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Starling - Neo bank or Mickey Mouse bank?

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 28 May 2020 at 11:50PM
    maybells said:
    I’ve found Starling to be fantastic overseas. Not had any issues with them at all. Though of course, I always have my Halifax Clarity with me too.

    In the UK, Starling acts as my back-up account. I keep it with me in case my main debit card gets swallowed by an ATM. I’ve tried and failed to use my Starling card at pay pumps. Though it’s not a major inconvenience for me as they’re not my main bank anyway.
    I have other cards so it was a minor inconvenience but had I used Starling as my 'real' bank account I may have walked away without needed fuel with a reasonable amount of funds in the account.

    Given that the debit card is printed rather than embossed - I thought it might be online only like the old printed Electron debit but Starling customer services assured me that the card works offline...
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    At about midday today I used my Starling debit card to pay at pump for fuel here in Italy, and was authorised to take up to €122.39 value. I received immediate notification that I'd spent that amount from my euro account, but I've now noticed that the pending amount has already reverted to the actual spend, €42.55.
    Evolution, not revolution
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,175 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My Starling card has always worked at ASDA pay@pump since 2017. Pump will say take max £99 of fuel. I get instant notification of £30 debit on my Starling account, and the actual amount purchased is updated around 48 hours after.

    My Starling card is the original purple embossed horizontal card they first issued. It doesn't expire until later this year, so I hope the new vertical printed teal card still works at pay@pump.
  • penners324
    penners324 Posts: 3,511 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Some newer cards are blocked from pay at pump. There's an increased risk of fraud at pay at pump hence the block.
  • FWIW, my impression is that Starling are a highly professional outfit with very good technology that works well. Knowing the creaking ancient systems that support some of the legacy banks, I'd trust Starling to have systems that work more than I would any of big players and most of the new fintechs too. Their explanation of how card payments actually work (see https://www.starlingbank.com/blog/card-transactions-explained/) is one of best I've come across anywhere. 
  • block10
    block10 Posts: 220 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I find Sterling's £300 daily ATM withdrawal limit more in line with a mickey mouse bank

  • colsten
    colsten Posts: 17,597 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    block10 said:
    I find Sterling's £300 daily ATM withdrawal limit more in line with a mickey mouse bank

    Whoever needs even £100 in cash a day these days? Cash is particularly nasty in Covid-19 times, and many shops simply don't even accept it at present.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 15 July 2020 at 9:22PM
    block10 said:
    I find Sterling's £300 daily ATM withdrawal limit more in line with a mickey mouse bank

    Do you, thats good to know, I shall avoid that bank.
    A good app based bank like Monzo or Starling are fab, nothing like Sterling 😉.

    If you dont like the ATM withdrawal limit from Sterling then leave then.
  • colsten said:
    block10 said:
    I find Sterling's £300 daily ATM withdrawal limit more in line with a mickey mouse bank

    Whoever needs even £100 in cash a day these days? Cash is particularly nasty in Covid-19 times, and many shops simply don't even accept it at present.
    I've not seen any actually refuse cash but seen signs requesting contactless payments where possible.
    I can imagine a crusty card or phone could have risks, to say nothing of a Chip and Pin pad.

  • Some newer cards are blocked from pay at pump. There's an increased risk of fraud at pay at pump hence the block.
    Perhaps they should say they don't always support fuel payments upfront.
    Some poor fool might actually use them as their sole current bank.
    I've just retained mine for free overseas ATM usage. 
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