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Original poster

Ranting about BARCLAYS - going to swap banks but to whom?

36 replies

Jodee · 02/02/2006 16:08

Won't bore you with too much detail, but they have managed a triple-whammy this week, cocking up my bosses conveyancing transactions, clients still waiting at 5pm to move in and bl**dy unhappy, interest charges to boot (he is dumping them as well)(1), DH was called a liar by his boss who accused him of not paying in cash and cheques on Monday as it didn't show up in 45mins on boss's account as it normally does (Barclays didn't make the transaction until yesterday) (2) chip and pin nightmare with me (3).

Who has given you excellent service? Need a bank that I can pay cheques into easily, so I guess an internet bank is out.

OP posts:
katierocket · 02/02/2006 16:12

First Direct are brilliant, I've been with them 10 years and I can't recommend them highly enough. They go out of their way to be helpful.

They're owned by HSBC so you can use those branches to pay cheques in etc

sazzlealsop · 02/02/2006 16:13

HSBC definately no grumbles with them

Socci · 02/02/2006 16:14

Message withdrawn

JonesTheSteam · 02/02/2006 16:16

Alliance & Leicester.

bubblepop · 02/02/2006 16:17

first direct, highly recommended, but to be honest i used to work for one of the big four, and whichever one you bank with, you'll come across a dip stick who will cock up your account no matter where you go. its not the computer, but the person who operates it!

hovely · 02/02/2006 19:56

yep. first direct
available 24 hour, have always been mega-helpful

starlover · 02/02/2006 19:56

SMILE! they are fantaaaaaaaaaastic!

Twiglett · 02/02/2006 19:57

first direct .. no question

starlover · 02/02/2006 19:57

sorry, should have read... smile send you pre-paid envelopes... so all ytou have to do is shove cheque in and post... easy peasy.. no having to go into the branch to pay it in or anyhting

Twiglett · 02/02/2006 20:01

if you want to switch to first direct I think an existing customer can get some cash, and give some cash (£25?) by referring you .. I would be happy to oblige

JanH · 02/02/2006 20:08

Alliance & Leicester have v good internet service and atm have extremely good rates of interest for new customers in both current and savings a/cs. (Not available to existing customers which I am v about but still, it's a good deal!)

With A&L you can either post cheques, or pay in cash at any branch or any PO (goes straight in with a debit card); you can hand in a cheque in an envelope at the PO too.

Details here - 5% on current a/cs up to £2.5k until March 07. Fairly unbeatable.

kikidee · 02/02/2006 20:11

Another vote for First Direct! I can pay cheques in through the Post Office as I'm in Scotland and there aren't many HSBC branches. I'm not suer if you can do it elsewhere in the UK.

Orinoco · 02/02/2006 20:49

Message withdrawn

LadySherlockofLGJ · 02/02/2006 20:50

First Direct..............

Surfermum · 02/02/2006 20:50

First direct.

LadySherlockofLGJ · 02/02/2006 20:50

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Are we seeing a pattern emerging here ???

JanH · 02/02/2006 20:58

Which mag recommend:

Alliance & Leicester Premier Current Account
Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct Current Account
Cahoot Interest Only Account
First Direct Bank Account
Intelligent Finance (IF) Current Account
Nationwide BS FlexAccount
Smile Current Account

Customer Satisfaction rating went:

  1. Smile
  2. First Direct
  3. Nationwide
  4. A&L x 2
  5. Cahoot
  6. Intelligent Finance
jamiesam · 02/02/2006 21:01

Nationwide here - have our bank account, mortgage and children's accounts with. Chose as they are sort of 'right on' but also pay reasonable interest on balance, have sensible mortgage rate etc. Have had great service, but you never know if that's just down to your own branch staff???

Janos · 02/02/2006 21:13

"First Direct are brilliant, I've been with them 10 years and I can't recommend them highly enough. They go out of their way to be helpful."

I second this. They have been incredibly helpful to me recently over financial problems.

SorenLorensen · 02/02/2006 21:15

Barclays are the pits.

My vote is for Smile. Have been with them since I told Barclay's to shove their account up their...er...

Smile are fab. Everything is online - if you ring you speak to a real person straightaway (and they are not in Delhi!) and they are always well informed and helpful. And they're ethical.

bangersandmash · 02/02/2006 21:17

no no no HBSC is awful - given us nothing but grief - and we'll be ditching them as soon as we're able to

SorenLorensen · 02/02/2006 21:17

I think First Direct have a deal on atm where if you open an a/c with them and arrange to have your salary paid in they will credit you with £50.

jamiesam · 02/02/2006 21:21

Interesting that there's only one vote for any of the big 4.

We left Natwest (who were absolute ba*tards when I had very small financial prob, but that's over 10 years ago and it's all forgotten now ) and Lloyds for joint account as much easier to handle £ that way.

Aloha · 02/02/2006 21:22

Do NOT go to Abbey. Nightmare. Absolute nightmare. And the call centres are in the Punjab and honestly, it is so difficult communicating with them.

nikkie · 02/02/2006 22:01

I 'm after changing too, I mainly take my money out at the post office so any ideas which you can use there?
I'm with Lloyds at the moment.

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