Re: Internet banking

[Guest guest]

We have internet access to our Barclays current account, and our one in the

US. I think it is a great way to keep abreast of you finances because you

can basically get bank statements any time you like. You can also do other

things, like manage your direct debits. It doesn't stop you from spending

money though, or going into debt - it just makes you more aware of when it's

happening.

Joyce

============

http://clik.to/ourphotos

> I am notorious with spending money and forgetting and making a mess of my

bank account. I was thinking of having an internet bank account to keep a

better eye on things.

>

> Does anyone have experience of these good/bad?

>

> SAHM 6, Olivia 2, 1, 15/3/00.

> Editor Wallingford and District

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone have experience of these good/bad?

>

We use halifax-online which means I can keep track of dh's sneaky

atm withdrawals easily. Can also pay bills online which is handy.

No problems so far.

[Guest guest]

I have First Direct, I have used the on-line banking *once only* cos it was

exceedingly slow, non-logical, screens were over-complex (too much arty

stuff, ages to download) and easy to make mistakes by clicking on the wrong

thing. Needs much improvement before I would use it again. You have to use

their own phone connection (so it`s outside of any cheap deals - correct me

if I

am wrong!)

OTOH First Direct Phone banking are Brilliant- I would recommend them to

anybody cos it's 24 hrs, fast and friendly, and they confirm what you

are doing, less easy to make a mistake.They are geared up to offer *easy*

solutions, e.g. getting foreign currency in a hurry, bankers drafts,

personal loans, setting up new accounts, etc etc.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

> I am notorious with spending money and forgetting and making a mess

of my bank account. I was thinking of having an internet bank account

to keep a better eye on things.

Does anyone have experience of these good/bad?

I use Barclays. Since I used to work for them and used to tap in each

day and check my up-to-date balance, life shouldn't be too

different....

However:

I preferred their previous offline service where you could dial in,

get balances etc, then it auto-disconnected and left you to make

transfers, bill payments etc in the comfort of your own home and

without reliance on a speedy connection. Nowadays, it can take

5-10mins, even more, to do everything I want to do (set

up/cancel/amend standing orders, direct debits, bill payments; check

balances, transfer money etc) and these calls may be at expensive

rates rather than cheap. OTOH, when I visit places in other countries

e.g. US, Canada, NZ, where internet access is free/v. cheap the

benefits are phenomenal. This is the benefit of internet banking as

opposed to PC banking.

I also have an Egg account which I have chosen not to convert to their

Internet only account - if I did I would earn a higher rate of

interest but would not be able to deposit cheques into it, just

electronic transfers. I like to put my NCT expenses in there since

this seems more like money 'saved' - I spent it and now I have it back

again!

FInally - we used First Direct for a while which was great but wasn't

so good when we were travelling as it costs a fortune to call them in

the first place if you are overseas.

Soooooo... I guess, IME, you have to look at your lifestyle and then

look at the options - bit like choosing a pushchair/pram - not much

point in getting a Britax Travel system if you don't own a car.....

I haven't any experience of the foreign-based internet only banks

(there is one based in France which got slated on radio/TV etc a

couple of months ago)

HTH,

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

> I am notorious with spending money and forgetting and making a mess of my

bank account. I was thinking of having an internet bank account to keep a

better eye on things.

>

> Does anyone have experience of these good/bad?

>

> SAHM 6, Olivia 2, 1, 15/3/00.

> Editor Wallingford and District

>

As I work for a bank, I found it really difficult to keep track of finances

when I went on mat leave, as I used to be able to check accounts everyday at

work!! Using Internet Banking when I went on mat leave second time round was

so much easier. Also, saves having to worry about getting to bank on right

day to pay bills - once bill arrives, set up payment for correct future date

and forget about it!!!!

[Guest guest]

> said As I work for a bank, I found it really difficult to keep track

of finances

> when I went on mat leave, as I used to be able to check accounts everyday

at

> work!! >

>

As an ex-employee of a bank, I know the feeling.

I was OK until the local cash point was ram raided with a

JCB and we were without a cashpoint for months whilst

a replacement was sorted out.

And this was in a sleepy little market town.

Trisha

Trainee BFC

Mother to Jack 6, 4 and Isaac 1

[Guest guest]

we have first Direct too, its now on the INternet, so free/cheap dependig on

your deal, we have no probs at all, only remembering the pasword as you have

to change them every ?mnth, you can also download your " stsements into a

money software thing (like MS Money, or in our case one which DH wrote for

us) & do stuff like projections takinh reg. expenses into a/c-scarey!!)

angi

-

>I have First Direct, I have used the on-line banking *once only* cos it was

>exceedingly slow, non-logical, screens were over-complex (too much arty

>stuff, ages to download) and easy to make mistakes by clicking on the

wrong

>thing. Needs much improvement before I would use it again. You have to use

>their own phone connection (so it`s outside of any cheap deals - correct me

>if I

>am wrong!)

>OTOH First Direct Phone banking are Brilliant- I would recommend them to

>anybody cos it's 24 hrs, fast and friendly, and they confirm what you

>are doing, less easy to make a mistake.They are geared up to offer *easy*

>solutions, e.g. getting foreign currency in a hurry, bankers drafts,

>personal loans, setting up new accounts, etc etc.

>

>Barbara

>

>

>