Can anyone recommend a good bank

[trix1]

Ive had enough of my bank, obscene charges every month and now every time I call them I get a call centre abroad which I would not usually mind but each call takes twice as long and then I find my requests have not been actioned.

Thank you

I use HSBC which has an online banking facility which is so much easier than queuing up when you want to check your balance or transfer money

First Direct has "real " people, all in UK (leeds) available 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. People phone them on christmas day just to check!

I think they have the lowest level of complaints of any other bank, and if you need to visit a branch or use machines they are part of HSBC so can use those.

Smile are good in my experience

Agree with Milliways re First Direct - we've been with them for almost 5 years, they're really efficient and we've never had any problems.

I've just moved to Smile, and I'm very happy. They made moving really easy - changing all the direct debits etc.

I vote for First Direct too - we've been with them for about 10 years and I think they beat the rest hands down.

First Direct - they've always been helpful and efficient. We've got a great mortgage with them too.

first direct - the online facility is brilliant but more importantly the phone banking is excellent. They can't do enough to help. I've been with them 15 years.

lloyds tsb
really helpful and efficient

another vote for First direct

I unrecommend and whole heartedly suggest that no one EVER uses barclays who are not only the most incompetant bank ive ever had the misfortune to deal with but also IMO the most incompetant "company"

they are crap and i passionatley hate them, and all their random £s going in and out of my bank accounts due to their regular errors.... even meaning i cant close my account cause their error made it over drawn (they were kind enough to refund my over draw charge though and exepcted me to be greatful for that!) it took 4 bank visits and 3 phone calls to close my account that had a £0.00 balance

Smile are fantastic! Great customer service, great site (which has to be as it's an internet bank) and ethical spending policy. Has won awards from The Guardian for being so great. They even have pre-written letters on the site that you can download to send to your exisiting bank to move to them.

Totally agree with Nanny L's comments on Barclays. My DP was charged £10 a month for years for the priviledge of having an account with them. Yes, it was up to him to check this but they had put it up very gradually from £2 when he started the account years ago and didn't realise. Every so often they'd some him some waffle which he couldn't be bothered to read and vowed to move the account but kept not getting around to it as it was his main account with all Direct Debits and stuff. That's how they get you!, they are cunning and mean!!!

Don't know if you have been watching the news about extortionate charges, but take a look at www.bankactiongroup.co.uk to look at claiming back what you have been charged over last six years.

NannyL is right, Barclays are scum, the last year I stayed with them simply because I had got good at winding them up.
One of the things they did was refuse to believe that my young, pretty wife was a director of my firm.
Not refused to believe her identity, just that she was a director, regardless of me having signed her up after we got married.
They wouldn't have it. I went nuclear at them.
And they lost things.
They're crap people, painful death is too good for them.

First Direct are pretty good.

depends what you want.....

have a look on www.moneysavingexpert.com for different options...