UK Internet Banking

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I expect a lot of you use internet banking. Tell me how yours works for you. My bank, Royal bank of scotland, has a awful service and I'm leaving them because of it. Recommendations gratefully received. I'm leaning towards Nationwide at the moment (Mutual, Internet banking seems to work well, free cash withdrawal worldwide etc.).

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

It really fucks me off that Smile has even ke[t current with PC browsers let alone started supported Mac browsers, which is a shame as the have good rates and an ethical investment policy.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I've just started using my LloydsTSB internet banking again after years of not doing so because I'd mislaid my user ID (yeah, aren't I organised?).

It seems to work fine with Safari, which is good.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

What about lloyds as a bank?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Well I've never had any problems but then maybe I've not presented them with many, other than extending my overdraft every so often, which they've done without fuss.

Oh, in 1997 I was mugged and made to withdraw £400 from a cashpoint. I wrote them a letter explaining and they reimbursed me.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

hsbc innit, havent had a single problem

― Stringent Stepper (Stringent), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and ever since TSB (who I was originally with) merged with Lloyds, I've been able to use any UK cash machine free (except those stupid ones in shops and bars, obv.) For a while, this wasn't the case with new and formerly Lloyds customers. I don't know if that still applies.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Other good thing - you get Visa Debit, rather than Switch, so it's a completely international debit card. I think now that Switch is changing to Maestro they might be catching up, though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you actually use a Maestro card as a debit card in other countries now? That is, walk into a shop in America and buy something with it? I haven't tried on this holiday because you couldn't the last time I was here. Mind you, that was over two years ago, so perhaps I should try.

(Why am I bothering posting this? English people are all in bed now.)

― the river fleet, Wednesday, 28 January 2004 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

That's the idea of Maestro, but yeah, I don't know if it's been fully implemented yet. Lara would know.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I would try it tomorrow, but not if I'm buying, like, monkeys or something at WalMart and there will be a #2 charge to buy a $5 item. I'm sure it works in Europe, but not in America. I would almost put money on it. That is, if I could get any money out in this country.

― the river fleet, Wednesday, 28 January 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Smile works fine on a Mac using Mozilla, Ed.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Maestro has been on my card since 98 or thereabouts and I've had no problems using it anywhere apart from France (well the only places I've tried using it are the US, Spain, France and Italy and in France they get huffy with any card that isn't French).

Chewsabdoo. I'll check that out.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

There's no charge for using Visa Debit in the US, Kate (except cash withdrawals). Maybe Maestro is different.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I use Barclays & I think its internet banking service is great. There are a few quirks which bug me, but generally it's fine. I also use HSBC (my boy's bank) & that's really quite good.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Charges for use of debit card depend entirely on your bank rather than the card system used, often a even if a bank doesn't charge directly it charges through fiddling the exchange rates but its normally still far better than going to a beurau de change. (unless you are with RBS wich cam bottom of an Observer survey on this very point charges amounting to 12% of a £100 withdrawal)

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and the application process for smile does not work with Mac Mozilla.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:31 (twenty-two years ago)

My apologies - well there's no charge for using Lloyds TSB Visa Debit, anyway. I can't believe people would put up with that. I've not noticed being screwed on the exchange rate but I suppose I haven't looked at it that closely. As ed says, it's a far better deal than bureau de change rates anyway, so what's your alternative?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

exactly. I think I've picked nationwide anyway, because there internet banking works with Mac, any browser, good deposit rate on current account, mutual, cheapest withdrawals at home and abroad. Good enough for me I think.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I use Smile and I'm extremely happy with it. The only thing I'm not happy about is its interest rate - as is inevitable, the industry-topping (savings) interest rates it advertised to attract new customers were reduced after said customers had signed up. Which leaves me in a quandary - do I keep topping up my cash ISA with them, or do I sensibly use this years allowance in whoever the top-rated ISA provider is? Hmm.

However, for ease of use, customer services and intuitive banking, smile gets ten out of ten. I have also used Barclays online services, which has been fine, though more fiddly, and of course the accounts are much less attractive. If you don't need a branch, then I would totally recommend If, Cahoot or Smile for your day to day banking as well as longer term investments.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I use Egg for a loan & a credit card & they are really good. If you need to phone them up, they answer straight away. The interest rates are pretty low too.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Egg are great, I have a CC with them. Not sure if I want a current account with them though.

Still very pissed off that smile is not Mac friendly.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm glad that smile thumbs its nose up at opt-out elitists like mac users ;)

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The whole point of smile is that it is for tree hugging hippy scum opt-out elitist who don't like murdering monkeys and barley that that eats insects and small birds.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Another recommendation for HSBC

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

HSBC seems to stand for Huge Sinister Banking Corporation in my eyes. (not that they all aren't but still)

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Nationwide are groovy; they were one of the first to take it seriously. They are mac friendly (works fine in Safari) and are a mutual who have a boared who are keen to fight off carpet-bagging.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)

What I like to hear, they sound like just the sort of people to take my money (debt mountain to)

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:47 (twenty-two years ago)

hsbc internet banking's pretty good, they let you do all the things you want to do. my flatmate has barclays and they seem to be less flexible.

avoid natwest at all costs, last time i used them (a few months ago) they weren't supporting anything except netscape 3 and IE 4 or something equally ludicrous.

