possibly switching from barclays to A&L or other?, advice needed

Night-owl_6

PROLIANT wrote: »

Yes I find Alliance and Leicester very good also, what more could you ask for, UK call centres with "real English people" and not an advisor called "Abhaydatta" working under the alias "Mick", good interest rate, low overdraft usage facility, Visa debit card and cheque book and an state of the art secure and reliable web site.

Well put Proliant :rolleyes:

Milarky

ewokuk wrote: »

I am considering changing from Barclays (I have a platinum current account) to a new current account after the ISA fiasco which is still ongoing. Possibly to an A&L current account. I am wondering how good their internet banking is, I assume it has all the same functionality as the Barclays one, set up/remove standing orders, make payments etc.

I'm not particularly bothered about the interest on the account, more how good their internet banking is.

I have to dissent and say that A&L's internet banking is not good. You don't get statements with their 'Premier Direct' account - not even online ones. Instead all they do is show your transactions for a maximum of 265 days (about 8.5 months) So, if you want to keep your 'statements' you have to download a CSV file. This is really not an acceptable standard for an 'online' account - but OK (I suppose) if you opt for the 'Premier' account and get an identical service plus paper statements.

First Direct also seems OK with the £100 for setting it up, but what do you get after that? no interest at all it seems, but perhaps there are other advantages to them? I cant seem to find any.

First Direct are everything that A&L aren't. Although not my main current account, I would be happy to switch to them if needs be. I cannot say the same of A&L - which I will close when the freebies expire and reapply for the same freebies later. With FD, I wouldn't need an incentive.

And have you thought about not being able to send a payment to someone immediately from A&L (and min transfers of £1) as they have no 'set up and pay' feature - only 'set up and pay tomorrow'? With FD (as, in fact, with most banks) you can set up and pay immediately....

PROLIANT

Night-owl wrote: »

Well put Proliant :rolleyes:

I wasn't having a go at Asian call centre staff, they are just earning a crust like you and I but the banks should not out source important facilities like this to other countries, it is frustrating, humiliating when neither can understand a word either is saying and why do this when it only creates bad relationships between customers and bank? Every country should be self sufficient in terms of industry, Asia = Oil, UK = Good quality manufacturing and Engineering, Brazil = Coffee etc etc etc, I would not call in a plumber from Spain to come and repair my leaky tap, nor would I call an electrician from Poland to come and fix my wiring fault (would do it my self to be honest), so anybody reading this thread please do not be offended by my post.

Night-owl_6

Milarky wrote: »

I have to dissent and say that A&L's internet banking is not good. You don't get statements with their 'Premier Direct' account - not even online ones. Instead all they do is show your transactions for a maximum of 265 days (about 8.5 months) So, if you want to keep your 'statements' you have to download a CSV file. This is really not an acceptable standard for an 'online' account - but OK (I suppose) if you opt for the Premier Account and get an identical service plus paper statements.

First Direct are everything that A&L aren't. Although not my main current account, I would be happy to switch to them if needs be. I cannot say the same of A&L - which I will close when the freebies expire and reapply for the same freebies later. With FD, I wouldn't need an incentive.

The OP should go for a premier current account:T

Night-owl_6

PROLIANT wrote: »

I wasn't having a go at Asian call centre staff, they are just earning a crust like you and I but the banks should not out source important facilities like this to other countries, it is frustrating, humiliating when neither can understand a word either is saying and why do this when it only creates bad relationships between customers and bank? Every country should be self sufficient in terms of industry, Asia = Oil, UK = Good quality manufacturing and Engineering, Brazil = Coffee etc etc etc, I would not call in a plumber from Spain to come and repair my leaky tap, nor would I call an electrician from Poland to come and fix my wiring fault (would do it my self to be honest), so anybody reading this thread please do not be offended by my post.

No, I was saying well put about the overdraft fees not about UK call centres, I dont mind who I go through to so long as they can help:D

PROLIANT

Milarky wrote: »

I have to dissent and say that A&L's internet banking is not good. You don't get statements with their 'Premier Direct' account - not even online ones. Instead all they do is show your transactions for a maximum of 265 days (about 8.5 months) So, if you want to keep your 'statements' you have to download a CSV file. This is really not an acceptable standard for an 'online' account - but OK (I suppose) if you opt for the Premier Account and get an identical service plus paper statements.

That is why it has a higher interest rate over most standard current account, paperless systems should become mandatory to avoid a fee, especially in today’s world and common I.T infrastructures, if you want paper statements you should pay for them, the good old days are gone my friends no more going for a meeting with the local branch manager to discuss an overdraft facility, just press a button and keep your fingers crossed. I and thousands of people across the UK don’t have a need for a paper trail on their bank account, CSV files are fine. I have an MS Access database that I download my statements to and can query them anytime I wish. Personal preference at the end of the day, but the facts is A&L are hard to beat for a normal person’s current account.

Night-owl_6

PROLIANT wrote: »

That is why it has a higher interest rate over most standard current account, paperless systems should become mandatory to avoid a fee, especially in today’s world and common I.T infrastructures, if you want paper statements you should pay for them, the good old days are gone my friends no more going for a meeting with the local branch manager to discuss an overdraft facility, just press a button and keep your fingers crossed. I and thousands of people across the UK don’t have a need for a paper trail on their bank account, CSV files are fine. I have an MS Access database that I download my statements to and can query them anytime I wish. Personal preference at the end of the day, but the facts is A&L are hard to beat for a normal person’s current account.

I get paper statements as well as using online banking, however the bank only send me them if I have more than 5 transactions on my account.:o

PROLIANT

Night-owl wrote: »

No, I was saying well put about the overdraft fees not about UK call centres, I dont mind who I go through to so long as they can help:D

Unfortunately my experience of Asian call centre staff has not been very good, they lack basic inter-personal skills because of the difference in culture, they are robotic and seem to read off scripts, they cant negotiate and lock up when you challenge them, not their fault but that has been my experience unfortunately.

Night-owl_6

PROLIANT wrote: »

Unfortunately my experience of Asian call centre staff has not been very good, they lack basic inter-personal skills because of the difference in culture, they are robotic and seem to read off scripts, they cant negotiate and lock up when you challenge them, not their fault but that has been my experience unfortunately.

I know where you are coming from, I dont really mind so long as I am not paying for the call.

ShelfStacker_3

PROLIANT wrote: »

I wasn't having a go at Asian call centre staff, they are just earning a crust like you and I but the banks should not out source important facilities like this to other countries, it is frustrating, humiliating when neither can understand a word either is saying and why do this when it only creates bad relationships between customers and bank?

I agree, it's pointless. It seriously does only aggrieve customers. It isn't racism (I'm a typical Guardian reading lefty liberal), it's just understanding someone with a thick accent over a poor telephone line is an exercise in futility.

A&L, NatWest, First Direct and Halifax off the top of my head deserve a few plaudits for caring about their customers enough not to infuriate them