Sorry for the O/T rant, but I'm so fed up of Barclays.

Their customer services is shocking... when I got married and changed my name, they took 5 months to change it and still haven't done it - keep sending me my replacement cards in my maiden name, and in the past have sent cards and cheque books to my old address that I haven't lived at for 5 years, and when I went on holiday, they thought my card was stolen but instead of calling me to check, they just cancelled it all.

Despite how rubbish THEY are, they're very quick to slap on charges, when you go overdrawn even by £8. Anyway, yesterday all my bills went out so I went online to transfer some money so I didn't go overdrawn, but because it was after 6.30pm, the transfer didn't show up until today, and they've charged me £20 for going overdrawn - even though I transferred the money in yesterday.

Grr.

So I want to leave... can anyone recommend a good bank who has good customer services?!

Hi.

An Ex- Barclays employee here!! I still bank with them and to be honest have never had any problems, however I know many who do!
I can tell you HSBC and First Direct often have the top rated in customer service.
I now work for Britannia, and would obviously reccommend them 100%, but we're not a bank!

Avoid Lloyds TSB and any of the Santander group, but thats just my personal opinion . good Luck!

I'm with NatWest and never had a problem in 18 years... OH neither?

Actually Natwest could be good, they have just reduced their unauthorised overdraft fees down to £5 so they're one of the cheapest.

Also, most of their branches now open on a Saturday, which is helpful if you work during the week.

Thanks for the advice ladies. I'm sure it's gone downhill since you left FlowerFairy!

Any reason you wouldn't recommend Lloyds TSB or Santander?

Dont go with HSBC, they are absolutely crap, done exactly the same to me as uv just described

LOL I'm an ex barclays employee too!!! When I read the title I was going to come on & say Barclays are good!!

I get the feeling they are more helpful to staff tho!

Sorry I can't offer any advice, good luck finding somewhere decent. What about one of the online only banks?? Ive heard good reviews about them!

Cahoot.

All the way!

I've had accounts with Barclays, Natwest, HSBC, and still have one with LloydsTSB.

Lloyds are pretty harsh really - but they have me in good favour, so I've kept in with them.

With Cahoot you feel like you're dealing with HUMANS who are using their brain rather than a script.

We've had lots of opportunity to test them, regular outgoing CHAPs abroad, credit card refund following the purchase of a dog of a car (veeeeeeeeery rare to get your money back on a car - gave me the high savings interest I would have earnt too), one of the top for interest on savings accounts (when there was any to be had! ) Great with overdrafts, flexible loans... VERY easy to get hold of and deal with online. We've arranged ISAs and shares with them... seem great with their security and no hitches while abroad etc... the best bank I've ever dealt with.

HTH

PS... I promise I don't work for them, or know anyone who does

EDIT: Lloyds (IMHO) are complete cherry-pickers. They generally treat me very well because of my credit history, but royally screwed and mis-sold to my husband before we were married... they seem to have continued this trend through times when I've needed to bridge finances with house purchases etc and been less helpful, yet when the large sums of money appear they practically licked my boots.

I highly recommend Lloyds.

I've had issues with Natwest and HSBC in the past.

I swopped from nationwide a few years ago to barclays & tbh I couldnt be happier

I hear alot of people say HSBC are good but tbh I wouldnt be able to say if they were or not