BANKS - which of the b***ards is the least worst?

[Tinker]

Currently have an account with Barclays - have had it for 20 years. Since I am frequently overdrawr I'm privileged to have been shoved into an Additions account. Now, when I was 'always overdrawn from day 1 one the month' I didn't resent paying £5 for this privilege. It has gradually increased over the years and today I got letter telling me that they are allowing me to have emergency plumber care and home start roadside assistance. For this they are TELLING me (not offering me) that the cost will go up to £9.50 a month. That's £114 per year for things I DON'T WANT.

So, which banks don't fleece you too much? I'm not quite as overdrawn as I used to be and there could be ways around that now.

would thishere be of any use?

Why don't you transfer your debt to a credit card that charges 0% interest for the first few months. Start a new bank account somewhere with a clean slate and make sure you pay off the debt with at least the monthly minimums. Then if after the 0% period comes to an end you haven't paid off the debt, just transfer the balance to another card with 0% interest. That way you can pay off the debt without a penny of interest and keep your bank account in the black.

My dh shopped around recently for a new bank account for me. I wan't in the red, but I felt that my bank (NatWest) was charging me exorbitant rates for the types of services you mention. I now have a plain and simple account with Abbey National and they pay me interest (pennies only but at least the money is going in my direction, not away from it!)

I've been with first direct for 14 years and never had a problem. They give you a free £250 overdraft but are quite pricey after that but you can ring them any time to check your balance. I love paying my bills by phone and getting them paid at the very last mimute. There was only one incidenet when I went very overdrawn and it was sort of my fault (I did a savings sweep thing and it swept all my wages in too!) It was really my fault but felt I should have been warned when I rang up for my balance and they refunded all the charges I was charged.

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That sounds good anorak but might require discipline. Think I'm running out of 0% credit cards to apply for though But will ponder further on this one.

boudicca - will study your link later this evening. Thanks

Another thumbs up for first direct.

ggglimpopo - I'm already with Barclays

Another first direct fan here! I've always been dreadful with my money - but they're fab - the best thing is that they'll text you your balance every day (or whenever you want) for free. I find this fantastic - I know my balance and last few transactions every day so I can keep on top of it all. They're always brilliant when I phone - go for it!

First Direct for me.....can't sing their praises enough

I'm a real fan of Royal Bank of Scotland - been with them for the last 11 years and never had a problem and found them very helpful when we needed financial assistance.

I also like the fact that I can ring my local branch and talk to a person in that branch rather than some "call-centre" somewhere.

NOT LLOYDS>>>
we are with natwest, their charges can be a bit on the upper side BUT their service is excellent.
I had horror of horrors with first direct, hate them to death, they froze my wages and would not let me withdraw them as they were 4 days later than I had told them... I lost my holiday for me (single mum) and 4 yr old, cost me £700 in lost holiday...
Successfully sued them though

First Direct is coming first so far then

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Ah, just read last post.

Phew gggetc!

another vote for first direct. I think they are giving £25 to each new account opened......I wrote away to get the info a few years ago.....sat on it for several months.....and then got a letter through saying they would up the offer to £35!! Did it the next day

Dh is with first direct and he is always raving about them. I'd like to go with Coop but they have very few branches and managed to seriously mess up my ISA (I feel all grown up now!) so not sure that I'd trust them to be competent.

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I like SMILE, part of the co-op. Online only. They set up your accounts and do all the paperwork necessary to transfer dd's, som's etc. I've been with them for about 4 years now and haven;t had any problems with them whatsoever and there rates are great too. No, not direct line

Their rates I mean

We're with first direct - never had any issues... staff on the phone are friendly and pleasant as well as efficient. Been with them for around 8 years after leaving NatWest (who are complete and utter twunts, but that's another story)

Can add a recommendation for Royal Bank of Scotland. We've been with them since we came over here - 3 years - and have found them quite good, compared to Australian banks anyway. I can't really compare them to other UK banks, not had any experience there. We've taken up the Royalties Gold option with RBS which gives us free Travel Insurance amongst many other things, and they have internet banking which I use all the time

Definitely Royal Bank of Scotland, their personal service is superb; they got us a mortgage within 48 hours when another lender had "forgotten" to tell us that they'd lost most of the paperwork relating to our application until 2 days before completion. RBS courier'd the paperwork to our solicitor so that the deal could go through. You can always talk to a real person at the bank, which was invaluable when our card was cloned, and their online banking is very good too.

First Direct too - I love 'em and always have a bit of jolly banter with the lovely Scottish people at the other end about the cost of kids, the blessing and curse of ebay, the danger of shopping in the sales... I too have been suitably contrite on a number of occasions and had charges refunded for going over my overdraft limit.

I love not having a bank manager - that always used to make me feel like being at school and going to see the headmaster. With the lovely, cuddly FD people you feel like you're all in it together.

Another vote for First Direct. Love be able to contact them 24 hours a day. Always helpful and friendly.