i want to change my current account

[catra1]

im with a very big bank wo have always been ok with me but the interest i get on my account is awful and recently they have messed up a couple of things which means i have lost faith in them. I want to open a different current account with someone else ideally where the intest rate is competitive for a current account. My main criteria though is that i want a good telephone banking service where i can reliably pay bills over the phone and ask questions if things go wrong and not beput on hold listening to Enya forever, i'd also like a cheque book and a debit card.... does such a bank exist?

[jean88]

LloydsTSB and halifax have good rates on their current accounts, if you put money in regularly each month eg. wages, they include a cheque book and a cheque guarantee/debit card.

Check the best deals at: www.moneysupermarket.com

[mongos bird]

yes, yes, yes - First Direct every time!!!   Their call centres are uk based and manned 24/7, unlike some where you can end up in an infernal loop of 'press 8 to go back to the beginning, press 9 to go into a violent rage induced by our automated 'answering' service'

I bear no prejudice against overseas call centre workers but my other half banks with LLoydsTsb and has tried their tele banking without success.  In some cases the Reps struggle with the language and the banking systems.  This has caused numerous problems, ending in wrong direct debits being cancelled (pretty serious at his was his car insurance!) without his knowledege.  

Check out their web site www.firstdirect.com  

Their interest rates may not be the hottest but their customer service is second to none.  Personally I think that far outweighs a couple of extra pence interest a year. 

[stevie21]

I'd concur with the 2nd post and tend to nudge you away from the wondrous bank that rhymes with "shabby".

[Mistopheles]

After trying about 8 different banks, I finally plumped for HSBC. Despite some bad money problems, they've always been great, and I pay all my bills over the phone with them. No problems so far.

[Laura1973]

We have banked with Smile (part of the co-operative bank) from when they very first opened up on the net. Excellent service both over the telephone and on the internet and their rates are brill too. And I think they sort out all your existing direct debits for you when you move to them. Recommend them highly. www.smile.co.uk