Avoid unless you like wasting your time (Nationwide Building Society)

Member Name: Will

Product:	Nationwide Building Society
Date:	07/10/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Supposedly a good debit card for spending abroad - if you can get your account open

Disadvantages: Where to begin, inefficient, inept and slow account opening process

My opening of a current account has turned into a bit of a saga. First I applied online for the account and despite indications it was slowly proceeding, it was eventually lost. So I had to re-apply in branch and now that has got mixed up and delayed too.

They continually mess things up, are slow to act or just ignore responses for help.

The whole operation reeks of ineptitude and inefficiency.

I've accounts with Barclays, HSBC, Northern Rock, Egg and Natwest. All are leagues ahead of my experiences with Nationwide. I would have given up ages ago but their debit card is the best for foreign transactions.

If I do ever get the account open, I was going to put £50,000 in to spread my savings around the banks. But now will just use it for occasional holidays.

In fact, this isn't just my worst bank experience ever, it's my worst customer service experience ever!

Summary: Not really worth the trouble