to think HSBC are a bunch of idiots

[jade80]

I suspect I am in particularly grumpy mood today! But HSBC and their bloody new method for accessing internet banking! You used to tap in your date of birth, account details and two of the numbers from your 8 digit secret code, nice and easy, you could hold all the relevant info in you head.

Now you have to press a button on a little code pad, enter a PIN, then press more buttons and enter the code it gives you into the website, as well as type in an answer a question. And then repeat the whole bloody process every time you want to transfer money or make a payment, despite already being signed in.

Now a.) i had no issues with the way they used to do internet banking. I am confident it was secure and I took the necessary measures to minimise the chance of anyone accessing my account.

b.) as soon as it turned up I knew I would lose the bloody thing (which I did a few weeks later, and when replacing it- and moaning at the HSBC employee- he told me they cost three quid each to issue! What a waste of money!)

3.) it takes ages longer than it used to, when I held all the relevant details in my head and did not have to cart the code pad around with me (it's a bit crap and weak or I would attach it to my keys- but I don't think it would last more than a week without breaking.

So yeah, it now takes longer to use their system, limits you to either carrying the code pad around, or only using internet banking at home, and is generally a massive waste of money, which makes me want to throttle that kid on the advert every time she waves her crappy moneybox at the old bloke.

So, anyway, which banks have easier to access internet banking? Or are they all like this now? (Mr HSBC implied this was the case when I rang to ask if I could go back to the old way of accessing internet banking before I ejected my laptop from the window.)

Please tell me if you know of a better one, before I lose the damn thing again and have to wait a few days for the new one to turn up in the post, followed a day or so later by another letter with a code to activate it. By which time I've made the payment another way anyway.

Yes, yes, I am irrationally annoyed!

I think the 99% figure is quite accurate. I used to work for HSBC, and after the introduction of the secure key our branch found that reports of fraud from personal customers seemed to drop off.

The thing with this method as opposed to having details that are "all in your head" is that to do anything you NEED the secure key physically in front of you, as well as knowledge of the pin and security questions. So it's an additional wall against someone remotely accessing your account, through keystroke technology or otherwise. I just remember that guy a few months who took thousands of pounds from his neighbours a/c's through intercepting their mail and guessing their passwords and password reminder-security questions from their details on Facebook....

Can't say I am all that pleased with HSBC at the moment either.
We wanted to get internet banking for our severely physically disabled DD.
EXH rang round a few banks to find one that will do internet banking for under 16s. Hsbc said they would. He then asked if their branch was accessible to wheelchairs. They said it was.
Turned up with DD on a rainy Saturday ... inaccessible; person had to come and stand outside under an umbrella with EXH and DD to take all the details, open the account etc. Not impressive. And she has to revisit and go through all this again, in public outside the branch, when the cards, codes etc arrive through the post. EXH rightly very cross.

Just bloody realised DS must have 'hidden' mine somewhere no idea where it is!

Can collect new one from branch tho so all not lost!

Couldn't agree more. I have stopped using my HSBC account because of this - I travel for long periods of time and need to e able to pay bills etc when I'm away. If I lost the security thingy at the beginning of a 1-month trip I'd be completely screwed.

Have switched to First Direct - no security thingy and you get £100 bonus for switching!

Oh god you are SOOOO yanbu, I was rantiong about this the other day to a friend, I hate it! I have no idea where it is, I forgot my phone password number about 3 years ago so cant check balance by phone and for some reason my bank card won't work in cashpoints to withdraw money or check my balance. Every month is an exciting time of guessing where the hell I am in my balance trying not to get overdrawn and failing!

I recently met gemalto management who design a lot of their chips.

The 99% figure is true.

First Direct - simple over the phone and on-line. (Set up a user name, password and a single seciurity question first and then type them on when you log on. Fairly easy to keep in your head)

On the phone you get straight through. None of this "press one for..." nonsense either - they answer quickly and you always talk to a person.

Busyoldfool is right. First Direct are fab. Phone answered immediately, one or two security questions and then this wonderful person, based in the UK with a fabulously welcoming northern accent, does everything for you, whatever the time of day. Why would you want to bank any other way?

DoubleChoc you know you could go into a branch, reset your telephone banking, get your card sorted and get issued a new secure key within half an hour? How do you cope without ATM access?! First Direct are brilliant re customer service etc, but I like to be able to just amble into a branch if I have any problems

Natwests online banking is great

Sadly doesn't make up for the fact that the bank is a massive pile of steaming horse shit and I hate it so very much!

I've lost mine twice then found them as soon as they've cancelled it!