Withdrawing Cash Abroad - New Ripoff?

One aspect which has not been mentioned is - how does the bank/BS react when you have a problem?

My experience with NW is that :

a) They have branches. You can go in, meet someone and explain at your own pace. The Advisors without exception have been courteous and caring.

b) They have an online messaging service. Useful for flagging queries and also advising them in advance of unusual spending patterns - new car, exotic holiday etc.

c) Their call centre is UK based. Not necessarily a great advantage - but it is easier for them to co-ordinate with local branches.

In general, the few problems that have arisen have been speedily resolved.

Flop

ps I lied about the exotic holiday - not sure if NZ counts :-)

I live outside the UK and have been using Nationwide's internet banking for several years now, accessing it at least a couple of times a month from various locations. They certainly don't appear to make any attempt to block access from overseas. I'd close all my accounts with them if they ever did that. The internet is the only practical way of managing accounts with them from overseas.

Chris

I don't think it's just your branch. NW have made so many mistakes with my mortgage and flex account - you wouldn't believe it! However they have always put things right eventually, leaving me in the same or better position than if the mistake was never made.

M.

Just to add some balance, I had a mortgage with the Nationwide (and their predecessor) for about 25 years and a flex account ever since they introduced current accounts and I've had no problems ever. They've never made a mistake.

I guess there will always be some people who have bad experiences with all banks - no bank is perfect. The Nationwide is pretty close, though :-). In particular, they don't subscribe to the "rip off the customer" philosophy that's so prevalent with the others.

Mike.

I'm glad they have never made a mistake for you. I doubt that my experiences are unique, however, due to their nature. They made a real dogs dinner with my remortage, accidentally screwed up my credit record, paid someone else's money into my account and then took it back twice, to name but three.

I agree. That's why I am still using them. I left my previous bank for less.

M.

I'm still having problems with Alliance and Leicester. I sent a complaint on the 17th Feb using the secure message facility on their website, which they ignored until I chased it up yesterday. Now they are just pointing to the terms and conditions on their website which state that there is a minimum fixed charge of £1.50. I don't think it mentions the £50 limit on withdrawals though. Also the advice from A&L's Customer Service advisor that there is no minimum charge (used to justify the ridiculously low withdrawal limit) was much more accessible to me while I was abroad without branch or Internet access, and contradicted this advice. They say that I could also have gone into a bank with my card and passport and withdrawn money that way.

Where do I stand? I've pointed out again that I was given contradictory advice by their advisor but they aren't willing to refund the charges beyond what they quoted me on the phone. Really peeved now. Has anyone signed up with them and been hit by their other wheeze of encouraging you to sign up for card and key insurance (which is really good incidentally) but then been hit by multiple £35 overdraft charges when they draw the money for the insurance from your account before the first paycheque goes in? It took three complaints letters to get the £105 refunded, but I put that down to "an unfortunate bad start". Now they're back to ripping me off again.