Best alternative to Halifax with following criteria?

triade

Bridlington1 said:

It seems a bit extreme to me to switch banks again just because you don't like the card reader.

I agree, it certainly is extreme, but from what I read elsewhere, some people are being forced to use the card reader for multiple random transactions.  Maybe that's not true, so I'm willing to give it some time.

lr1277 said:

From what you have said, I am guessing you made the move to Nationwide. Can you not use Nationwide's app to confirm transactions?

I am with FD and  have used the app to confirm a transaction. I also need to use it to generate a code to login to the website. Which is a pain. But the app has replaced the code generator that I used previously. Also being able to see actual and pending transactions i the app is very helpful.

I looked at the app web page on Nationwide and it is not clear to me that the app can be used to confirm transactions.

Yes,  I switched over the course of last week and it finalised a few days ago. It does seem that the card reader is like the code generator you mention. 

I never used Internet banking before, I actually started with the app when I was with Halifax. Perhaps this was a common thing before apps became common? Then perhaps nationwide are just lagging behind.

Thanks for the info guys 🙂

Bridlington1

triade said:

but from what I read elsewhere, some people are being forced to use the card reader for multiple random transactions.  Maybe that's not true, so I'm willing to give it some time.

[...]

I never used Internet banking before, I actually started with the app when I was with Halifax. Perhaps this was a common thing before apps became common? Then perhaps nationwide are just lagging behind.

Usually the only instance when you will need to use the card reader to verify a payment is when you try paying someone new or if the payment looks suspicious. It's just one of the many fraud prevention measures used by the banks and the minor inconvenience of using a card reader is probably a price worth paying to prevent your bank account being emptied by potential fraudsters. Quite a few of the banks use card readers including Natwest, RBS and Barclays to name a few so it is pretty common practice, though they do seem to be getting gradually phased out in favour of the banking apps.

One other thing to note is that your card reader is not unique to you. You can use someone else's card reader to verify payments/log into online banking as long as you have your debit card to hand and know your pin. You can also use a card reader from one of the other banks and it will work. I've got 3 card readers at the moment, each from a different bank and I use them interchangeably. I know a few people who keep a spare card reader at their place of work or in their car for this reason.

lr1277

My mum banks with Nationwide and she had a problem paying the care company for my dad. I can’t remember all the details but I did write about it elsewhere on the forum at the time.
The care company used an internet only bank, so could not accept cheques. Also the bank or the care company’s account was not registered for Confirmation of Payee (CoP).
So she couldn’t pay the bill using internet banking and the Nationwide website bombed out in such a way it was utterly unhelpful.
Mum and I had to go into branch and get them to make the payment and setup the payment for next time.
The next time we had to use the card reader to confirm the payment on internet banking.
The third time the payment went through smoothly without the card reader nor a branch visit.

Edited to add the internet only bank was Cashplus if I remember correctly. I don’t want to malign all internet only banks.

Thumbs_Up

triade said:

Hi,

I've been pretty happy with Halifax for over 10 years now. Never had any problems or needed any help.

I am late to this one and have not read anyone else’s comments. Just to say I bank with Halifax for many years with no issues. The point I like to make is I have had / have large sums of money (25k) coming in and going out for months now and not once have I had my account locked out for a so called banking review.

Daliah

Starling Bank have released a video about card readers: https://www.facebook.com/StarlingBankUK/videos/594252222328330/?__tn__=,O

triade

Just confirming, it did only require the card reader the first time.

That's not the worst thing in the world so I think it's all fine. ^^