Awful issues with our bank - which bank would you recommend

[RubySlippers]

Our bank is AWFUL and we need to change

DH thinks it will be a hassle as we have standing orders and Direct Debits etc set up on the account, but i do not want to stay with them a minute longer than we have to

so, we need a bank that won't freeze our account over a weekend, leaving us without access to our money, or allow fraudsters plenty of access to our account either

(plus a reasonable overdraft limit, and good interest rate when we are in credit)

TIA

sunshine - good to know

yes first direct.

no halifax they are swine, they take money out over weekend but won't credit it, take dds at 4am and then charge unauthorised overdraft fees even if you pay in cash same day.

dh is self employed and our cash flow is often a bit tricky, fd understand and are really helpful, halifax just keep charging us lots of money. can't close account as need it for mortgage.

dp banks with the co-op for ethical reasons but we're always getting into arguments about it 'cos they're crap - always charging her for stuff and completely inflexible.

First Direct are way more customer friendly and I love things like their free weekly text - I get a text every Monday morning letting me know the balance on my current account. But dp wouldn't bank with them in a million years 'cos they're part of HSBC.

We'll never have a joint account!

Dottydot I get a text every day with transactions and balance. Find it really useful.

Didn't know about the no interest - they used to give a fab rate but I've been with them for that long things have no doubt changed. My money is never in the current account long enough to earn any interest anyway.

Definitely First Direct. Customer service is great.

If you need to go to a branch for paying things in etc you can go to HSBC.

I bank with the co-op and have never had any problems with them.

Have been with Lloyds/TSB for 23 years, and they have only occasionally been a hassle. they allow good overdraft if arranged with them, and have been very good as we are abroad at the moment. I can do both internet and phone banking which is helpful, and normally get a call centre in UK as I phone from abroad.

My brother got £600 fraudulently taken from his account, and it was refunded without any problem, and the account cancelled and a new one set up.

I am exceptionally picky about customer service and, after 6 years with First Direct, have been unable to find even one fault with them. Use them if you value your sanity!

I am exceptionally picky about customer service and, after 6 years with First Direct, have been unable to find even one fault with them. Use them if you value your sanity!

I agree with fishie, Halifax are a pain in the arse, we had so many charges with them, transactions/dd's do go out at like 11.59pm. You can check your account at 6pm and be in credit, look the next day and a transaction will have come out of your account the previous
day grr leaving you overdrawn . Natwest are ok, never had any problems with them, all transactions that are going out of your account that day are shown on a morning, and customer service was fine.

I bank with First Direct but am going to switch to an ethical bank as they have a v bad record on that front.
Also if you every go overdrawn without agreeing it first, they totally sting you, so I dont recommend them.

more replies and tips - thank you all very much

Hadn't thought of Nat West and I used to be with Halifax and they weren't great IME

some years ago i had a conversation with the financial ombudsman and they told me that the stats for complaints for high street banks were remarkably consistent year on year. First direct always do well both for the low number of complaints and the speed with which they sorted them out. This seems consistent with many of the other posts on here.

MrsW - i have to say that First Direct seems an overwhelming favourite on this thread

what happened with your bank , ruby? do i need to go and crack some heads

Again having worked for FD I can say that they have a really great complaints team and take it really seriously when a customer complains. They had a dodgy patch about 7-8 years ago when the customer base suddenly exploded and they couldn't get enough staff quickly enough, but all seems sorted now.

Both call centres are UK based.

Don't know about the ethical stuff though.

Yes to First Direct here, and no to LloydsTSB. They are utter buggers and I hates them, I does.

Barclays have always looked after me really well, always give back any fees if I go over my overdraft (when I ask) but were lousy at arranging our last mortgage.

We are with LloydsTSB and they are utterly brilliant! Honestly!

lulu - they froze our account over the weekend because THEY had not updated our change of address details

they wouldn't lift the restriction until today (saturday - tuesday)

they have admitted it was their fault

they are heartless

and LOADS of fraudulent transactions

YOu must go with Alliance and Leicester - and if you let me know your e-mail address I can earn £50 to split with you by recommending them

I moved 3 months ago after finally getting completely hacked off with Natwest Private Banking. It's internet based, but you can use their branch network as well. They pay a massive 8.5% interets on the first £2500 balance on your current account. They handled the switch really well for me. thy sent me a letter showing all my existing dd's/SO, I ticked the ones that were still"live" and needed transferring, they did it. I did have to check the first month that eerything had gone through, and 5 of my 20 or so hadn't, but it was the companies' fault and was resolved by me telephoning them. Really I can't rate them highly enough

Nationwide (ok it's a building society) has been absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pru - that interest rate is stonking!

ah CG - we are with Nationwide!