Best Bank Account?
Discussion
I currently have a Premier account with Lloyds TSB, but frankly apart from the inclusive travel insurance & AA membership, they are crap (eg I am supposed to receive regular contact from my "personal premier banking advisor" - not once in over 5 years has the lazy fecker bothered to call me!). Can anyone recommend a better alternative?
ETA. Before anyone starts, this is not a "look how much dough I've got" thread - it is a serious query!
ETA. Before anyone starts, this is not a "look how much dough I've got" thread - it is a serious query!
Edited by schmalex on Thursday 28th August 12:08
I think you will find that most banks are either crap now, or will end up being crap over time.
The losses at the various banks will force them to squeeze their customers in many different areas and consumers of high street services are just one area. Shame, but 'we' must be more vocal and prepared to walk when they are crap.
I take as I see as I have been a HSBC customer for over 17 years. Recently swapped due to the utter ineptitude of their Premier Bank Account team. I wont go into details, but I am glad to see the back of them. Taken ALL of my business from them and swapped to other providers. Have a current account with NatWest now and much happier. For me though, they have a local branch with local staff I can talk to....
Its a simple thing, but its back to how banking was 10+ years ago. It works for me and since the branch is 10 minutes walk away, its VERY easy to use this. Does this mean it fits for everyone? Probably not - if you dont have easy access to the branch, what is the point? Hunt around for the best value for money though - its starting to get competitive though....
The losses at the various banks will force them to squeeze their customers in many different areas and consumers of high street services are just one area. Shame, but 'we' must be more vocal and prepared to walk when they are crap.
I take as I see as I have been a HSBC customer for over 17 years. Recently swapped due to the utter ineptitude of their Premier Bank Account team. I wont go into details, but I am glad to see the back of them. Taken ALL of my business from them and swapped to other providers. Have a current account with NatWest now and much happier. For me though, they have a local branch with local staff I can talk to....
Its a simple thing, but its back to how banking was 10+ years ago. It works for me and since the branch is 10 minutes walk away, its VERY easy to use this. Does this mean it fits for everyone? Probably not - if you dont have easy access to the branch, what is the point? Hunt around for the best value for money though - its starting to get competitive though....
off_again said:
Probably not - if you dont have easy access to the branch, what is the point?
The only thing I've ever done in-branch is pay in cheques. But usually that's out of hours and with HSBC you can usually get in to use the machine.Been very happy with First Direct, best online banking I've used, phone people are quick and efficient (I've never been passed from one person to another, they all seem capable of doing everything) and when I've needed something doing in a hurry they've been able to help.
martinmac said:
I have an HSBC premier account and cant fault them. They come round if I want them and have an annual home visit. No hard sell and everything seems to work well.
I was with Premier myself and found them to be utterly inept. Quite an amazing difference.I had a new 'account manager' every 6 weeks. Although they kept saying that the Premier phone call handlers would be in the UK, I always was put through to some call centre in India. They cancelled my cards without telling me, even though I spoke to them the same day and a whole load of other failures....
I wonder if I was on one 'Premier' service than everyone else? Makes me think that it wasn't quite as clear cut as they say. Oh, and was NEVER offered a home visit or similar......
Odd.
I transferred to the Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct account on advice from moneysavingexpert.com last year after being really done over by HSBC.
So far cant fault it. They matched my overdraft at 0%. I get 6% interest up to a certain amount of credit, and im not constantly bombarded by calls from someone in India wanting my password and personal details.....
So far cant fault it. They matched my overdraft at 0%. I get 6% interest up to a certain amount of credit, and im not constantly bombarded by calls from someone in India wanting my password and personal details.....
tonyvid said:
Has anyone signed up with Kuapthing for savings? I have a reluctance to give all my details and a big wodge of cash to a web address.
Yes. They seem just like any other savings outfit to me - set up account online, transferred money to them, and I can log in and see what's there (and transfer back if necessary). Not sure what else I'd want from a savings account really.sjg said:
tonyvid said:
Has anyone signed up with Kuapthing for savings? I have a reluctance to give all my details and a big wodge of cash to a web address.
Yes. They seem just like any other savings outfit to me - set up account online, transferred money to them, and I can log in and see what's there (and transfer back if necessary). Not sure what else I'd want from a savings account really.
off_again said:
sjg said:
tonyvid said:
Has anyone signed up with Kuapthing for savings? I have a reluctance to give all my details and a big wodge of cash to a web address.
Yes. They seem just like any other savings outfit to me - set up account online, transferred money to them, and I can log in and see what's there (and transfer back if necessary). Not sure what else I'd want from a savings account really.tonyvid said:
off_again said:
sjg said:
tonyvid said:
Has anyone signed up with Kuapthing for savings? I have a reluctance to give all my details and a big wodge of cash to a web address.
Yes. They seem just like any other savings outfit to me - set up account online, transferred money to them, and I can log in and see what's there (and transfer back if necessary). Not sure what else I'd want from a savings account really.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff