Current Account Discussion Board

toepazz

I would like to move banks and beleive that what you say about A&L sounds good. My husband and i put move that £1,000 in the bank each month. Very rarely be we have an overdraft.

However my problem is that our nearest A&L is 26miles away. Of course i can telephone bank and internet bank, but my husband gets paid by cheque each week.

Would A&L be able to do something for me in order to move. Or would another bank be more suitable?

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We have been with A&L since the days when they were Girobank and have always found them very reliable. We used to use telephone but now find that the online option is very good. If you have a Post Office handy, you can deposit your cheques in prepaid envelopes over the counter for which they will give you a receipt. You have to allow a few days for them to clear but can then do all your Direct Debits, etc online. We have all our bills paid by Direct Debit and when there is any surplus in the current account we transfer it to the A&L Online Saver which pays a very good rate of interest. Transfers between the current and savings account are done immediately. Hope this helps

louiseandwaynesmith

Thanks for your information, you have made our minds up.
Will apply for an account now.
Many Thanks

scarsdale

Hi Martin, Surprised you did not mention Intelligent Finance in to-day's Sunday Express. Although it does not allow overdrafts. providing one puts as little as £1. into their savings account paying 4.75% they will pay the same rate on the current account with no restriction on the amount in credit They will do all your standing orders and provide a cheque book. Have used them for three years without any problems.

Just bought Money Diet. Reflects a lot of hard work. Well done!

theloft

Message for Martin - This week's Money Tip mentions current accounts and I have at last decided to get off my backside and move my current account from NatWest. You are currently suggesting A & L and Lloyds TSB as the best 2 on offer, and go on to say that the only point which makes A & L better than the Lloyds is the free Travel Insurance. Could you add a rider to this that this freebie is NOT available to those over 65, as I am sure a lot of your members fall into that category. Secondly, paying in to A & L is much more difficult as you can only pay in cash or cheques via the Post Office if you do not have a local branch (or send cheques through the post - bad idea). With the closure of local branch post offices, the queues in all of our post office branches are terrible. Therefore, for me Lloyds TSB wins hands down, but obviously it depends on personal circumstances, age , etc. BUT, I think these points should be made. Keep up the good work!

kevtrader

I'm thinking of changing accounts from Abbey to possibly A&L. Supposing I do get an overdraft with the new account can I max that out and put it in a high interest savings account?

Also I don't earn £15,500 pa so can I transfer £1,000 to then from the account?

This is about the A&L account.

Thanks

scoobie

I'm with smile and I should warn you the worst thing about them is their bank statements or lack of :mad: - the online ones have a poor layout and they charge you £2.50 per statement if you want them through the post. Home printed bank statements aren't acceptable in most situations where you are trying to prove your income , so you'll bound to end up forking out £2.50 at some point.
So, you might say, you can always get the statements for free online. ok, yes, but that takes times and time is money. Also I find I'm much less likely to check them online , its much more hassle than checking one you've got in the post that day...
This means you're not keeping an eye on your balance and your spending habits... which could mount up to be a real hidden cost in the long run.

My advice - smile isn't all its cracked up to be.

hells_2

I'm wondering about the latest increase in Barclays Additions Fees (now up to £10 a month). The benefits I get are a £100 cheque guarantee card (whoosh - who writes cheques these days??) and a £350 overdraft. All that for my tenner. It's wrong.
I am thinking of asking Barclays to take me off the Additions, but, I am suspecting that they will downgrade my account and therefore no overdraft and a mickey mouse electron debit card (waste of space). Anyone managed to do this successfully? Have been a customer for nigh on 10 years and have no interest in any of their other products. I have also had many thousands of pounds besides my salary through the account and I could have kept it there, but decided against it (rubbish interest rate on their web saving account).
Cheers

grumbler

hells wrote:

...I am suspecting that they will downgrade my account and therefore no overdraft and a mickey mouse electron debit card ...

I never had Additions and never tried to downgrade, but I have normal Barclays account with Visa card and £250 overdraft (just never asked to increase it). Of course, my overdraft is not interest-free, but if you don't use other 'benefits', there is no point in paying £10 p.m. only for your £350 interest-free overdraft.

cdsurrey

Nat West wants me to change from my perfectly good but old 'gold account' to something else. Can they make me? I am very happy with what I have. I pay £80 p.a. and get the services I want for that. Any advice most gratefully received! Many thanks

ED

Bumping this - hoping NatWest customers can give you input. (Delightful blast-from-the-past you have ressurected, cdsurrey!)

Also, what account has NatWest offered you and at what cost? Wondering how it compares with your long-standing Gold account.