Changing bank accounts

[fire&skill]

Just read that the vast majority of people choose one of the big four - HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds TSB, Barclays - and stay with them till the end of time

Would be interested to learn of any experiences - good or bad - if anybody's done this recently

Thank you

 

[strings]

My other half changed from HSBC to a Nationwide current account. It was very easy - the bank even organised for all her direct debit payments and her rent standing order to be pulled across and for the relevent people to be informed.

The only bad point is that you need enough money in BOTH accounts to cover the outgoing payments for the first month.

 

[brunswick]

smile from co-op - the only ethical one there is......the main 4 ALL invest into cluster bombs....sleep well knowing this.

 

[Daffy Duck]

Had loads of problems with Alliance & Leicester when it changed to Santander so don't touch them with a bargepole!

Changed over to Halifax and they were brilliant. They give you a temporary overdraft to cover your outgoings and they did everything for me. Didn't have to chase them up once. They kept me advised by letter about once a week to tell me how the transfer was progressing and I got £100 paid in as soon as the account was opened.

 

[bhaexpress]

I was with Lloyds for twenty years and I had a bit of a problem when they cancelled my overdraft (which I seldom used) without telling me. I complained and said something along the lines of 'that is no way to treat somebody who has been a customer for twenty years' at which point the stroppy cow on the other end informed me that I had not been a customer for anything like that length of time. Closed that account straight away and joined TSB. Sadly TSB merged with Lloyds and started to behave like Lloyds so after five years with them I joined Natwest. Meen with they for five years now and quite like them.

Still like so many things it's not so much about the organisation but more the individuals in it. I may have had a bad experience with Lloyds but I have no doubt plenty of people are or were not happy with Natwest.

 

[Marty McFly]

This thread has come at a good time for me. I've had nothing but problems with Barclays and their 'no can do' attitude. I have a bond up soon, at which point I will be moving my financial affairs.

 

[Badger]

My other half changed from HSBC to a Nationwide current account. It was very easy - the bank even organised for all her direct debit payments and her rent standing order to be pulled across and for the relevent people to be informed.

The only bad point is that you need enough money in BOTH accounts to cover the outgoing payments for the first month.

I did exactly the same recently so I could get a mortgage with Nationwide, I just filled in a form online and told my employer to change which account to pay into and everything else was handled by Nationwide, very easy.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I wouldn't touch Santander for all the tea in China. Shabby National were the worst bank for customer service I have ever encountered. They made Basil Fawlty look customer friendly.

I have banked with Lloyds for over 20 years and have never had a single negative issue with them.

 

[beorhthelm]

i've never understood the problem with changing accounts. i've happily opened new current accounts, once open just change your Direct Debits as they come round. close original acount.

 

[chops]

smile from co-op - the only ethical one there is......the main 4 ALL invest into cluster bombs....sleep well knowing this.

Cluster bombs were always my favourite weapon on Worms, guess I'm suited to being with one of the big four.

 

[Badger]

Cluster bombs were always my favourite weapon on Worms, guess I'm suited to being with one of the big four.

I was always a 'sheep bomb' fan myself

 

[chops]

The banana bombs were a favourite too, but a bit risky. They could literally go anywhere.

 

[Biscuit]

I with Nationwide. Always been very happy with them.

 

[Kumquat]

I changed from Abbey to Co-operative Bank. However I kept the abbey account open because they refused to close it without me writing to them and bringing in my cheque book. Would endorse all the other comments about abbey on here although Santander have been better in the few dealings i've had with them. Abbey lost my card and refused to pay back twenty quid when a machine swallowed my card. Customer service much better. However I'd recommend Co-op to all. Fantastic internet service, friendly staff and always helpful without ramming stuff down your throats. Obviously the lack of branches is one thing but to be honest i don't notice it, the online service is that good.

 

[Gully]

Been with Lloyds since leaving school, so somewhere over 25 years, can't say that I have ever had a problem with them at all and see absolutely no reason to change accounts. Best bank I have ever been with was Generale Bank in Belgium, they had a dedicated member of staff to look after all foreigner owned accounts, he was a pleasure to deal with and always greeted his clients by name when they walked into the bank. Worst bank was ABN/AMRO, it took me a year to close my account after leaving the country, despite me telling them some time in advance that I was returning to the UK...utterly incompetent.

 

[NMH]

With modern-day 'attachments' like direct debits associated with mortgages, car insurance, eBay and etc etc, it's harder work to detach from an existing account. Also, ISAs and savings accounts keep your money latched to the bank you are using.

I'd suggest that if anyone has doubts about their bank or finds a better one, have two accounts and gradually move everything over to the favoured one as you go. Then your ISA can run it's full term, and all associations can be moved as you recall or re-use them.

I have Barclays, but they are shite and only look after themselves ahead of their clients. I have detached a few direct debits off them, and I'll move soon, I think

 

[Beach Hut]

Had loads of problems with Alliance & Leicester when it changed to Santander so don't touch them with a bargepole!

Changed over to Halifax and they were brilliant. They give you a temporary overdraft to cover your outgoings and they did everything for me. Didn't have to chase them up once. They kept me advised by letter about once a week to tell me how the transfer was progressing and I got £100 paid in as soon as the account was opened.

Had one blip as Santander but otherwise OK and staying with them.

 

[philsussex]

I wouldn't touch Santander for all the tea in China. Shabby National were the worst bank for customer service I have ever encountered. They made Basil Fawlty look customer friendly.

I have banked with Lloyds for over 20 years and have never had a single negative issue with them.

I work for an insurance company. Clients who had accounts with building societies that have now been taken over by Santander have no end of stories of the trouble they are now having.

We are dealing with a large number of people choosing to change their bank accounts and swapping their premium payments to their new banks.

Moral of the story - AVOID SANTANDER !!!!