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll vouch for lloyds tsb too, there's never been anything I've wanted to do but not been able to. It prompted me to open a savings account, too, as it was so easy to transfer money to and from my current account. (though obviously I don't do too much of the latter, as I do want to actually save some money)

― Vicky (Vicky), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

When I left Nat West for Nationwide, the guy at Nat West asked why - he was expecting me to say things about their service, which he could try and talk me out of. When I said that it was because Nat West was a private company with shareholders, he looked bemused. He asked if there was anything the bank could do to keep my custom, and I couldn't help being slightly smug when I said I would need the shareholders to give me and the other customers control of the organisation.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It's Supporters Direct ethics gone mad!

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i like nationwide as well. they were one of the only banks that was sympathetic and helpful when i moved here and had no credit history (even though i've got a great credit history in the states, and they use the same companies to check credit histories. grr)

so yeah, good choice ed.

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

B-b-b-but they are not a bank Colette! - they are a Building Society, and the difference is very U&K.

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the few remaining pillars of the pre-labour party labour movement in this country, no less.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

right. they were one of the only financial institutions to be nice about it. is that an ok way to phrase it? since it's comparing it with banks and stuff...

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with HSBC, and I've never had any problems with them.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

So I went to the bank, went through the application process, but It all came to a grinding halt when they told me I couldn't have a debit card. The reason; bastard experian say I'm not on the electoral roll, which I am.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course, experian's online credit report service is broken right now, so I can't find out exactly what info is held on me.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

It takes ages for electoral roll additions to be processed through by people like experian. I have access to a version of the roll and just checked you (your surname's Lynch-B4ll, right?) and you don't seem to be registered anywhere. If you email me your address I can doublecheck that way.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

emailed, you, thanks.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Unusually, the mailup server seems to be down. Could you resend to nickd4stoor at v21.me.uk

(without the h4XoRed 'A', obv.)

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

have done

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok - I've checked and replied.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks, I will now have to hassle the bank or the council.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The experian site was Safari unfriendly, worked fine on Mozilla though.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

That's the idea of Maestro, but yeah, I don't know if it's been fully implemented yet. Lara would know.

Maestro is the Mastercard equivalent of Visa's Delta product. The UK Switch brand is being phased out and all banks will be replacing them with Maestro cards. This is also the case for the Laser scheme in Ireland. Banks will have different strategies for rolling out the new Maestro cards but I presume that most banks will just replace your Switch card with a Maestro one and that the only change will be that it will operate as usual domestically but will also have international debit functionality.

There are no required transaction fees associated with the Maestro product, although cash advance fees will still apply. However, some banks, if they charge a Switch transaction fee may charge a Maestro transaction fee - it's all down to each banks' card strategy.

The Maestro cards will have Microchips embedded in them and you will all have to start remembering your PINs!

Has the UK (outisde Northampton) gone CHIP yet?

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 7 February 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Moving over slowly, should be complete by end 2006 I think.

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 8 February 2004 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone know any CHIP enabled shops in central London? I'm going to be over soon and I want to check it out (Busman's holiday).

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 9 February 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

good question, i've not been asked even though all bar my switch card is chip.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I've just started using my LloydsTSB internet banking again after years of not doing so because I'd mislaid my user ID (yeah, aren't I organised?).

Funnily enough, this happened to me too. I could never access it with my prehistoric version of Netscape at home (on the old PC), so when I left the cushy IT job in Welwyn for the unemployment hinterlands...

When I finally got around to pleading for a new ID - it was the same as my PhoneBank ID! Which is a 1,000,000,000-1 chance! Or not.

When using a UK credit card in the US - always self-swipe and PIN entry? I might need to visit a tattoo parlour before April.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

For a moment I didn't get that, and was thrown by the idea that you were genuinely going to get a tattoo done. I hope you won't be offended at the degree of my astonishment.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm offended at your degree, but not at the astonishment.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Just write the PIN on the back of your card :-)

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 9 February 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

yet another vote for hsbc. dead good the net banking is.
i used to hate the voice on the telebanking thingy:
'you ...have...zero...............pounds..and.....zero...*pence*'

― piscesboy, Monday, 9 February 2004 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

I am an HSBC customer both in the UK and the US, and the US outposts have apparently instituted a charming policy that allows one to continue drawing money out of one's account and paying for things with your debit card even if you've got no money in it - and silently whacking you for $30 every time you do.

