View Full Version : Banking advice
I'm currently with Natwest but i'm looking to change as i've had shed loads of problems with them recently. They keep insisting on charging me for going overdrawn when I haven't and it's getting a bit beyond a joke.
What are the best banks around at the moment? A few people have recomended Santander but i'm a bit unsure. :confused:
I've been with HSBC for years and never had any issues with them. I've also heard Halifax are also good.
Lloyds tsb for me, 11 years now. ( just a normal current account and a credit card)
bank of scotland halifax for me, 5 years no trouble
2nd lloyds tsb.
been with them maybe 5/6 years and never a hick up.
if they try and sell you something, and you say no, they accecpt that and not push it.
they are always offering me more over draft. so i know its there if i need it.
online banking has just been redone and looks good, easy to use etc.
their phone people are nice and helpful.
I've always loved being with Natwest until the last year.
I had my bank card stolen last year and they refused to do anything about it, they eventually sorted it out for me and then decided to ring me a couple of months later saying they suspected fraudery on my old card even though the account had been closed. So there was loads of hassle there.
But the main problem has been over the last couple of months. I specifically requested when I opened my account that they set it so I wouldn't be able to go overdrawn because in my eyes if I don't have the money I shouldn't be able to spend it. But I realised last month that i'd accidentally gone overdrawn by £3, I put the money straight back in but they still charged me £20 for it and have just been checking over my online statements and theres been a few times over the last couple of months that they've charged me for going overdrawn when I actually haven't.
claire6069
02-08-10, 11:02 AM
im with natwest and find they're sneaky like that with me too, pain in the @rse! 38 quid for everytime you go overdrawn but i dont even have an overdraft!! they reject any direct debits that try to be taken if theres no money so what exactly can they charge for??
im with natwest and find they're sneaky like that with me too, pain in the @rse! 38 quid for everytime you go overdrawn but i dont even have an overdraft!! they reject any direct debits that try to be taken if theres no money so what exactly can they charge for??
Exactly my problem. I dont have an over draft so they shouldn't let me go overdrawn. I wasn't too bothered about them charging me the once when I did actually go overdrawn it's just the fact they still keep giving me charges when I haven't gone overdrawn :confused:
claire6069
02-08-10, 11:14 AM
Exactly my problem. I dont have an over draft so they shouldn't let me go overdrawn. I wasn't too bothered about them charging me the once when I did actually go overdrawn it's just the fact they still keep giving me charges when I haven't gone overdrawn :confused:
greedy buggers as per any other business really!! im unfortunately stuck with them as my credit rating is that bad, i cant open another account with another bank lol
might be worth you ringing them and asking why and threatening to move banks if they dont sort it?
greedy buggers as per any other business really!! im unfortunately stuck with them as my credit rating is that bad, i cant open another account with another bank lol
might be worth you ringing them and asking why and threatening to move banks if they dont sort it?
They have been rung, at first her response was pretty much "well you shouldn't go overdrawn then should you" and then when I explained that I hadn't got an overdraft and I haven't been overdrawn apart from once she told me that I would have the same problem with any bank I moved too. She was extremely snotty with me.
So i've had enough and i'm moving banks!
claire6069
02-08-10, 11:26 AM
They have been rung, at first her response was pretty much "well you shouldn't go overdrawn then should you" and then when I explained that I hadn't got an overdraft and I haven't been overdrawn apart from once she told me that I would have the same problem with any bank I moved too. She was extremely snotty with me.
So i've had enough and i'm moving banks!
what a snotty cow, i would have ended up getting mad and told her she was snotty and shes just lost her boss a customer lol
havent they heard that the customer is always right?! lol
I have an account with them, never had a problem.
You have to remember not all debit cards machines have a direct line to the bank so you can end up spending money you haven't got. Also its not really the banks fault if you cant keep track of your finances... lol
You're confusing overdrawn with an overdraft. You can't stop an account from going overdrawn (aside from being a bit more careful with your outgoings); an overdraft is basically pre-empting your overdrawn status and reducing the interest and/or eliminating any charges. Having NO overdraft is silly IMO, as it protects your from these charges you've now accrued.
