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.

Nationwide have, or at least had, a free £500 overdraft. DH is also a big fan of Smile. Can't stand First Direct, though.

These "Open account with us get £25 quid" (or £35 quid, whatever) offers that they advertise. DH opened account with FD. Checked repeatedly that he only had to have it in credit for a certain period to get the £35, didn't have to arrange to get his salary paid into it, or direct debits, or anything.

So after a while, he wondered where his £35 was. Phoned up and they said he had to pay his salary in. It wasn't until DH threatened to go to the media and report them for false advertising that they conceded to give him the £35.

Natwest are crap, those ads saying you can get in touch with real people etc, all cobblers.

I nave just been charged £140.00 for going £143.00 overdrawn for 3 days.I was charged £40 for cheques that were drawn when I was in credit.Trying to sort this out now.First time it has happened and it was a slight oversight on my part.dh is with the royal bank of scotland and says they would never have let this happen he has actually been contacted by RBS to alert him that he is about to go overdrawn,Abbey have let it all happen and fleeced me as much as they can.They even paid out a delta transaction which was the first thing that made me go over,if they hadn't I would have known straight away.I put a cheque in there to cover it on the same day most of the cheques were drawn but it makes no difference I still got charged.RSB would of taken this into account and not charged.DH says that the converted building societys are crap and do not behave the same as banks and should not call themselfs such.So imo Abbey are shits and thumbs up for RBS

Tinker, I've just told Barclays to eff off for the very reason mentioned in your first post. Err, why do I have to have an additions account at 7.50pcm AND pay an overdraft fee of 5.00 pcm AND pay interest? You can charge me if I'm overdrawn, fair enough, but if you fleece me I'm off. I was less polite than that though. I was with them for 11 years and have now gone to Lloyds but only because we have our joint account with them and they're very friendly to dp. Our overdraft facility is also bigger and cheaper with Lloyds. Barclays also offered me a massive loan if I wanted it but wouldn't increase my facility by 250 quid when I briefly wanted them to. Something badly wrong with their credit scoring systems/internal synergy I think. Tossers.

I love First Direct and have been with them 14 years.....Polite, Cheerful staff, internet banking to pay bills and check balances 24/7, text messaging service, offset mortgages (memo to myself - must sort that one out), free £250 overdraft, funky logos, nice looking cheque book and cards.....need I go on?

My dh is with Royal bank of scotland and he went overdrawn once because he took money out of the ATM which he didn't have. WE went in and talked to the lady about how we couldn't undertsand why the ATM had given him this money if he clearly didn't have the money in his account to cover it and she refunded all the charges, lovely lady.

I also have an account there and have never had a problem.

Royal Bank of Scotland are coming out well on this thread. Must investigate. Like the thought of Smile/Co-op as well.

Another vote for First Direct. Lost count of the number of times I've phoned them to extend my overdraft - and it's always been arranged within 5 minutes. Each time I've headed for the cash point as soon as I've put the phone down and got my cash.

I left Barclays in disgust and went to Royal Bank of Scotland and have never looked back. RBS are the best!!!! I call my branch directly (I hate call centres with a passion) and half time the branch managers themselves answer the phone. They all know me by name and have been more than helpful on more than one occasion. When the completion on our house was delayed for a week they gave me a £5000 overdraft over the phone to cover us.
And the thing that I think is the best is that they have 2 chairs where you wait in line so that older people (or heavily pregnant ladies) can rest while waiting in line (not that I've ever had to wait more than a few minutes). I've been having an ongoing battle with the Barclays near where I work about providing seating for people while they wait in line (I couldn't stand for more than a few minutes at various points during my 2nd pregnancy). They finally put a chair near the line several months after I gave birth. AND I just went in there recently and they've just renovated the place and it's all shiny and new and guess what...no chairs. I complained to the manager and he said that they didn't fit in with the minimalist scheme.

just got of the phone from Abbey I actually got £180 of bank charges this month first time ever.£180 is a lot to swallow on the school holidays.Charges were for 6 cheques that were cleared when there were no funds( none of the cheques were for more than £30. one was for £8).Even though there were cheques paid in to cover them with a day to go before the money was usable.Bloody rip off.Be careful with all these ex building societies who claim to be banks because they don't play the game.I am going in to day to close all 5 of our accounts and I told her so and she couldn't give a shitalso they paid out a shopping bill with Tesco,s online which would have left me overdrawn by a couple of pounds I didn't think they were supposed to do that if there was not money in your account

Hmm, I'm going to talk to DH about switching to First Direct. He's had the same bank account with NatWest forever and his mum and dad also banked at the original branch (Leicester sq, now closed). The service has gone down hill so much over the years, it used to be good. Aren't they owned by RBS?

