Small business Banking Advise please ???

Pennywise

I'm with A&L as well - no problems to report. Seem helpful enough when I phone them.

Have you looked at the Co-Op - they have a deal through Fed of Small Business and they also seem to have a reasonably priced credit card acceptance facility. They also use the Post Office which means you can pay in cash.

Quint_2

adycooney1 wrote:

I spoke to Lloyds yesterday, they were the only ones interested in talking to me about the details in any depth. They offer 18 months free business banking.

They also said they would help me find the best way of delaing in international payments.

Abbey were a pile of C**p They said the charges for international payments would be determined by a third party, not them! They also, like you, said I had to pay in by ATM, for me that would be a nightmare.

Still waiting on Nat West to come back to me.

Ady

Good Luck ! I must Say that I like the Paying in /Facilities they provide but based on "my" business they charge about 2% / month of £££'s paid in ???

Outrageous !!!

However since opening both Abbey and All/Liec I have stayed with them because the others are just so much hassle to use and you MUST trust the Post Office with your money (What I mean is untill your statement arrives you don't really know where your money is ???) possibly lost in transit !!!

I suppose I am stuck with the charges just so I can have the comfort of being able to hand my cash and cheques to someone who gives me a smile and reassurance that the money IS in the bank !!!!!!!!

With the other two there is a thousand books for each job and envelopes and postage and stress of "did it arrive" etc and risky ATM m/c's etc I'm afraid I'm too old fashioned for that BUT . . . . .

put £££ in the Abbey RESERVE Account to get interest to offset the TSB charges so have gained something !!!

If anyone knows of a company who do traditional style "over the counter" banking with Low or NO fees Let me know ????

Cheers All !

aliciamoss

I have/am having an appalling experience with the Co-op. We took heed of the FSB advice and switched from Barclay's for free banking.

First of all, the Co-op closed the Barclay's account despite my husband telling them specifically NOT to do so until he had specifically told them to. He wanted to be sure the PDQ company had received its instructions. Co-op closed the old account before that was done and we had a couple of thousand pounds floating in the ether for a few days because it had nowhere to go.

A standing order was not paid.

Several direct debits have been cancelled, but not redirected by the Co-op, including electricity, phone and VAT. I have contacted all of those and asked directly, and they tell me they have no information as to whom to apply for payment since the Barclay's direct debit was cancelled.
Asked to send copies of all orders and dates of cancellations and redirections, Co-op have failed to do so. Asked to explain why they have made such a mess, they tell me it is up to the recipient of the DD to apply, but of course they have not admitted that they have not issued the proper instructions. Apart from which, on the Which and DD sites, I understand that the new bank is supposed to check that the new instructions are received before telling the old bank to cancel.

On top of it all, I have to pay on an 0845 number to make my complaint - a 10 minute wait yesterday, only to be told I had used the wrong number, although it was the one on the letter they sent me. When I rang today, I got an automated invitation to leave my number so that I would be called back within 15 minutes. That was 5 hours ago and still no call.

I have yet to find out what is happening with people who pay us by BACS. I dread looking.

Any suggestions gratefully received - I want a new bank, when I have got this disaster sorted out.

adycooney1

I have a meeting with Lloyds on Thursday this week, they have been the most reactive to my needs and have offered me 18 months free banking and lots of support from a designated account manager.

So far Abbey have not been able to answer my questions regarding charges or time to transfer funds overseas, Nat West did not bother calling me back, HSBC charge a fortune for overseas transfers (which I need) and I was advised not to even contact Barclays.

Everyone will have their own thoughts about banking, the best adv ice I can offer is talk to all your local branches and go with the one who offers the best support and service.

Quint_2

thanks all