Banks ain't what they used to be.

MarkyMarkD

barbar wrote: »

I transferred some money from 1 A&L current account to another A&L current account. On the same day I transferred money to my daughter who banks with another bank. My daughter actually got the money first. there is no consistency with the time it take to transfer.

Transfers between 2 A&L current accounts are instant if you do them by phone and slower than instant if you do it online. Sounds silly, but it's true.

I transfered some money from one A&L savings account to an A&L current account which is instant (but only for a single nominated account not all).

You can have as many linked savings accounts as you like for the one current account, and then transfers are instant. All you cannot do is link the savings accounts to more than one current account, or have links between different current accounts unless they are both in your name (or you are a party to both).

I then paid a bill from the current account which had enough money in it because I had just transferred from the savings. I specifically did it that order to ensure that i was always in credit. Then miraculously the payment appeared on my statement before the transfer from the savings meaning that I went massively overdrawn.

See above. If you actually mean you got charged, it's because the transfer wasn't instant because the accounts weren't linked.

The available balances never make sense, currently in one account I have 3 different balances showing and to make matter worse money I have transferred between A&L accounts has not appeared in one but is not showing as pending. It means you have to keep another set of accounts just to keep track of your money. HSBC was always instant for any transaction between HSBC accounts.

Yes, the available balances are a mess.

Money take days to transfer and does not seem to be consistent.

I don't agree that it's inconsistent, although it will depend what time of day you initiate the transaction (as it would with any bank). But all outward BACS payments take a day longer than you would expect because the first day of the standard BACS cycle is the day AFTER you instruct the payment online.

I used to pay all of my DD at the beginning of the month, when I moved to A&L I changed all of the account details to the new bank, now because transfer between accounts take so long I have to actually go to the branch and transfer the money physically to ensure that my the DDs are covered.

This doesn't make sense unless you are intentionally transferring from a non-linked savings account - and if so, simply link it.

There is never anyone serving at A&L (well 1 person in reality). I just get the impression that they have never made the transition to a proper bank and are really still a provincial building society.

None of the transactions you are describing are intended to be carried out over the branch counter - they could all be done online or on the phone more efficiently. So obviously there are not lots of staff waiting for people to do transactions over the counter.

Mikeyorks

viking30 wrote: »

The good old days? i think so
.

Absolutely?

Charges for each cheque on a personal account .. charges for SOs .... in fact charges for each line entry on the Statement.

I used to write (Bank) Giro credits for every bill ...draw a single cheque to cash - and queue, with the other idiots, all lunch time in my local Bank just to pay everything. Cheap(er) ... but hardly cheerful? I really miss it:rolleyes:

Anyone for a thread on National Service - and why it was wonderful? But regret I can't contribute to that.

YorkshireBoy

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Charges for each cheque on a personal account .. charges for SOs .... in fact charges for each line entry on the Statement.

I used to write (Bank) Giro credits for every bill ...draw a single cheque to cash - and queue, with the other idiots, all lunch time in my local Bank just to pay everything. Cheap(er) ... but hardly cheerful? I really miss it:rolleyes:

I mustn't go back as far as you Mike , because the only thing I remember from the 'old days' is having to keep £100, and latterly £50, credit balance in my Yorkshire Bank current account in order to enjoy 'free banking'.

Anyone for a thread on National Service - and why it was wonderful? But regret I can't contribute to that.

I'd better fetch my dad round then, because he mentions it most days! :rolleyes:

RayWolfe

I go back as far as Mikeyorks when we could only dream of having £100 in our accounts ...
That is a good idea about National Service. What about birching people who go overdrawn and then want their charges back? ;-)

Mark7799

RayWolfe wrote: »

I go back as far as Mikeyorks when we could only dream of having £100 in our accounts ...
That is a good idea about National Service. What about birching people who go overdrawn and then want their charges back? ;-)

Nah - put 'em in the stocks:D

Mikeyorks

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I mustn't go back as far as you Mike ,

That's not a nice thing to say late on a Sun night .... despite it's probably true:p

I'm 'only' going back to around 1979/80 .. when, for reasons history has obliterated, I was with Barclays. I remember the 'charge per line' .... but I can't remember that it was mitigable by keeping a minimum balance. I thought that came a little later .. as we gradually moved to the 'free' banking, which is much abused currently? However .. as RayWolfe says, a running balance of £100 at that time was a bit Utopian for most of us. You must come from 'up on the hill';)

And you certainly didn't move Banks (I always thought your Bank was nominated on your Birth Certificate!). Not that there was much point as the only practical differences, at the time, was the name above the door.

Ah ... those good old days:rolleyes:

Dylanwing

Charges for each cheque on a personal account .. charges for SOs .... in fact charges for each line entry on the Statement.

I used to write (Bank) Giro credits for every bill ...draw a single cheque to cash - and queue, with the other idiots, all lunch time in my local Bank just to pay everything. Cheap(er) ... but hardly cheerful? I really miss it:rolleyes:

Ah yes, but at least YOU paid for the services that YOU used, far better than some Dude who has gone a fiver over his limit paying for about 20 other peoples services.:whistle:
As for queuing, it was endless fun... For the cashiers trying to ensure that the attractive girls ended up at their till.... "See 'em in their heels and ting" etc.
Anyway, I don't care what has improved, things were better in 'My Day', and in 20 years time, todays youngsters will be going on about how great things are now, just as my Father longed for the 'Good Old Days' of rationing, bombs and fighting the Japanese.

YorkshireBoy

Mikeyorks wrote: »

That's not a nice thing to say late on a Sun night .... despite it's probably true:p

I did consider other alternatives...but thought that was the kindest one! As it's turned out though, it seems that we go back as far as each other.

I'm 'only' going back to around 1979/80 .. when, for reasons history has obliterated, I was with Barclays. I remember the 'charge per line' .... but I can't remember that it was mitigable by keeping a minimum balance. I thought that came a little later

I don't remember when, exactly, but I joined YB in 1979...but wouldn't have paid much attention (shameful, I know) until probably 3 years later when I started to pay bills...most notably a mortgage at 16%!!!!!

as RayWolfe says, a running balance of £100 at that time was a bit Utopian for most of us. You must come from 'up on the hill';)

I didn't say I managed it...I had to pay for my banking. We 'ad it rough 'up on t'hill'.

And you certainly didn't move Banks

I'm still with YB, nearly 30 years later...and have no plans to move (for my main banking). Before I'm reminded that this is a moneysaving site, I should point out that I also have 5 current accounts elsewhere.

Mikeyorks

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

......most notably a mortgage at 16%!!!!! .

How the memory removes pain!

I also had one of those. I had forgotten. Unfortunately I had a National & Provincial one that (I later discovered was one of the few that ...) only reviewed annually 31st Dec. As interest rates had started to climb the previous Jan - I finished with 'arrears' (technical, but still real money) + interest on those + the new rate from the 1st Jan. Net result was that the Mtge repayment increased 350% overnight! The following year was, financially, 'difficult'!

So ... many thanks for reviving that memory:rolleyes: Yes ... I could have calculated the increases (the BS wouldn't) .... but none of us quite believed the Base Rate was not going to turn round? Until it was too late.

I also have 5 current accounts elsewhere

...I knew you came from 'up on the hill'. But there's no need to rub it in.;)

tradetime

RayWolfe wrote: »

Ah, but those "good ol' days" were when we were charged for having a bank account.

Ah yes and today we have "free" banking. Just because you don't see the truck that run you over doesn't mean you weren't run over by a truck. Banking never has ben and never will be free, the only thing that varies is how well the cost is hidden.