Don't know what they're like re being overdrawn but have been very impressed with the Co-Op. Good ethical bank (no many to dictatorships, support Amnesty, etc.), can use them via the Post Office for paying cheques in, and they've always been really good on the phone.

I'm with HSBC and think they are great - haven't had anything to complain about and they have been very 'understanding' about me and x2b splitting and extending my credit but helping me to pay back stuff and rectify some of my previous money mistakes!!

God Gem13 - I can't go into a co-op now without getting cross at the crap service - wouldn't use their bank for this very reason!!

I am in Barclays and hate it - sure, the internet banking is great and everything is fairly reliable if a little expensive on fees but if you ever need to speak to someone in person the telephone system is just a nightmare in transfers, passwords, passcodes, family details, endless keying in of account numbers etc. and you frequently get cut off after being on hold for ages and ages. I HATE them. My problem is that I opened my account when I was working and now with no income coming into the account, being overdrawn and having two credit cards with a fair amount on each it is just about impossible to get away from them. DH is paying them off as much as we can each month but will be quite a while. Even if we were down to zero, no one will give me another car/account if I have nothing "official" other than child benefit going into it

I meant "card/account' - not expecting any bank to give me a free courtesy car...interesting idea though, i reckon I probably deserve it in fees I have paid over the years

Don't go anywhere near Bank of Scotland though. We are with them unfortunately and since they merged with the Halifax we have noticed a severe decline in the customer service. Not only that they changed all our accounts to Halifax accounts without asking despite everything still saying Bank of Scotland! How to confuse your customer in one easy step!

If it weren't for the fact we are deep into an overdraft and have a terrible credit rating (through no good reason) we would change to the Royal Bank of Scotland. As it is I have already closed ds twins savings accounts for Royal Bank of Scotland childrens accounts.

I've been a ROYAL Bank of scotland customer for years, and find them good. Like Sofia, I can call MY branch and speak to someone who knows my account, not some call centre in Bangalore (Like HSBC, have an account with them too, nightmare).

RBS has our business account too. Only small gripe, they move business account managers about alot, and never tell you yours has changed, until you ring to speak to him/her, then you have to start building the relationship again. Never given us hassle tho'.

Another vote for First direct - been with them from the start - no complaints - the only time they have ever made a mistake they put it right BIG time ( the standing order wasn't at a bank to pick up as arranged - cue ENORMOUS bunch of posh flowers delivered to my house the next day!)

I've worked p/t for Intelligent Finance for the last year, and I would advise anyone thinking of opening an account with them to think again. The rates are low, but remember to ask yourself how they manage to keep them so competitive. Some of the stories I could tell you about a bank call centre would make you cringe! I can say this because I'm leaving soon!
I'm with RBS - have been for 15 years, and think they're fab.

We have had a joint account with RBS for 12 years. They are great. We get phonecalls from the branch from time to time asking if we want to come in for a 'financial review' I think it is the banks policy to treat their customers as people and not numbers.

Only niggle though - crap interest rate on current and savings accounts -moved our savings to ING direct

I'd second Paul71's comments about BANK of Scoltand. Mum & Dad's account has been changed without warning since the merger with Halifax to one with a LESS favourabel overdraft rate and FEWER facilities. despite complaining, they have just been told the "new system can't do the things the old one did. Tough". They are voting with their feet!

I'm with the Clydesdale (my account) and the Abbey (joint account). I have to say I can't complain about either account - the Clydesdale has given me excellent service since I was a student and has the advantage of being a "proper" clearing bank, and the Abbey gives a reasonable rate of interest provided you stay in credit (which we do).

First Direct, fantastic. You get to speak to a real person just like that and an added bonus is that they are based in Britain.

Another First Direct vote here. I'd just like to point out that the fee-free overdraft offered by them is £500 not £250. I just checked the website to make sure

Have just moved to First Direct and they are great imho - Halifax stinks and Nat West are something beginning with b!!