Smile are not what they once were IMHO

nilrem_2

Like all the others Smile started out lovely with all the promises but how things have changed IMHO, just look at the interest rate figures below -:
Notice how well they started out with decent rates and increases when BOE went up but in the past few years the only time they moved was when rates went down!
They have recently decreased the rate to 2.78% with the BOE rate at 5.50% yet notice the last time they paid 2.78% the BOE rate was only 4.00%! sadly they are (IMHO) no longer the exciting bank they once were!

The poor interest applies to their other accounts too, agreed they are not alone as other banks are 'short changing' their savers but I used to keep a considerable amount with Smile but now I just 'use' them, it's a shame as I always had a 'feel good' feeling about them which has now long gone!

wombat42_2

Yes I agree. They still have a relatively good customer service though.

[Deleted User]

yes I agree too. Good bank but I don`t keep much cash with them when I can get better rates elsewhere

SparciaM

I left my job with smile and left banks as their rates have decreased since the BOE increased (in the last year) and there customer service is dreadful now.

When I left they were more interested in sales than service, the targets were dreadful to meet and it was awful. I was ordered to try and sell a loan to someone who had lost their debit card - come on!!!

I bank with FD now. There rates have dropped as well, but nowhere near as smile. I sent a secure message to smile asking to cancel a DD on a particular day and close the account and it took 5 messages and 2 phone calls before they understood what that meant!

Three more friends have left working there due to their policies changing so much.

neilp

I completely agree. I am not sure what counts as good customer service. My experience of Smile was pretty positive, but no more so than any other bank I have dealt with. I recently switched to A&L because of much better rates, and I think the quality of their customer service is comparable.

mr_fishbulb

The free Virgin wine wasn't that good either.

1jim

Actually you may be right, the customer service may be slipping, havnt had to use them for ages but a couple of years ago the phone was answered almost straightaway, i called a week ago and it took about 20mins to speak to someone, saying that though they seem a pretty decent bank from an ethical viewpoint so thats why i stay with them

[Deleted User]

I have been left on hold for 10 minutes so far. This is very unusual and shows me that smile is drifting downhill. Now that I am through to someone I am stll being kept on hold while he talks to another department. Not good at all. I`m saying that after being happy for over 20 years with them

wombat42_2

1jim wrote: »

Actually you may be right, the customer service may be slipping, havnt had to use them for ages but a couple of years ago the phone was answered almost straightaway, i called a week ago and it took about 20mins to speak to someone, saying that though they seem a pretty decent bank from an ethical viewpoint so thats why i stay with them

I do know that made about 20% of the workforce redundant.

neilp

I am pretty sceptical about their ethical credentials. All banks now have ethical policies. I have looked at a few of them and they are very similar - Smile/Co-op Bank included. Smile/Co-op Bank simply choose to make the ethical issue a key marketing issue. Indeed, Martin Lewis had a very interesting blog entry recently about the new Co-op Bank credit card, and how it was "about as ethical as my bottom"!