smile - no longer taking new applications

movedto03

One further note on the usage of premium rate 084 and 087 numbers. 

The FCA banned the usage of those numbers by financial services firms in October 2015. 

Since then, only geographic 01 or 02 numbers or non-geographic 03 or 080 numbers may be used. 

boingy

Smile were excellent and were our main accounts for a long time. But they've been running down the brand for a good few years now so we dumped them a few years ago. No regrets.

Charliecorns

@boingy Would you mind sharing who you went with from Smile? I'm thinking of moving my accounts to a new provider as Smile have really disappointed me recently with their fraud and security process. Thanks for any recommendations!

confederated

If you want an ethical account, one that does better in the ethical ratings than the Co-operative bank or Nationwide, you might try Triodos. I’ve been with them a few times over the years but signed up again just before Christmas. I have moved everything over and am cautiously pleased with the progress they've made - you can now add the VISA debit card to Apple or Google Pay and while faster payments often take around 30 minutes (sometimes more) I knew that upfront. I have other accounts I can use if I need an instant faster payment. Apparently Triodos is working on making its faster payments instant.

This time I haven’t had any payments fall foul of their fraud algorithms - previously it was a common occurrence. The account costs £3 a month so that might put some off.

I can honestly say I haven’t had any issues.

Charliecorns

Thanks for the recommendation of Triodos - I'll certainly check it out and like the sound of their ethical credentials. Do you find the website and app easy to use?

confederated

Personally I find the app and website one of the best - I can do what I need to do and I like how it looks. Transactions in shops and online appear immediately and payees are easy to set up. I wasn’t credit checked when I applied, so you’d lose nothing opening an account to see what you think. They don’t offer overdrafts, so that’s probably why. I needed to call them to ask a question and it was refreshing to get straight through to a real person who was able to help. Online purchases sometimes require verification in the app, like with other banks, but not always.

WillPS

If you want ethics then it's hard to see how much more ethical it can be than a Building Society, surely? Nationwide have 2 fee free accounts, and a fee free Basic account for those not eligible for those. Cumberland BS also offers a current account to those in their service area. £36/year quite easily saved over Triodos.

Always nice to see familiar faces return after some time in the shade.

confederated

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81890132#Comment_81890132

Ethical Consumer awards 96/100 to Triodos for its ethical credentials, Co-op gets 74, Cumberland 72 and Nationwide 70. If a bank does not invest in unethical concerns it gets points, but Triodos actively finances only ethical companies and projects. To do nothing is not good enough.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81889734#Comment_81889734

I did look at them, but they don't offer an overdraft, you can't pay cash in, the app is very basic and they charge a fee.

Charliecorns

Thank you both, I really appreciate your comments; they've really helped my research. Good to be back! 😊