Like being hassled for loans, mortgages and credit cards? If so, Halifax is for you! (Halifax)

Member Name: stuff10

Product:	Halifax
Date:	03/06/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Online banking is quite easy, branches located near home (for me)

Disadvantages: Getting hassled every time you do something, foreign country withdrawal fee

I've had my current account with the Halifax since I was at school (which is 10+ years ago now). I opened it when the bank came to the school and gave out free things in exchange for your details, I think I got a free bag at the time... but 10+ years later and I'm still banking with them so their school ploy obviously works!

Anyway, onto the actual bank... My account is a joint current account where my wages and my other half's wages are paid in. It's easy to manage the account online (although that's another review). I can't comment on telephone banking as I don't ever use it.

However, there are several disadvantages to Halifax, most notably:

- They've started charging for withdrawing cash abroad. They didn't used to about a year ago, but we found ourselves charged £1.50 per withdrawal on our last holiday. To be fair though, you do seem to get a good exchange rate through Halifax.

- You get bombarded with marketing crap advertising their other products - in particular loans. I must get a loans leaflet through the post at least every 2 weeks... no, I didn't want a loan last month, and I don't want one now!

- You also get hassled when paying money in - take a cheque into the bank and they'll try to get you to sign-up for a credit card and switch your mortgage. I already have a credit card and you wouldn't lend me enough to buy my house last year, so why should I switch to you now? Just take my bloody cheque!!

Actually, the more I think about it, the less Halifax actually does for me! Oh well, I suppose that's just banks at the minute though isn't it?

Summary: Same as all other banks, really