its good enough (Abbey National)

Member Name: bobinder

Product:	Abbey National
Date:	18/08/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: safe, free, interest

Disadvantages: queues, overdraft fees, telephone service

It is very easy to point a finger at the incompetancies of the service that our banks provide. When I call I am initially either be directed to a machine, or a call centre abroad, where the staff can be highly unaccomodating. In order to access my account, I can be interrogated in a way to convince myself I am stealing from myself. The branches have ridiculously long queues, and often my queries are simply redirected back to the telephone, or I am refused help. Furthermore, if I am 10p overdrawn on my overdraft facility, I am charged £35 for the transaction alone, plus a £25 monthly fee (this monthly fee cannot even be dealt with in branch!).

However, despite this (and I say that with a deep sigh) relative to the service I have seen in from other banks, Abbey does stand up fairly well. As well as this, given the banking is free (and we have no divine right to free banking), you cannot expect much more. The poor experiences I have described above are also few and far between, simply as I do find Abbey's online banking service highly convenient, and help you avoid using the telephones or branch (for basic day to day banking). Another plus I have found with this bank, is the fairly high interests rates they can occasionally offer, with my bank account giving me 6% interest, which is quite handy.

With the Abbey being owned by Santander (though I do not necessarily think overseas ownership is always beneficial), the immediate future of the bank seems secure, with the company being one of the few to make a profit during the credit crunch. With Natwest (rbs), barclay, lloyds and halifax, making such grave mistakes over the past few years in handling their finances, I personally feel inclined to look elsewhere.

Overall, the Abbey is far from perfect, but I believe you seem to find these problems everywhere, and given the few positive fators I have described, it is presently the bank for me.

Summary: seems a good choice in these difficult times some banks are facing