Premier banking - which bank to choose
Discussion
I've been involved in property renvoations recently and am currently funding these from savings (purchase and renovation costs), but would like to start at some point a credit facility with a premier/private account that offers more flexibility than my current bank (Cahoot)
Any developers/business men who can recommend a particular bank? I've spoken to HSBC so far and qualify for their account and I've been impressed by the (free) service they offer.
Any developers/business men who can recommend a particular bank? I've spoken to HSBC so far and qualify for their account and I've been impressed by the (free) service they offer.
I can second the opinion that Barclays is crap... I've got a personal premier account with them and all I get is emails and other crap and a fee for the pleasure (ok free travel/gadget insurance and airport lounges etc as well)... where as my business account with HSBC have a premier desk in the local branch which sorts things out very quickly and efficiently and I rarely have to hold for the phones to be answered.
gilla said:
I can second the opinion that Barclays is crap... I've got a personal premier account with them and all I get is emails and other crap and a fee for the pleasure (ok free travel/gadget insurance and airport lounges etc as well)... where as my business account with HSBC have a premier desk in the local branch which sorts things out very quickly and efficiently and I rarely have to hold for the phones to be answered.
Airport lounges - where's that info?????euroboy said:
David A said:
gilla said:
I can second the opinion that Barclays is crap... I've got a personal premier account with them and all I get is emails and other crap and a fee for the pleasure (ok free travel/gadget insurance and airport lounges etc as well)... where as my business account with HSBC have a premier desk in the local branch which sorts things out very quickly and efficiently and I rarely have to hold for the phones to be answered.
Airport lounges - where's that info?????Plus, guests cost a tenner each.
I don't think it matters massively, it's more who you deal with than the bank. I have clients that have followed me and I'm sure would in the future.
Whilst they are now the competition rather than my employer I would definitely recommend HSBC for their overall service, they have a very customer orientated approach and ethos of ownership when something goes wrong. The managers are also very heavily targeted at present for acquisitions so a very good time to approach them.
Barclays Wealth are meant to be very good but from personal experience their Premier/Premier Life service is as someone else mentioned very sales orientated rather than service.
Whilst they are now the competition rather than my employer I would definitely recommend HSBC for their overall service, they have a very customer orientated approach and ethos of ownership when something goes wrong. The managers are also very heavily targeted at present for acquisitions so a very good time to approach them.
Barclays Wealth are meant to be very good but from personal experience their Premier/Premier Life service is as someone else mentioned very sales orientated rather than service.
Barclays Premier (but I get it for half price) some of the insurances have worked well for me, annual travel with business cover, domestic emergency and RAC
Lounge service was mediocre
Gadget insurance - £500 limit
Have used the concierege service a couple of times but noticed this is now reduced to a max of 10 x per year (oh they did source a good discount on a new car for a friend)
Lounge service was mediocre
Gadget insurance - £500 limit
Have used the concierege service a couple of times but noticed this is now reduced to a max of 10 x per year (oh they did source a good discount on a new car for a friend)
David A said:
euroboy said:
David A said:
gilla said:
I can second the opinion that Barclays is crap... I've got a personal premier account with them and all I get is emails and other crap and a fee for the pleasure (ok free travel/gadget insurance and airport lounges etc as well)... where as my business account with HSBC have a premier desk in the local branch which sorts things out very quickly and efficiently and I rarely have to hold for the phones to be answered.
Airport lounges - where's that info?????Plus, guests cost a tenner each.
RE the OPs original question. If you want a PERSONAL SERVICE/ADVICE/PROFESSIONALISM - Forget BARCLAYS PREMIER. This WAS excellent from them a few years ago, but died about 2 years ago when all they became interested in was selling you the account and useless features that come alongside it. You now deal with low graded staff rather than qualified people and they don't care unless you will buy home insurance and pathetic 'add ons' to their account.
HSBC everyday, you still have a reasonably highly qualified Manager who has authority in their job, rather than some young idiot who just wants to sell sell sell
HSBC everyday, you still have a reasonably highly qualified Manager who has authority in their job, rather than some young idiot who just wants to sell sell sell
Stay away from Santander too. They are worse than useless. Unhelpful at branch, don't know their own products, offered no assistance, complaints team are quick to send letters of apology and gifts but still fail to sort out the issues.
If I wasn't on such a good deal i'd have closed the account by now! They almost had two more current accounts and two savings accounts from me and OH but they blew it big style.
Avoid!!!
If I wasn't on such a good deal i'd have closed the account by now! They almost had two more current accounts and two savings accounts from me and OH but they blew it big style.
Avoid!!!
Soovy said:
Barclays Premier.
I have this and it is crap.I noticed that the service has gone downhill lately and discovered the reason for this at the weekend.
ANyone can now pay for a premiere account.
There is no criteria.
As a result the whole department is far larger and far less exclusively staffed.
All it is now is a normal account that you pay for and get a pretty black card.
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