Banks - time to switch to a mainstream?
Banks - time to switch to a mainstream?
Author
Discussion

StevieBee

Original Poster:

14,481 posts

274 months

Wednesday 29th October
quotequote all
I've had six years of trouble free service from Starling but am getting increasingly frustrated over increasing numbers of issues, mainly around sending and receiving international payment.

I've been chasing a client - a national government!! - for payment only to discover they did pay but Starling rejected the payment but can't tell me why!!

My feeling is that I've outgrown them. Fine for the basic stuff but anything beyond that and things get awkward.

I realise that I'm probably asking for the least worse but anyone care to vouch for a credible high street alternative?

Geoffcapes

1,021 posts

183 months

Thursday
quotequote all
That's nothing to do with who you bank with, it's the governments anti-money laundering regulations.

It's making sending money into the UK ridiculously difficult.

A classic case of slamming the stable door after the horse has bolted.
The Russian have been washing their money in the UK for decades, it's only since the war in Ukraine that the government has decided to do something.
And they've gone overboard so much it's stifling investment in the country!

StevieBee

Original Poster:

14,481 posts

274 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Yeah - this is a recurring thing. I don't have an issue with that per-se. My gripe is that I'm either not getting critical alerts to when payments need verification or they're buried in amongst other superfluous messages that are easily missed. And I can only pay USD to companies in the US!

goldieandblackie

254 posts

113 months

Try First Direct, thumbs up from me.

goldieandblackie

254 posts

113 months

Try First Direct, thumbs up from me.

Disco You

3,714 posts

199 months

If you’re used to the modern features of starling but want better cross border support, wise is worth considering.

sriggers

7 posts

6 months

Had the same with starling, Always sent the same international transfer from outside UK to Starling, one month it didn't arrive, eventually found its way back to original bank, minus £75. Put a complaint in and they said they no longer accepted transfers from that country.

I responded by pointing out this transfer had been processed every month for the past 18 months or so, and they should have messaged / emailed this update. They ended up giving me £80 compensation.

For day to day I like them, but I have a HSBC for international transfers.