Banks

[AidanPlace]

I'm with First Direct, couldn't recommend them more, efficient and telephone based uk call centre.

Don't start me on Santander. Today in my job as an IFA I was helping an 88 year old client who wanted to move some money away from Santander to another local bank as he has a better relationship and Santander have messed him about with the withdrawal.

When I explained what we wanted to do I was accused of being unprofessional, goodness me.

We didn't even get to the better rate offered by the competition. Anyway after going through her for a short cut, know your client and all that. I'm quite looking forward to taking him in next week to complete the transaction, which I've offered because I know they will mess him about and he'll come away empty handed. ******s!!!

Wouldn't touch em with someone else's barge pole.

Aidan

[peterg]

Scott, just received the latest issue of Which?...

Recommended banks for current account:-

First Direct

Smile  (owned by Co-op Bank)

The One Account (owned by RBS)

Co-op Bank

Nationwide

The one company the say don't touch..... Santander  

[Martin Keene]

In the Press Barclays get a lot of stick but I've been with them a long time and there're OK.

I pay £10 / month for the "Premier" (free overdraft and a raft of other useless stuff). But I also get a number which goes straight through to a UK call centre and have always been able to help.

I'm with Barclays and have been since I first opened an account, and until SWMBO moved in, I'd never given whether they were any good or not a second thought.

She was with Lloyds TSB. What a nightmare, there would be at least 1 phone call and 1 letter a week trying to sell her something. Which suddenly made me think, that unless I ring Barclays or a statement arrives, I never hear a peep from them.

She has since move to Barlcays and much prefers them.

[waggledance]

Slightly off the point, but I love that green waggledance, what colour is it if you don't mind me asking ??

I cant spread much light on the colour of the car other than it is 2006 standard westfield light green.  The Factory wont say colour name or code . I had some paint mixed up by Auto paint, St Helens, to spray a boot box lid that was blue.  After 2 attempt's  they got the colour right and sent me a tin labeled  .....2 pack "ST HELENS FOG".  

Glen.

[Fat Albert]

.

Barclays are undoubtedly the WORST, I have a colleague who had his personal account and mortgage with one branch and his business account in another. He also had two savings accounts in the name of his two children for which he was the authorised signatory.

Through oversight he neglected to move money from his business account to cover his mortgage, yes it's drawings and yes it was paid regularly every month.

Barclays took money from his CHILD's savings account to cover the mortgage payment.

It turns out that their action was illegal as well as breaking the banking code, it took him 12 months to get a banking ombudsman decision and Barclays only gave up the legal process when threatened with publicity by my colleagues MP. He has never received an apology.

It took 6 weeks to move all the accounts, except the mortgage, which took several more months and required the intervention of the FSA to force Barclays to abandon early redemption charges, given the circumstances.

I repeat, Barclays, owned by Arabs, are absolutely the worst bank

[Pistol Pete]

I was annoyed by abby/Satandar back in the 90's, I therefore still have an account with them with the grand total of 79p! They sent me statement twice a year.

I must write them a letter and ask where 15 years of interest has gone, as its never increased.

And recently I had an ISA with them and discovered you have to re-open/upgrade the account evey year or they reduce your interest to 0.1% (theiving Bar Stewards). Money is now moved.

[marccus]

Can't fault First Direct as i have been with them for 3 yrs and no problems. Telephone/internet service second to none.

Other than that the Coop seems an efficient bank and scores highly in all of the polls.

As for Santander, never again was with them for 18mths and had nothing but grief. Ended up in the local branch and made a bit of scene about how crap they were and then went on to close 5 accounts at the cashiers window with only one cashier on. The queue when i left was about 15 deep.

Quite satisfying!!

[ACW]

banks are like ISPs. If youve never had a problem their fine, its when you have a problem it all goes wrong.

Both me and misses with Barclays. Used them for years as they gave me the most money on an Overdraft and credit card than anyone else when I was a student. We both get Premier accounts FOC although recently they seem to have got rid of a load of personal banking people who were very good.

[SteveD]

there all as bad as each other

[windy]

My bank is my Escort.

I can drive it too. Generates plenty of interest

Can fix it without making a phone call to India

[Captain Colonial]

Thanks for the replies all. When it was Alliance and Leicester everything was cool, now it's s**t. They called tonight and asked if I would rate their call centre!  On a scale of 1-7, I rated it in negative numbers.  Bet thy were happy they called.  Next step is I have the email address and home address for their CEO, so she will hear about this soon.

Meanwhile, I'll check First Direct.  Thanks again!

[Pistol Pete]

Capt'n, just vote with your feet (or money in this case). It's just not worth the effort.

[Dommo]

Santander are well known in the trade to be crap. Currently topping the customer satisfaction charts are Nationwide and NatWest.

[Captain Colonial]

Capt'n, just vote with your feet (or money in this case). It's just not worth the effort.

You're probably right.  But then again, if you don't tell them, will they ever learn? Assuming they listen...!

[Mat Jackson]

Can't fault hsbc, been there 15 yes.

Also, would never pay for a bank account!!!  Can't believe how many people do!!?