Nationwide FlexPlus - is it worth it now?

ryanm8655

Also debating this but it is good value, as mentioned.

Didn’t realise the account was commission free, does that apply to online foreign currency purchases as well?

Penelopa.Pitstop

I'm also considering downgrading the account for the time being. Just waiting to make sure my travel insurance claim is accepted. All my future plane tickets are either very cheap or flexible, so don't need cover for them. They don't offer cover at the moment for any other travel, due to FCO advice. I have free roadside assistance from cars manufacturers and I don't need phone insurance. At the moment, it feels like paying £13 pcm for nothing.
I have different card for transactions abroad and it also gives me cashback of 0.5%.

magritte

ryanm8655 said:

Didn’t realise the account was commission free, does that apply to online foreign currency purchases as well?

The info below says it does apply to online transactions, but best to confirm with Nationwide. They use the Visa exchange rate. They made it fee-free for currency transactions when they dropped the interest rate. 

nationwide.co.uk/support/travel/fees-charges

Purchases made in a foreign currency
Non-Sterling Transaction Fee	No fee
The fee(s) above also apply when you buy in a foreign currency on the internet or by phone.
Cash withdrawals in a foreign currency - outside the UK
Non-Sterling Transaction Fee	No fee
Non-Sterling Cash Fee	No fee
Cash withdrawals in a foreign currency - within the UK
Non-Sterling Transaction Fee	No Fee
Non-Sterling Cash Fee	No Fee

bigadaj

ratechaser said:

magritte said:

Travelling and driving are limited now, but from July onward that will change ..  and the account also offers no-fee currency purchases and withdrawals abroad. Do you not plan on going on holiday anymore? I'm not talking next 3 months.

For me it's worth it -  I think of it as an annual insurance policy that costs £156 and offers worldwide travel insurance, mobile phones insurance, and breakdown cover for me and my family. Won't be closing the account for several months just to reopen it in September. 

Another vote for this. Don't need travel insurance but with 4 iPhones in our family, easily worth it just for that. Plus we've now got a second car so it may be useful for the breakdown cover on that (first car is already covered through Land Rovers own scheme, even has its own button in the car to call them, nice gimmick...)

Given land rovers reputation for reliability having it's own button to call them is probably just a convenient way to save everyone time and money, so long as you still have warranty cover it's not your problem. 

Highland76

ryanm8655 said:

Also debating this but it is good value, as mentioned.

Didn’t realise the account was commission free, does that apply to online foreign currency purchases as well?

Correct, the FlexPlus debit card is commission free for both cash withdrawals and pruchases.

ratechaser

bigadaj said:

ratechaser said:

magritte said:

Travelling and driving are limited now, but from July onward that will change ..  and the account also offers no-fee currency purchases and withdrawals abroad. Do you not plan on going on holiday anymore? I'm not talking next 3 months.

For me it's worth it -  I think of it as an annual insurance policy that costs £156 and offers worldwide travel insurance, mobile phones insurance, and breakdown cover for me and my family. Won't be closing the account for several months just to reopen it in September. 

Another vote for this. Don't need travel insurance but with 4 iPhones in our family, easily worth it just for that. Plus we've now got a second car so it may be useful for the breakdown cover on that (first car is already covered through Land Rovers own scheme, even has its own button in the car to call them, nice gimmick...)

Given land rovers reputation for reliability having it's own button to call them is probably just a convenient way to save everyone time and money, so long as you still have warranty cover it's not your problem. 

Apart from the one that broke down the day I got it, and the other one that barely limped into the garage where I was trading it in, I've had nothing but positive experiences from my Land Rovers... 

penny_less

I’ve downgraded from this account since lockdown started, we won’t be travelling for at least a year (reasons other than Coronavirus), we have breakdown cover with our car, and our mobile phones are old!
I first phoned and choosing the correct option got me cut off, so I then chose the option for a new customer which got me through to an actual person.  Phone call was about 15 minutes long but there was no hard sell at all, just choosing options really, and the customer service person reading out their script. Worth it at is has saved £13 a month and I can upgrade at anytime if I want.

SevenOfNine

I've had my car towed twice, free.  In Jamaica last year I had an unexpected 'procedure' & overnight stay in hospital, cost US $15,000, N/W covered it though there were a few hiccups, we got it all.

We pay an 'age' fee of £65 & medical declarations added a further £100.  We had the a/c purely for travel cover & TBH though it's expensive, it's still cheaper for us than anywhere else, the £100 will go down on renewal as some of the declarations can come off.  Annoyingly, this is the last year they're offering "no excess" for a £4 fee, having that has come in handy 3 times!

The policy does have a clause that looks like it may be useful (this year with Codiv-19 knocking booked trips on the head). Covered for cancelling (ourselves) if FCO "essential" travel advice is in effect from 28 days before travel.

DebtHurricane

I think the account is well worth the money in my opinion. The breakdown cover itself over the past 5 years has got me out of a couple of sticky situations and the service has been excellent every time. 

As for mobile insurance, Carphone warehouse and the networks usually charge £12-£15 a month anyway. 

Still worth it in my opinion!!

nicetomeetyou

Just alone for the phone insurance and fee free foreign exchange means £13 a month is worth it for me. I'm currently not insured for travel, I have a pre-existing mental health condition. When I search for insurance online I'm quoted £70 for 10 days in Europe, Its always asks if I've been involuntary hospitalised in last 6 years. Last time I was sectioned was 2016.. I think I'm going to wait another two years and see if I can get insured and not pay an excess. I don't think it would be in my interest to take insurance without cover for my mental health issues.