Bank Account Advise
 

Which banks have their call centres in the UK?

I am changing my bank account after yet another balls up by the call centre staff who barely understand English.

Who can recomend a good bank with good online banking and call centre staff in Britain.

NatWest claim to have UK customer service don't they?
But I've always got the impression that NatWest offer a service proportional to how much money you've got!

I'm with TSB, and last time I called I was talking to an english lady so I guess it wasn't a far-east call centre. Happy with their on-line facilities and general customer service too.

With TSBLLoyds as well,can't remember the nationality of call centre staff,but personally never had a problem with Indian call centre staff on the numerous occasions i've been in contact with them.

Bank of India . . .
 

Have outsourced all of their customer services facilities to ENGLAND!!!!

LOL

i just joined barclays business banking system as hsbc are so friggin useless, and lloyds seem to be using tin cans and bits of frayed string to india and back for their call centres.

Barclays assured me the business banking doesnt go through india and back. Not sure about the personal banking though.

Cy

Alliance and Leicester, formerly Girobank customer service is UK based as far as I know. They certainly seem to understand pretty well when I tell then how hacked off I am when they try charging me just because ther "system" does the outgoings before an incomings on the same day!!

They always refund the charges but how many other peeps don't bother to make a fuss:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Ray

PS how about Coutts, I'm Sure Lord Rattler banks with them

PPS how about just stuffing the mattress with yer cash, "keep whats dear, nice n near"!!

I think they call that Irish banking.

When Ireland went over to the Euro there was a big increase in cash in the economy becuase people started spending their 'matress money' before the change over.

How about the bank of ireland???

I found first direct to be good for my private banking but its an online based company

I use the Co-operative Bank, online banking and abcall centre in the UK, been with them for 20 years and never had a single problem with them

Martin

Got to be Smile or First Direct. They both consistently top the tables for banking and customer satisfaction.

wish i could say the same martin!

I've been with Nationwide for a long time, and I have to say their customer service has been fantastic. I even phone up my actual branch and speak to people if I need to. Very good, all English, and extremely effective.

I`m with HSBC and although I get good service I`m fed up with talking to someone in India who can`t or won`t help me with a problem, do you know that I cant even speak to someone at my bank in the uk at any time at all!!!!!!.....that`s unless I drive 30 miles and actually go into the bank.

Its not good enough.

LloydsTSB for me. Do 99% of my banking online and deal with the local branch for the odd transaction that can not be done online.

Happy with the service I get, just not sure if they are the best bank in respect of what you get back from them.

Abbey speak English but it's a pain when all I want is to talk to my branch and the call centre insist on giving me the party line

personally I recommend First Direct, been with them for over ten years, no complaints and their call centre employees all appear to be UK based.

for work we use HBOS or bank of scotland, again no complaints.

All our a/c's are web/phone based and we never go to a high st branch.

fwiw, I recco the Halifax, as you get a call centre either in Ireland, or 'oop norf'.
Only had a couple of issues, both minor and easily sorted over the phone 4 years ago:)

I'm with Nationwide and Natwest (s'funny as I have no money).

Anyway, Nationwide's online facility is top notch. I've been with them 6 years and to be fair they've been good. The only small issue I've found occasionally is finding a branch if you're not in a city. I do most of my banking online anyway, or at an ATM. I only go in to pay cheques.

As for Natwest, their online banking is very average. Not a patch on Nationwide. They do have UK call centres though and they have branches everywhere.

It was HSBC I have been having problems with, hence this post. Twice now I have requested some information be sent to me, and twice they have sent the wrong stuff which has now got me into trouble with the IR as I have not been able to supply the information they requested in a timely manner. This is not the first time either.

It really is simple stuff but they just can't get it right.

I always get the impression that they are reading from a script and when you go off script their language skills can't cope.

Thanks for all your advice. Nationwide seem to be recomended. I will give them a try.

HSBC are the most unhelpful bunch of braindead imbeciles I have EVER had the misfortune of dealing with.

As soon as we get the money from the sale of our house we'll be closing all three of our accounts and telling them where to stick their banking charges.

herb

I have been threatened with court action for non payment of council tax ect because I could not get HSBC to make direct debits on the dates I requested, it took 9 months to get them to get it right.

I`m afraid that HSBC have now got so big they honestly do not care about customer service.

Coutts

http://www.coutts.com/

Ive banked with Barclays since I was 14. Fantastic bank. Customer service is brilliant. They were fantastic whilst I was a student and couldn't do enough to help.
No out services. 24 hour telephone banking system.
However, I wouldn't touch their insurance services or mortgages with a barge pole...but that's not what you were asking!:frog: They are very quick to rectify errors (which are very few and far between) they telephone you to check account withdrawals if you are out of your normal spending pattern (for example when I made 3 major purchases in the same day!)
Personal bankers acted as financial consultants after I finished uni showing me how I could cut my spending and manage my account better.
Just purchasing a house and mortgage company are being difficult. The faxed off all my mortgage details, bank statements that I couldn't find and everything. Even asked about mortgaging with them but accepted that they weren't competitive enough without a hard sell.
Can't sing their praises enough...:D