ABBEY - MY EXPERIENCE (Abbey National)

Member Name: emmalouise21

Product:	Abbey National
Date:	30/08/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: EASE OF USE , GOOD ONLINE SERVICE

Disadvantages: BANK CHARGES , CUSTOMER SERVICE ON PHONES

I joined abbey last september due to my old bank fobbing me off about a debit card.
Anyway i found the whole procedure of joining abbey very easy. I simply went in with proof of id etc and my account was opened and everything sent out to me in a matter of days. I got my debit card as i had wanted and my chequebook and online passwords etc.
What i also loved about abbey was that when i was lodging money in the branch i didnt have to fill out lodgement books or lodgement forms etc i simply handed over my card and cash and that was it.
I also was appreciative of the fact that they gave me an overdraft to help me out if i needed it without me even requesting it, although in hindsight i can see how this may be a bad thing as people who dont manage money well could be led astray.
I love the ease of use of their online system also.
I also love the fact i get monthly statements instead of 3 monthly it leaves it easier to track my money.

I do however think there are poor parts to my experience with abbey. These being their extortionate fees for being overdrawn over an overdraft, if im ever over my overdraft even by 5p they will charge me for that and then £25 montly fee also. I try my best never to let this happen but there are certain times i simply cannot help it and i have seen cases where i have lodged the money the next day and still been charged. There was one month i had £120 worth of charges which i felt was ridiculous. I did however speak to a manager to get these taken down and im careful not to let it happen again.
Another aspect of their service i am extremly wary of is their customer service. I find it atrocious to say the lease. Anyone i try to speak to cannot understand what im talking about and they all seem to be foreign call centres and unless you stress in instances to speak to a supervisor or manager you get fobbed off.
Another gripe i had was when i lost my debit card and asked for it to be cancelled and a new one sent out, they decided then that i do not put enough money through to my account to continue to be eligible for a debit card and they had to downgrade me to visa electron. Now this wasnt major but i have about £1500 going into my account every month surely this is enough money for a current bank account?

Anyway although i have complained about parts of abbey in general i am happy with the service they provide me as no banks are perfect and we can all have gripes with all of them.
I am happy to stay with them and faults and all i would still recommend them to people as long as noone expects them to be perfect.

Summary: DECENT BANK IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT