Metropol

I arranged to meet up with a girlie in town tonight. Two weeks ago I accidently snapped my NatWest debit card - so I promptly ordered a new one.

I don't have a credit card, so my debit card is my only lifeline.

Two weeks later, and Natwest STILL haven't sent me my new card, even though I ordered it on November 23rd. I've withdrawn money from the branch a couple of times to see me through, and today when I finished my lecture at 4pm, I went into town to my branch...but they had just closed AT 4.30PM!

I nearly went balistic. I straight away called Natwest's complaint phoneline to say how disgusted I am with their customer service, that my card still hasn't arrived, and that all branches close at 4.30pm in the afternoon.

Bang goes tonight's plan of going out with the lovely girlie I've met. And no, I can't borrow the money from a mate - I already owe 2 of them £50 each! hehehe

Is NatWest WORSE than HSBC? I've now had bad experiences with both of these so-called banks, and I shall be closing my account with Natwest as soon as I can.

Anyone else had similar woes with these shitty banks, and anyone else recommend a good place to have a current account?

Moral of the story, always have cash with you.

I think society these days have become far too reliant upon their flexible friends for paying for stuff, even the most smallest things like milk, fags and a paper at the local supermarket.

For me, nothing beats the feeling of hard cash.

I've never really been badly treated by my bank which is HSBC. I got a letter off them the other week telling me that they will be changing my account as I will be 18 in January, it also included a small bit of paper I could sign so I could get a Maestro Debit Card, so I thought I'd sign it as it seems better than a Solo card. Took the letter to the bank on Monday, they sorted it out and got my Maestro on Thursday morning, as I wouldn't be expecting it for weeks.

I think HSBC is a good Bank overall, can't say for Natwest, my cousin tried to open an account with Alliance and Leciester, but there were loads of forms to fill in, it felt more like applyling for a mortagage, so I told him to apply with HSBC and he got his account no problem at all.

Though if you really cannot stand HSBC or NatWest, might I suggest Halifax, as that seems to be really popular, my good friend has a Halifax account and he prefers it to his HSBC account.

Jamez wrote:I arranged to meet up with a girlie in town tonight. Two weeks ago I accidently snapped my NatWest debit card - so I promptly ordered a new one.

I don't have a credit card, so my debit card is my only lifeline.

Two weeks later, and Natwest STILL haven't sent me my new card, even though I ordered it on November 23rd. I've withdrawn money from the branch a couple of times to see me through, and today when I finished my lecture at 4pm, I went into town to my branch...but they had just closed AT 4.30PM!

I nearly went balistic. I straight away called Natwest's complaint phoneline to say how disgusted I am with their customer service, that my card still hasn't arrived, and that all branches close at 4.30pm in the afternoon.

Bang goes tonight's plan of going out with the lovely girlie I've met. And no, I can't borrow the money from a mate - I already owe 2 of them £50 each! hehehe

Is NatWest WORSE than HSBC? I've now had bad experiences with both of these so-called banks, and I shall be closing my account with Natwest as soon as I can.

Anyone else had similar woes with these shitty banks, and anyone else recommend a good place to have a current account?

Ah gone are the days of a seperate cheque guarentee card so you can't even get out your Blankety Blank cheque book and pen.

It is a bank, Jamez.

Every bank has great customer service, until you need them to do something complicated.

Go to First Direct or Smile, if you can.

Yes my sister has been with First Direct for years and years and can't speak highly enough of them. Evidently her endorsement meant enough to me to embark on the not uncomplicated process of switching banks.

Unfortunatley, at the time, my take home pay was particularly lousy, and First did not consider my salary to be sufficient to open an account.

Subsequently, being employed in much higher paid job I have decided I won't go back to them, and instead have stuck with the consistently piss-poor Halifax.

Cutting off my nose to spite my face? Oh yes.

A couple of people in the real world have suggested Smile too. Not sure if I want a pink debit card though! :roll:

i've had this happen before, my abbey card broke and it took them a good week to send me another, i have a credit card too, but it costs a couple of quid to use it at an atm.

interestingly, i too was taking lady out for the evening whilst it was broken, but the credit card saved the day.

it might be an idea for you to get one for such emergencies, most dont charge a fee for simply having it and they come in really useful towards the end of the month.

Gavin Scott wrote:Yes my sister has been with First Direct for years and years and can't speak highly enough of them. Evidently her endorsement meant enough to me to embark on the not uncomplicated process of switching banks.

Unfortunatley, at the time, my take home pay was particularly lousy, and First did not consider my salary to be sufficient to open an account.

Subsequently, being employed in much higher paid job I have decided I won't go back to them, and instead have stuck with the consistently piss-poor Halifax.

Cutting off my nose to spite my face? Oh yes.

That is why First Direct are so good - because they refuse almost everyone, and have hardly any customers as a result, so customer service is always great.

I am with Halifax too, but both the parents are with First Direct. Thinking I would open a student account with them (which they do not do, I later found out) I answered several thousand questions and then found out that ''Oh, because you're a student and are not in employment, we can't offer you a bank account.''

But Smile are easier than that.

The one thing I will say in Halifax's favour is that the online service is excellent. It does have a tendency to collapse at frequent intervals, but when it works it is the best of the lot.

Chris wrote:Moral of the story, always have cash with you.

I think society these days have become far too reliant upon their flexible friends for paying for stuff, even the most smallest things like milk, fags and a paper at the local supermarket.

For me, nothing beats the feeling of hard cash.

Here Here

I have my savings & current account with Halifax & had no problem...except they did phone me up recently to ask if I wanted personal cover which if I got injured (even if I stubbed my toe) they would pay out up to £75,000!

I did reject this offer however beacuse 1) it was over the phone so I didn't know the terms & conditions & 2) I couldn't be arsed.

My Mum has been with Abbey National for yeras as has my dad with Natwest, they have had no probs from them although they did wait a while for the card to arrive.