Recommend a bank / credit card

[worsy]

I have been with first direct for 30 years but it appears to no longer offer 24/7 support. Had an issue buying an expensive item in dubai and card declined (assuming unusual activity)

I called for, but they said the team dealing with that was business hours.

I am reluctantly looking for an alternative, so based on above, what would you suggest?

[TownIdiot]

Whenever I've had any issues with either a card transaction or fraud Monzo and Starling have been the best at resolving.


For day to day banking I exclusively use Monzo for personal and for business I use Starling as much as I can.



Really can't fault either

[RicksAlfas]

I would have thought any mainstream credit card would offer 24 hour help.
American Express or Barclaycard being the obvious ones.

If you travel abroad a lot the Halifax Clarity card is good.

[worsy]

Thanks both - I was thinking Monzo myself.

[mikey_b]

A week ago I'd have recommended Starling... But from February, they will stop paying any interest on current accounts and savings spaces. It was never a world-beating interest rate (about 3.5%) but it was better than most, meaning you could leave a sensible pool of money in there to cover upcoming variable direct debits without worrying about it not earning anything at all. So sod them, I'll be moving bank in the new year.

They have a new CEO, he's already causing ructions by forcing all staff into the office, including the ones hired from all over the country on the basis they would be working remotely. He's also giving talks on how great it will be using AI for customer service, so no doubt he's actually planning to make a bunch of redundancies on the cheap when people quit rather than start commuting, and doesn't care that he'll fk their excellent customer service reputation up in the process. Way to go, new CEO...

[Louis Balfour]

RicksAlfas said:

I would have thought any mainstream credit card would offer 24 hour help.
American Express or Barclaycard being the obvious ones.

If you travel abroad a lot the Halifax Clarity card is good.

Avoid Barclaycard, it is staffed by utter cretins these days. I've just had another Ombudsman's decision in my favour, because their CEO complaints team were too objectionable and argumentative to resolve the problem.

I am migrating as much business to Amex as merchant acceptance will allow.

[pavarotti1980]

mikey_b said:

A week ago I'd have recommended Starling... But from February, they will stop paying any interest on current accounts and savings spaces. It was never a world-beating interest rate (about 3.5%) but it was better than most, meaning you could leave a sensible pool of money in there to cover upcoming variable direct debits without worrying about it not earning anything at all. So sod them, I'll be moving bank in the new year.

They have a new CEO, he's already causing ructions by forcing all staff into the office, including the ones hired from all over the country on the basis they would be working remotely. He's also giving talks on how great it will be using AI for customer service, so no doubt he's actually planning to make a bunch of redundancies on the cheap when people quit rather than start commuting, and doesn't care that he'll fk their excellent customer service reputation up in the process. Way to go, new CEO...

I will just shift the slush fund in Starling from Spaces to the new Easy Saver when that comes out. Switch banks if just becomes "mainstream"

Edited by pavarotti1980 on Wednesday 20th November 15:18

[mikey_b]

pavarotti1980 said:

mikey_b said:

A week ago I'd have recommended Starling... But from February, they will stop paying any interest on current accounts and savings spaces. It was never a world-beating interest rate (about 3.5%) but it was better than most, meaning you could leave a sensible pool of money in there to cover upcoming variable direct debits without worrying about it not earning anything at all. So sod them, I'll be moving bank in the new year.

They have a new CEO, he's already causing ructions by forcing all staff into the office, including the ones hired from all over the country on the basis they would be working remotely. He's also giving talks on how great it will be using AI for customer service, so no doubt he's actually planning to make a bunch of redundancies on the cheap when people quit rather than start commuting, and doesn't care that he'll fk their excellent customer service reputation up in the process. Way to go, new CEO...

I will just shift the slush fund in Starling from Spaces to the new Easy Saver when that comes out. Switch banks if just becomes "mainstream"

Edited by pavarotti1980 on Wednesday 20th November 15:18

The difference is you can pay bills from Spaces. You can't from Easy Saver. So whilst you're right in that you can still earn interest, it is no longer completely hands-off, and there's a risk that if you move a bit too much into Easy Saver you'll get hit with overdraft fees when the bills come out.

[Cupid-stunt]

worsy said:

I have been with first direct for 30 years but it appears to no longer offer 24/7 support. Had an issue buying an expensive item in dubai and card declined (assuming unusual activity)

I called for, but they said the team dealing with that was business hours.

I am reluctantly looking for an alternative, so based on above, what would you suggest?

This is good to know.
I have been with them since 1998 and have never had any issue that hasn't been resolved promptly.
I can't recall the last time I had to call them as the app is so good.
Obv no good if your card is blocked and need them to unblock....

[chip*]

Nationwide?

I've been with them for yonks, and my 2 recent telephone contacts (to cancel my debit an credit cards and home insurance claim) has been with an UK based person. Yes, it really does make a difference!

(For comparison, our HSBC Business account have an offshore customer support team who barely spoke English.....)

[pavarotti1980]

mikey_b said:

The difference is you can pay bills from Spaces. You can't from Easy Saver. So whilst you're right in that you can still earn interest, it is no longer completely hands-off, and there's a risk that if you move a bit too much into Easy Saver you'll get hit with overdraft fees when the bills come out.

Luckily not my main account so nothing going out but I agree it wouldn't be good if it were

[TownIdiot]

pavarotti1980 said:

I will just shift the slush fund in Starling from Spaces to the new Easy Saver when that comes out. Switch banks if just becomes "mainstream"

Edited by pavarotti1980 on Wednesday 20th November 15:18

I kept my other accounts and just transfer to Monzo / Starling for day to day banking - if I'm a bit short for DD coming up I get a warning and even on the day you can load up and immediately pay the DD

Their apps just seem streets ahead of the more traditional banks.

[worsy]

Cupid-stunt said:

worsy said:

I have been with first direct for 30 years but it appears to no longer offer 24/7 support. Had an issue buying an expensive item in dubai and card declined (assuming unusual activity)

I called for, but they said the team dealing with that was business hours.

I am reluctantly looking for an alternative, so based on above, what would you suggest?

This is good to know.
I have been with them since 1998 and have never had any issue that hasn't been resolved promptly.
I can't recall the last time I had to call them as the app is so good.
Obv no good if your card is blocked and need them to unblock....

I've raised a complaint and will update here the result.