it (as long as I don't need to call them). I just hope they learn from new challenger banks and don't send everything by letter any more.

Btw, Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland which is a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group. When I opened the Halifax account, the search on my credit report was from Bank of Scotland.

Fingerbobs

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Mine was paying 5.xx% and later 6.xx% in its 'HICA' designation. Yours must have been too?

I was pretty sure it was 4%, but it's entirely possible I'm mis-remembering.

pinkdalek

All banks have good points and bad points, if there is a big queue then ask why? I ask the same in any business not just banking, if it is quite clear that everyone is trying to help and they're doing the best they can and looking after you then what is the issue? If they are busy then they it could be because people like them. But really why would you need to queue up in a branch unless you really needed to.

I've banked with them for decades, never found any issues, the staff are always friendly and approachable and their online banking app is streets ahead of others.

They aren't perfect, but who is? They're not picky about who they want to bank with them, unlike certain banks. They offer decent products and are a good bank.

Robisere

Thank you all for the advice and information. Sorry I have not responded sooner: family trouble and medical appointments intervened.

I have decided to stay with TSB for the time being. I understand that some have more than one account, but that is not for us, we are in our 70's and on a fixed income. I have a spreadsheet with control over our financial affairs because we have to know exactly where we stand from one week to the next. We both use the internet and mobiles to use the bank, although the TSB branch is a friendly place when we have visited. I have researched all other banks with local branches and cannot see another with the same deal of current account with a Monthly Saver. First Direct and Metro we do not consider at all. Whilst we use internet and mobile banking, we do occasionally have to visit a branch.

I often find that the local Halifax branch has the closest indoor ATM to my Town parking space, and I have their Clarity card, so I have been in that branch a few times. I have never seen it crowded and never seen queues of more than 5 or 6 people. TBH there are rarely queues in any of the many banks in Louth.
Once again, many thanks for the input.