Business Banking Survey
Discussion
I'm with Cater Allen Private Bank too, and have been for around 7 years (from back in the days when they were Flemings). No complaints so far.
Telephone banking is excellent (UK call centre staffed by properly trained people and not a touchtone menu in sight).
No internet banking as already mentioned.
There is a counter service but it's via branches of Royal Bank of Scotland, but unfortunately these are few and far between (my nearest is Farnborough which is inconvenient for me).
Biggest plus side is no transaction charges.
One other downside is that you can't get a Merchant ID for Credit Card processing from them, so despite being a business banking customer for 7 years I'd have to open an account with somone like HSBC and be a customer of theirs for 2 years or so before I was able to get one.
Telephone banking is excellent (UK call centre staffed by properly trained people and not a touchtone menu in sight).
No internet banking as already mentioned.
There is a counter service but it's via branches of Royal Bank of Scotland, but unfortunately these are few and far between (my nearest is Farnborough which is inconvenient for me).
Biggest plus side is no transaction charges.
One other downside is that you can't get a Merchant ID for Credit Card processing from them, so despite being a business banking customer for 7 years I'd have to open an account with somone like HSBC and be a customer of theirs for 2 years or so before I was able to get one.
Ive been banking with Barclays for the last 2 years and they have been very good and i get totally free banking which has to be good. Used to be with Lloyds but they lost that personal touch which was a shame. Natwest have to be the worst in my opinion as i had no end of problems with them.
I've been with NatWest for years, and it's like an early 80's video game. Once you know how they work, you can dodge the swerve balls, and once you know this, if you do get caught, you know the best recovery machanism.
My feeling is that I could take a list of short comings to any other bank and they'd fix 'em all, but I'd find some others I'm sure. Right now I'm pretty happy with them, but it's taken ages.
I really don't think learning to use a bank should take as long as learning to play the piano, but having done so, i'm reluctant to switch to the lilting beauty of the violin, or the apparent simplicity of the cello, as offered by the various marketing departments.
I appologise for the last paragraph, it was a poor attempt to mask my basoon realated insecurities.
My feeling is that I could take a list of short comings to any other bank and they'd fix 'em all, but I'd find some others I'm sure. Right now I'm pretty happy with them, but it's taken ages.
I really don't think learning to use a bank should take as long as learning to play the piano, but having done so, i'm reluctant to switch to the lilting beauty of the violin, or the apparent simplicity of the cello, as offered by the various marketing departments.
I appologise for the last paragraph, it was a poor attempt to mask my basoon realated insecurities.
Mikey G said:
Does anybody have any opinions on the Halifax?
I currently have a dormant account with them that i may transfer into a business account soon.
If their customer service for business users is anything like their personal banking then I wouldn't touch them with the sh!ttiest of sticks. I have just opened an account with them and applied for a credit card and it has been without doubt one of the most traumatic customer experiences i have ever had! It's a real shame as for what i want their products seem to be the most competitive I've seen...
PetrolTed said:
It's pathetic that so many of us are dissatisfied with the services on offer and yet no bank is latching on to this and offering a good service to clean up all the business from their competitors.
I suspect that most of the banks will disagree and claim they are offering good service. I'm happy with barclays but thats because our manager is a human and understands the frustrations felt by his customers, if he left we would consider moving.
D
I'm with HSBC - couldn't be happier with the service, have a direct number for my business banker who sorts 99% of stuff out ASAP and rings back when he says he will.
Had no problem getting a merchant account and ID within a fortnight of opening the account with them a couple of years ago and merchant transactions are cleared well within a week.
Can't fault them really.
Matt
Had no problem getting a merchant account and ID within a fortnight of opening the account with them a couple of years ago and merchant transactions are cleared well within a week.
Can't fault them really.
Matt
vex said:
I am with HSBC but only because of historical reasons, having my personal accounts there and all that.
Would not recommend them, cause they have done nothing to impress me at all.
Saves me Typing it.
Its an account... it holds my money... they charge be for sneezing... its NOT impressive.
Their Personal accounts are decent enough though.
I have used Lloyds for 12 years. Used to be an excellent service, but as time has shown that was simply due to the manager and the business relationship that I had had with him. Would not recommend them now, the only advise I can give is to visit all the banks in your local area and ask to speak to the business manager, 9 out of 10 will probably not be available, not known or just couldn't give a toss, so the choice then is easy. As for differentiating between them, a decent manager will give the best that all the others offer.
As an example of lloyds, I recently moved house and office, 4 months and 4 visits to branch later they are still sending correspondence to old address. Will take great delight in the next set of instructions to them, closure.
As an example of lloyds, I recently moved house and office, 4 months and 4 visits to branch later they are still sending correspondence to old address. Will take great delight in the next set of instructions to them, closure.
Lloyds are brilliant. They answer their phones faster than TVR's get to 60.
I tried to set up a US dollar business account at Barclays when I was a wee lil snapper, and the Barclays banking manager treated me like shite, told me he didnt have time for me or my business, was VERY rude, eventually apologised for his unprofessional conduct, and sent me on my way.
Years later, he was presenting the banking side of a local business seminar I attended, and it got to question time. I heckled him till he was red in the face, got him to admit he had treated business customers so poorly he had needed to apologise afterwards, and kept challenging his suitability to recommend his services until his presentation fell appart at the seams and those attended started chuckling
On the occasions that Ive set foot in barclays since, Ive had piss poor service, was short changed a tenner, etc, never again
I tried to set up a US dollar business account at Barclays when I was a wee lil snapper, and the Barclays banking manager treated me like shite, told me he didnt have time for me or my business, was VERY rude, eventually apologised for his unprofessional conduct, and sent me on my way.
Years later, he was presenting the banking side of a local business seminar I attended, and it got to question time. I heckled him till he was red in the face, got him to admit he had treated business customers so poorly he had needed to apologise afterwards, and kept challenging his suitability to recommend his services until his presentation fell appart at the seams and those attended started chuckling
On the occasions that Ive set foot in barclays since, Ive had piss poor service, was short changed a tenner, etc, never again
neil135 said:For personal banking, absolutely. They lost £1000 in cash of my girlfriends money not long ago, and Ive had no end of problems with them. I haerd they offer pretty good mortgage deals, though.
Natwest have to be the worst in my opinion as i had no end of problems with them.
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