You'll probably find natwest have charged you every day for however long you've been overdrawn, hence the charges keep coming out.
I bank with natwest - not too keen on them tbh but they gave me a massive overdraft for free lol - and primarily Nationwide who are good. Customer service is excellent, online banking is superb, etc. I do have a £50 overdraft with them but never once needed to use it, simply set it up (a couple clicks on their online banking system) and it was done.
I did have a loan with Santander, who took over my old Cahoot loan. Their customer service was poor (edit: that includes in-branch staff and call centre), they didn't have a clue what was going on, and even though I'd squared up and closed the account they still carried on taking out the monthly payments. When I queried it, their response was to "wait a few days and see what happens"!!! WTF!
However, they do a great deal of 5% interest + £100 if you pay in more than £1k a month for 12 months. So long as you don't need to use their customer services and can pay your wages into it, thats a very good deal and worth doing.
....in the first instance though, I'd suggest being a bit more careful with your funds to avoid the overdrawn situation, or protecting against it by arranging a small overdraft facility.
I'm with RBS and have been for 8 years. They've been fantastic with everything and I've never been charged for going overdrawn. Well, I have but when I called my bank manager he took the charges off.
Two of my mates bank with Llyods TSB and have nothing but trouble, everything from ordering new cards to the crap customer service, so perhaps it's just their local branch that is rubbish.
Good luck, whoever you decide to bank with :thumb:
When I joined up with them they actually made it so I couldn't go overdrawn as I was only 16 at the time and when they gave me a new card I was offered the choice of wether I wanted that option to remain and I was also offered the option of an overdraft.
I can completely understand them charging me for the once I did go over drawn. I always make sure I have money in my account and I don't have bills or anything going out so I don't have to worry about that and having no money left. So I couldn't understand why they still kept charging me when I had money sat there and i'm not overdrawn.
I've spoke to Natwest again and they've actually now said that I should of only been charged the once and the other 3 times they've charged me was an error there end and will get around to fixing it over the next 5-7 days for me :D It's still bad that it's happened though and I still wouldn't mind changing banks as quite a few of my friends are also having problems with Natwest and their "errors".
I declined having the overdraft as i've seen so many people going silly with it and it's always put me off.
pikey1986
02-08-10, 01:06 PM
santander wont even let me have a £50 overdraft although i dont actually need it, they said i didnt have enough 'points', i put it down to the fact a few years ago i was massively in debt and that i might still have a bad credit rating although ive never checked it
santander wont even let me have a £50 overdraft although i dont actually need it, they said i didnt have enough 'points', i put it down to the fact a few years ago i was massively in debt and that i might still have a bad credit rating although ive never checked it
Thats why i've always said I will never have an overdraft. If I don't have the money then i'd rather wait till I did then end up in debt like so many people I know.
My nan used to be so careful with money and she decided to open a new account and wanted an overdraft and she's ended up thousands in debt. It's just not worth it imo.
imagine the interest they earn on a hundred thousand 'errors' every week ;)
gotta get there reclaimed charges/ppi refunds back somehow lol
pikey1986
02-08-10, 01:22 PM
my debt wasn't overdraft related, i had a couple of loans and a car on finance that i couldn't afford as well as generally living beyond my means, ive learnt the hard way and the only debt i want to be in is when i eventually get a mortage(sp), im now that tight you can hear me squeeking as i walk lol
Nova_Tek
02-08-10, 01:22 PM
Been with HSBC for 15 years and never had any problems. Got a big overdraft which was for free and the interest they charge now for it is very small. There was no interest on it for a good 7 years.
