Current Account Discussion Board

robmshaw

Am new to this website and am very impressed.

Question - I bank with HSBC and have become angered that they have outsourced their customer service to India which I object to on principal. I believe the only effective way to lodge my objection is leave them, I am therefore looking to move my bank. I have never done this before and would appreciate some guidance with 3 things in mind.

i) I would like to move to a bank which does not plan to abandon the UK Call Centre Industry.

ii) My current account is a Graduate one and I need to maintain the £1500 overdraft.

iii) I am a self-employed actor and so have variable but regular income.

I do alot of banking on the internet and also the phone.

Hope you can help or indeed do a feature about banks and companies in general abondoning the UK Call Centre industry, heralded as a great hope to those declining industries such as mining. Sadly these companies will only act if customers do.

Many Thans, Rob.

System

I would recommend the Royal bank of Scotland. They give you a £2000 interest fee free overdraft on the graduate account. When that is up they give you an interest free loan of £2000 for 2 years which is paid off at the end of the year. Also have internet banking and a very friendly telephone banking service.

System

i) I would like to move to a bank which does not plan to abandon the UK Call Centre Industry.

ii) My current account is a Graduate one and I need to maintain the £1500 overdraft.

I do alot of banking on the internet and also the phone.

.

Can I suggest smile. They have a student account with a £2K interest free overdraft in the last year of study which I think you can carry over for a year after graduating. Superb service, 3% interest when in credit plus internet/phone access.

Their ethical policy means it would be inconceivable for them to relocate their call centre overseas, wouldn't it??

ffacoffipawb

Go see Lloyds and you will likely come out with  (or at least they will try)
Current Account
Property Insurance
Life & Cril Ill cover
Savings plan
Income protection
Credit Card
Gas & elec
Phone provider
New mortgage

... and a partridge in a pear tree.

payless

and a partridge in a pear tree.

yes so long as there is a profit in it.

But remember the special offer of a partridge in a pear tree is not available to existing customers
(who may get the hump and go elsewhere)

System

To get a decent rate of interest on a current account, many banks ask that you pay in a certain amount each month. (eg Lloyds TSB over #2000pm)

My question is, does this have to be from an employer?

Could you have 2 current accounts & set up a standing order from one to the other of #2001 each month & vice versa? Thus 'paying in' #2001 to each account every month?

???

System

How do we fight the Big Banks ripping us off?

My son has an account with NatWest, which started about 20 years ago as a young saver and he now has a graduate loan from them. Over the christmas period he miscalculated his money and a direct debit for £35 was due to go out of his account on wednesday last week unfortunately there was not the funds in his account to cover this - however his salary was due in Friday. NatWest returned the Direct Debit and charged him £30 which left him in almost the same position as if they had paid the DD.

The bank will not listen to any reasoning on this and do not see the logic, probably because they now have an additional £30 from my son.

alared

Tell Natwest to either refund the charge or transfer your account to the Halifax.(and MEAN it)

johnllew

They probably (like most of the Big 4, I believe) have an "Account Retentions" Dept who try to keep their customers from moving. Ask to speak to them and they may well waive the charge to hold on to your son.

Once the matter is settled, move anyway. There are far better deals out there; I'm with Smile and it's an excellent bank, a Which? Best Buy and the bank with their highest rating for customer satisfaction.

I can't see any reason for customers to stay with the Big 4 banks these days, unless you qualify for Lloyds TSB's special current account rate - mind you, their service is still naff.

System

Mistral Custom says he's happy with First Direct as his/her bank.

What a shame he/she won't be able to take advantage of the £25 they give you at the moment for opening a Current Account!

The rest of you can, though, as long as you're happy with Internet banking!

Try http://www.firstdirect.com/homepage_prospect.shtml