Halifax - one happy customer (Halifax)

Member Name: roversjenny

Product:	Halifax
Date:	10/05/09 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Online banking, UK call centres

Disadvantages: Hard sell on new products

I have banked with Halifax ever since I was a small child. It all started off with a passbook account which I paid birthday and christmas money into, along with any excess pocket money that I received, then as soon as I turned 16 and got a part time job, I opened up an easycash account, complete with a solo card and have never looked back.

Once I was 18 and eligable for a normal current account, Halifax arranged an appointment for me at my local branch and I went and switched my easycash account over, the process was smooth and I encountered no problems.

I have had that current account now for 5 years and don't have a bad word to say about Halifax, they have helped me in times of need by providing credit cards, and a personal loan, and arrange banking reviews for me periodically to see if there is anything more that they can do.

Their online system is the best one I have used (HSBC, Halifax, Natwest, Barclays), it is easy to navigate and very simple to set up payments and standing orders. I find that I don't go into branch much anymore because their excellent online facilities remove the need. However, when I do go into branch, I am more than impressed with the facilities available, particulary the fast paying in machines which mean you don't have to queue to speak to counter staff.

I don't use telephone banking, however, from time to time I do have to call customer services, who are very helpful, and they are based in the UK meaning that you can tend to understand the person on the other side of the phone (take note Barclays!).

The account I have at the minute is one of the reward accounts which gives you £5 a month if you pay in £1,000 a month, and has daily overdraft charges rather than a standard APR, the daily charges can be expensive for someone who lives in their overdraft however as I never enter mine, I have never been charged for the priviledge. I do like the comfort of an overdraft though, and Halifax are quite accomodating if you need it extending for any particular reason. Last year when I moved house they increase my overdraft to a larger amount to give us a bit of leeway incase we needed to pay out for something unexpectadly.

I have a loan, credit card and savings account with Halifax and they all offer very competitive rates.

One of the downsides to Halifax is the hard sell, when you visit smaller branches they do try and push you into taking products you don't necessarily want, however, as I have a family member who used to work in one of those branches, I now understand that they are under enormous pressure to get 'new money' in and I feel sorry for the staff who are pushed to do this. It is bad form on Halifax's part. I also get cold calls quite often in respect of my mortgage which is not with Halifax. They tend to go along the lines of 'we see you have a standing order for £X going to YBS, is this for a mortgage, can we arrange an appointment to give you a better deal?' No matter how many times I tell them I am tied into a fixed rate with high redemption penalties, they still keep calling.

Aside from these downsides, I really couldn't be happier with Halifax and I can see me using them for quite some time going forwards.

Summary: Trust them to look after my money and do the best for me