The end of free banking

First Direct charged me almost £50 for £10 overdraft - b*st*rds - can't be trusted.

Abbey have gone down Hill since santander took over,I rarely get my statements anymore and they have switched their customer services over to India.About three months ago I rang to cancel one of my direct debits,Instead they cancelled my visa card.If anybody does wish to switch banks I recommend they steer clear of Abbey.

@Jeff

I had similar experience - maybe First Direct are sifting their customers. Not sorry to leave them

Lloyds seem good, I have no complaints

I queried some overdraft charges with First Direct and they closed my account. About a week after I wrote to them (which means they replied immediately) I received a letter saying my account would be closed in 30 days. I couldn't believe it - I've been a customer for nearly 12 years. They're a mean spirited unpleasant bank who pretend to have good customer service.

Be very careful of First Direct. They are a complete rip off. They say they pride themselves on customer service, but this is as long as you don't complain. Once you complain to them, you are "being difficult" and they try everything possible to get rid of you.
They first of all charge for a current account which will hit the poorest of people then they take the call centre jobs away from the UK, so will have an impact on unemployment. At a time of such an economic crisis, First Direct feel that they can act and behave in whatever manner they like and retain customers.
The best advice I can give anyone is to move away from this bank and fast. They are not all they are cracked out to be and only when you start having problems do you realise what type of bank they are.

For those that think that free banking should not be free.
Evidently you don't know what a bank is and where banking comes from.
The history of banks is rather controversial and dirty. They make a lot of money using your money that's why they should not charge you. Banks are not human, they are very suppressive and unreasonable, and they are the scum of earth together with journalists, psychiatrist and politicians. If banks did not exist with their credit cards this world would be a much better place to live in, I really don't understand you people - what world are you living in? Yes, I know what world. Banks are responsible to have bankrupted governments, the reason for tax rise, poverty, depressions, recessions, blackmail - shall we wake up one of these days?

There is no such thing as free banking, just different ways to pay for it. If you don't like First Direct's way of charging for it, find another bank that suits you better and stop whining about why you should be geting something for nothing. I personally think that this introduces more choice into the marketplace which is a good thing.

There is no such thing as free banking, just different ways to pay for it. If you don't like First Direct's way of charging for it, find another bank that suits you better and stop whining about why you should be geting something for nothing. I personally think that this introduces more choice into the marketplace which is a good thing.

Why should we get free banking?

Most of us have small amounts in the bank at any one time, write numerous cheques, pay numerous D/Ds and S/Os and still expect free banking!

I'm more than happy to still get it free but what planet are the banks on if they still want to provide this and why should people moan when the banks wake up and start charging a small amount for the cost of providing the account and services anyway!

If the OFT is successful in their test case and proves the bank charges are unfair (which they arenn't) then there will be no free banking for anyone because of the amount of money greedy consumers will claim back in compensation.

MORGAN STANLEY have introduced a £20.00 annual fee for their platinum credit card with effect from 1st June. They are hitting existing customers first so do not show this on their web site application page. Be careful if switching elsewhere, you can only claim any cashback due in exact multiples of £15.00.

What a rip off!

this scum have the God given right to create fiat money on computers and charge interest on it. With that alone a crime they go on to rape the public again with more charging.
We can collapse this Bank simply by closing our accounts and moving to a fairer Bank.
We the people DO HAVE THE POWER, if only we would exercise it instead of just talking about it. All the data you ever need about Banks in in the book "Human Ecology" by Thomas Robertson. Hard to obtain for obvious reasons. I think Blooomfield books in sudbury suffolk still sell it mail oder.