Had unauthorised usage on my HSBC credit card, HSBC fraud team sorted it out super quick and noticed it even before I did. They credited me the amount that was taken and sent me a new card. They've always been helpful and I can't really make a complaint about them.
my debt wasn't overdraft related, i had a couple of loans and a car on finance that i couldn't afford as well as generally living beyond my means, ive learnt the hard way and the only debt i want to be in is when i eventually get a mortage(sp), im now that tight you can hear me squeeking as i walk lol
same here mate, still got 4years to pay it off tho :(
A £50 overdraft only turns into thousands of pounds worth of debt if you let it. Same way some people are scared sh!tless of credit cards, if they don't have the financial sense to use them properly ;)
I bank with Lloyds at the moment and I have had a £250 overdraft with them for years. I have never gone into it but I would much rather have an overdraft as a safety net than nothing at all. If you can get an account with a free overdraft, then there is no point not having it in my books. People only end up in a huge debt if they dont use it properly.
I am looking at changing my account tho because I am getting 0.05% interest with my account at Lloyds! I did look at the new Santander account but I have read LOTS of really bad reviews on them so im not going anywhere near them.
I have heard good things about first direct, they seem pretty competitive and good customer service etc...
Good luck with the search.
They are all as good and as bad as each other. Same as any other big business, I have been with Natwest for 20 years (even though im only 29 lol) I have also during my life held accounts at Midland and Lyodds but only ever kept the Natwest one running.
As said, its about YOU managing your money and nothing to do with the banks, if you go overdrawn without prior arrangement with ANY bank they will charge you!
my financial situation is dead easy. was, am, will be : skint.
my family comes first. if anything else is left over, i get a little.
blue_peg_16v
02-08-10, 05:06 PM
natwest is owned by royal bank of scotland (rbs) so iff your not happy with natwest stear clear of rbs there products are nearenough identical now too, i like nationwide they are friendly and i love the fact i dont get charged to remove my money when abroad.
Jon_nova1
02-08-10, 05:42 PM
Im with HSBC, they may charge you an authorised overdraft fee of £25, but atleast they let the money out!
claire6069
02-08-10, 07:02 PM
my financial situation is dead easy. was, am, will be : skint.
my family comes first. if anything else is left over, i get a little.
+1 mowgli
i am not allowed an overdraft as my credit rating is beyond poor so i do have to log on alot around this time of the month to make sure everythings gone out and enough money is in, a little help from them now and then wouldnt go amiss but the buggers know we need a bank account!
Hoochie
02-08-10, 07:18 PM
I've been with Barclays for over 15 years...............never had any problems with them, customer service is brilliant,...would highly recommend... my credit with them is fabby and i know if i need 20k tomorrow it would be available.:thumb:
I've just realised this is a request for financial advice on a forum dedicated to spending too much money on shonky 80's rotboxes lol
my financial woes can be traced back to the 80's...
claire6069
02-08-10, 11:52 PM
I've just realised this is a request for financial advice on a forum dedicated to spending too much money on shonky 80's rotboxes lol
lmao well said!!!
nationwide are good with going over drawn, although you get charged they tend to use thir discrestion alot, i went over drawn by 50 some thing pounds but put the money in later that day and was not charged, i went over drawn by like a 7p too and the lady at the bank said i would be charged but they never did charge me :)
djbrowney
19-09-10, 10:07 PM
More to santander (sp) they will give you £100 :)
More to santander (sp) they will give you £100 :)i wish thier was one near me as i am changing bank tomorrow i am with nation wide and hate it
tanya you should do a sam and hide it around your room! i keep finding notes everywhere :)
Ive been and worked for nearly every bank under the sun, there all ****ers. Except Lloyds TSB, I like them, an they like me. Which is nice.
Barclays are full on battys.
HSBC are slow mofo's.
Natwest, dont wanna help.
