Can anyone recommend a decent internet current account?

Hooo

The account I have at the moment (One Account) is great, apart from two things - it doesn't pay interest and there's no overdraft. Since I don't use them for my mortgage anymore (it's an offset account), I thought it would be worth changing accounts.
I've read through this forum for advice, and I totally agree with the comments that headline interest rate isn't everything, good service is what really matters.
Based on comments in this forum, I opened a Smile account, and it's been so bad that I'm seriously considering abandoning the transfer process and opening a different account. The web login process is long and tedious, and they keep locking me out - necessitating a call to an 0870 number with at least 10 minutes on hold every time. Yes, I've checked I'm putting the correct details in! When I finally get logged in, the web interface is absolutely basic, with none of the functionality I'm used to.
Is there such a thing as an acount with a good web interface, where they answer the phone, and they still pay a bit of interest... 3% would do....
Oh, and I want a cheque book and a branch I can visit for large cash transactions too. An overdraft facility would be nice, but I seem to manage without one at the moment.
Or am I just expecting too much?

missile

I have several on line current accounts and IMHO Nationwide is the easiest to use.

gt94sss2

Hooo wrote: »

Is there such a thing as an acount with a good web interface, where they answer the phone, and they still pay a bit of interest... 3% would do....
Oh, and I want a cheque book and a branch I can visit for large cash transactions too. An overdraft facility would be nice, but I seem to manage without one at the moment.
Or am I just expecting too much?

For customer service have you considered First Direct?

They seem to meet all your requirements in that:

- they give a free £250 overdraft
- cheque book/telephone (all UK based) & internet banking
- you can use HSBC branches to pay in/take out money

The only thing they no longer do is pay interest on current account balances but they do have a linked instant access savings account that pays 5.25%.

Oh yes, .. and they are giving £100 to new customers..

Regards
Sunil

brookerbabyisababy

Choose either HSBC or First Direct. Both are good.

Chadsman

First Direct have the better people to which to speak but I use Nationwide as their internet savings account pays a higher rate of interest and I hardly ever need to speak to a 'real' person.
:beer:

Fedz

How does one judge an internet current account?

I have several current accounts and all basically do the same thing with NatWest being the better one but, what more can an internet bank eg: HSBC, First Direct offer than what eg: NatWest offer?

frivolous_fay

Hooo wrote: »

I opened a Smile account, and it's been so bad that I'm seriously considering abandoning the transfer process and opening a different account. The web login process is long and tedious, and they keep locking me out

My b/f does this constantly... which is why he leaves the banking to me. I strongly suggest going through all your secure details with them next time it happens - I am suspicious that when they reset memorable names, schools, etc, that they may spell them wrong.

That said I really like smile, and I'd written a post recommending them until I re-read your post properly

Hooo wrote: »

necessitating a call to an 0870 number with at least 10 minutes on hold every time.

Hey... but at least they're available 24-7 and they have UK accents

You want this number: 0161 4771927. And btw, saynoto0870.com is your friend.

Hooo wrote: »

When I finally get logged in, the web interface is absolutely basic, with none of the functionality I'm used to.

I must be missing out... what is it that you're used to? I kinda like the interface.... uncluttered, and things are easy to find! (I've seen Lloyds, that one really sucks)

fagun

Fedz wrote: »

How does one judge an internet current account?

I have several current accounts and all basically do the same thing with NatWest being the better one but, what more can an internet bank eg: HSBC, First Direct offer than what eg: NatWest offer?

I haven't tried NatWest, but FD's online functionality is vastly superior to A&Ls.

For example, A&L has contradictory balances depending on what level you've drilled down to (some show money transfers going out on the day, while other's don't). Transfers between FD accounts happen instantaneously (which they don't for A&L). And they have better customer service.

Hooo

Thanks for the useful advice people.
I already have a Nationwide credit card - I never considered them for my current account before.
Some more details on my problems with Smile...
I've been through all my secure questions with Smile, very carefully, twice... It doesn't help that some of the genuine answers to the questions are not acceptable to Smile as security question answers! (for reasons that I obviously won't go into on a forum).
I've discovered some of the reasons why logging in doesn't work.
1. At the top of the login page it says "Enter your sort code and account number, or 16 digit Visa card number". I have a card with "Visa" on it and a 16 digit number on it, so I tried that a few times. Apparantly that only works if it's a credit card. Later on I noticed that it does mention credit card lower down the page, but it's not obvious if you're a newbie.
2. If one of you on a joint acount messes up their login, it resets both your security codes. Which means, I reset my code, next time my wife logs in it doesn't work, and so she calls up and resets hers, and so on ad infinitum...
What really annoys me is that it was only on our fourth call to reset our codes that they told us this!
3. To reset the codes on a joint account, they have to do both at once, and they have to speak to both of you on the same call. What are you supposed to do if one of you is away somewhere?
4. I always wait at least 10 minutes on hold to get through to them, my current bank it's never more than a minute or two.
5. 0870 number. Yes I know about finding the geographic number, In fact that was what I was using. I just object to an "ethical" bank doing this! My curent bank doesn't.

As for the web interface
1. The account I have now lets you search all previous transactions and filter the results - for example "All direct debits between £100 and £200 in the last year". This is really handy and I'd miss it. Smile doesn't even let you download the data so that you could do this in Excel.
2. I've not got this far yet, but I've read on here that Smile doesn't show pending transactions, again something I'd miss.
3. If you click back, they log you out! This is a good enough reason alone to ditch them! The login process is long and tedious enough as it is (four separate page loads !!!!!!), but then you just click back or press F5 (force of habit to a regular web user), and you have to do the whole thing again. Who designs web interfaces like that? They should be sacked. "Security reasons"? Why does no-one else do it?

Hooo

gt94sss2 wrote: »

For customer service have you considered First Direct?

The only thing they no longer do is pay interest on current account balances but they do have a linked instant access savings account that pays 5.25%.

How does the linked savings account work? Will they automatically take money from your savings to pay outgoings from the current account? So I can put all my income straight into savings as soon as it arrives?

mancitychick

I tried a few banks, natwest, halifax, A&L, Nationwide & First Direct. I can wholeheartedly recommend FD. The phone is answered pretty much instantly everytime without all the usual press 123456 etc. The internet banking is easy to use. I try to do everything on internet banking but on the odd occasion you need to call it is nice to know that your not going to hold for 10-20 (like a&L) mins before you get through to someone.