Even without the "overdraft protection" that I clearly should have confirmed I had, this seems a bit much, doesn't it?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 5 May 2005 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean, I've got a credit card. I could have just paid with that.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 5 May 2005 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry, I mean is this old news? I don't remember things working this way. If I had no money I'd just not have any money, and the thing would get refused.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 5 May 2005 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha. I've been running over my overdraft limit regularly all year and have shelled out almost £300 in charges in the process, but hey it's still cheaper than ANOTHER loan...

― $V£N! (blueski), Friday, 6 May 2005 07:59 (twenty-one years ago)

six years pass...

Grrrr... there's nothing that winds me up more than internet banking! I don't know if this is the same with everyone, but Barclays appear to require umpteen different passcodes, pin numbers, membership numbers, family names PLUS a pinsentry machine (yeah which I carry around with me 24/7 of course). Of course, this ends up with me having to come up with really obvious security details and saving them in really obvious places, which defeats the point right?

― the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 13:37 (fifteen years ago)

Just post your details here, should be safe enough.

― Cluster the boots (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:20 (fifteen years ago)

smile = a/c no, sort code, pin, security question. not too bad. plus the stupid pni entry machine for money transfers.

― ledge, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:21 (fifteen years ago)

bank of scotland is username, password, some digits from you "memorable information", which is basically just a second password.

― Introducing the Hardline According to (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:25 (fifteen years ago)

I'm still quietly seething at how awkward this last procedure was. It took all lunchbreak and I'm still none the wiser as the people on the phone were really unhelpful. I know it's all in the interest of security, but I have trouble remembering a PIN for my debit card, let alone all the other stuff. Defeats the object since people end up writing their details down. I have a mate who used to keep his details in a folder on his desktop marked "passwords" hahah.

― the Sandalled Vandal (dog latin), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:26 (fifteen years ago)

bit ofi don't write down any of the details to my bank accounts, secret questions, pin numbers, passwords down anywhere. otoh at work i write all my passwords down on a bit of paper i keep in my badge, but that's mainly because i have 6 passwords that have to be changed every 30 days in work. which is just ridiculous.

― Introducing the Hardline According to (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:32 (fifteen years ago)

bit ofi? haha

― Introducing the Hardline According to (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:34 (fifteen years ago)

I am an HSBC customer both in the UK and the US, and the US outposts have apparently instituted a charming policy that allows one to continue drawing money out of one's account and paying for things with your debit card even if you've got no money in it - and silently whacking you for $30 every time you do.

OTM

also 'the worlds bank' that is supposed to let you get money from yr accnt anywhere in the world wouldn't at almost ALL US ATMs.

Hate them. Can't fault their internet banking though.

― owenf, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:47 (fifteen years ago)

US internet banking so mych better than the UK variety. I can photograph cheques to pay them in.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:56 (fifteen years ago)

cheques? hahahahahahhhahahahahaha

― ledge, Wednesday, 22 June 2011 14:57 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

hsbc's new little plastic lcd calculator gizmo that you makes you jump through a dozen hoops before giving you that day's poassword to your online banking. what a load of SHIT.

has everyone who uses hsbc been sent one of these? must have cost a fortune to produce and are as irritating as hell. bound to get lost too.

― NI, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 17:27 (fourteen years ago)

sounds like a good way to accumulate possessions if you don't mind declaring bankruptcy (after hiding all of your nice stuff in someone else's house).

― Sir Chips Keswick (Merdeyeux), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 17:44 (fourteen years ago)

My only real beef with (Barclays) internet banking here is how you can't make a simple international transfer from a personal account. I had to order a chequebook which I will probably never use again!

― gyac, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 18:06 (fourteen years ago)

has everyone who uses hsbc been sent one of these? must have cost a fortune to produce and are as irritating as hell. bound to get lost too.
I found out, after breaking my pin sentry, that Barclays apparently charge you to replace it - though they will replace it free if it breaks. They're going on about reintroducing the basic access for most pinsentry functions, let's see how that goes.

― gyac, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 18:10 (fourteen years ago)

the HSBC thingie is fucking HUGE.

― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 18:31 (fourteen years ago)

seriously, i can't believe i'm expected to carry that piece of crap around with me ALL THE TIME WTF

― jabba hands, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 18:32 (fourteen years ago)

RBS want me to get one before I can even enter my mobile number against my account for them to contact me. Stupid bank. I suppose I could just phone them and tell them it.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 18:46 (fourteen years ago)

it's like HSBC are trying to force me into buying MAN BAG.

― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 20:24 (fourteen years ago)

Maybe the device doesn't actually do anything except ensure you only access your account from your home computer, hence minimising security risk from using public computers/wifi....

― kinder, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 20:27 (fourteen years ago)

got one for smile, it's not large. i leave it at home, i've never been URGENTLY required to transfer someone some money RIGHT NOW. of course if i do owe someone i only remember when i check my email, which i usually only do at work.

― ledge, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 21:33 (fourteen years ago)

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