Basically, move to a bank that doesnt sound like its about to go bust.
santander/abbey are crap, couldnt organise fukk all. i had major credit card fraud issues with them, and another member of my family has had 900 "accidentally removed" from her account by them, and not returned for 5 months.
santander/abbey are crap, couldnt organise fukk all. i had major credit card fraud issues with them, and another member of my family has had 900 "accidentally removed" from her account by them, and not returned for 5 months.
They can legally do that actually & then repay it in installments when they see fit, there money or yours.
lloyds, no problems here. They give me loans when i ask no problem. 3k loan in about 10minutes through online banking lol
Also, went overdrawn when snap-on took payment on the wrong date and called them to find out what had been taken etc. They cancelled the fees and setup an overdraft for me (about 50quids worth of fees) so i wouldnt get any charges again if somthing happened
Aye my missus banks with Lloyds too, £8k loan no problem, paid it off 3 years early an got another £5k loan just like that.
lloyds, no problems here. They give me loans when i ask no problem. 3k loan in about 10minutes through online banking lol
Also, went overdrawn when snap-on took payment on the wrong date and called them to find out what had been taken etc. They cancelled the fees and setup an overdraft for me (about 50quids worth of fees) so i wouldnt get any charges again if somthing happened
That doesn't sound too bad. Me and Burgo are looking at getting a place so a bank thats good with loans would come in handy.
tanya you should do a sam and hide it around your room! i keep finding notes everywhere :)
Haha I love finding hidden money. :d
So far this month Natwest haven't caused me any problems, so fingers crossed they've decided to stop messing me around. Although I am still waiting for them to put the money back in, they have excuses handy everytime I ring up to check.
just about all banks thesedays "pre approve" you for loans... We opened a joint account with Abbey and they offered us £10K EACH on the day of opening FFS.
Natwest keep offering us loans and all sorts. Its just the way of the world.
I got charged this month £15 for an unauthorised limit exceed... They said they wouldnt charge more than £90 in a charging period (ie £90 in 4 weeks)
That doesn't sound too bad. Me and Burgo are looking at getting a place so a bank thats good with loans would come in handy.
Dont mean to sound rude but if you need a loan to get a place then dont get one! If you cant afford it without a loan you will never be able to afford the rent/morgagte and the loan repayments.
Dont mean to sound rude but if you need a loan to get a place then dont get one! If you cant afford it without a loan you will never be able to afford the rent/morgagte and the loan repayments.
Sorry, I didn't actually explain that properly. We can afford it, it's just looking at what other options there are about.
Dont mean to sound rude but if you need a loan to get a place then dont get one! If you cant afford it without a loan you will never be able to afford the rent/morgagte and the loan repayments.
actually ben we can very much afford it its just we need a house within a few months and putting money into someone elses pocket instead of my own bricks and mortar aint gonna happen
mortgage - £500 a month
rent - £500 a month
loan repayment - £200 a month
saving for a deposit - £200 a month.
no difference in outlay only difference is i get the house i need and i get it much cheaper whilst house prices are nice and low, in fact if you can afford to buy a house right now you would be a ****ing idiot not to buy one, especially as in 2-3 years the prices should have gone up again so i could simply remortgage at the new value and pay off the remainder of the loan
craig green
20-09-10, 11:11 PM
i had a couple of loans and a car on finance that i couldn't afford as well as generally living beyond my means, ive learnt the hard way and the only debt i want to be in is when i eventually get a mortage(sp), im now that tight you can hear me squeeking as i walk lol
^ That pretty much sums me up. :roll:
I wouldnt touch Lloyds with a barge pole. I've been with Nationwide since I have sorted my finances out. Everything seems fine. My only gripe was when a cash machine munched my card the other month, they were slow getting a card to me & also led me to believe I was getting a debit card. Since then I've received a total of six new cards in the post to cover the 2 cards I hold, of which only one got eaten by said ATM. lol
im with lloyds and theyre great, moved from abbey who kept taking money from my account for charges etc that i hadnt run up then putting itback few weeks later after loads of phone calls but i was incuring charges in the meantime for direct debits that had no money there to pay for
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