Set up a Monzo account if you only do online - you’ll be set up in 15 mins and you’ll have cards through the post in a couple of days. HSBC are shocking and provide a pretty poor online experience - RBS and Barclays have better online platforms imho
Well, that was odd! I just realised that my Halifax credit card is due tomorrow. When I had the Halifax bank account, they would just take the money but I am not sure if that DD has got transferred! As me and HSBC are going around and round in ciircles trying to set up computer on-line banking, I thought that I would try calling to see if any help could be found. Very unhopeful. based on experience trying to get on-line access to my account. They didn't want to speak to me as I am not a key worker (well, a worker of any sort!) and I am not facing financial ruin (that's next week!) and so they put me on to telephone banking - I have never used telephone banking with this account. Well, f&*K me! It all worked - twice, as I owed more than I thought and so had to make another payment! I am quite pleased as I had zero expectation of this working! I haven't checked to see what the hell I have been spending on my card, but I think that beer and coffee may be involved, and so I can't even blame anyone else!
I worked as a clerk at Cater Allen in the 1980s. Lovely bunch of people, I even had a Cater Allen cheque book. Metro is a great service, but they are hopelessly under-capitalised after a recent regulatory issue. No more than 87k in there. Coutts will charge a significant fee if your assets are below 250k. Best for personal banking is Nationwide. I rarely go to a branch. Phone app does almost everything. Online banking is excellent. Charges very low.
And another thing ...... Transactions on non-banking days Incoming money may not be available on your account until the next working day , because as everyone knows , the last person to leave on Friday afternoon pulls out the plug for the bank's entire computer system . But by some miracle , everything you spend on a debit or credit card during the weekend gets posted to your account immediately .... ..... odd that , innit ! Check out the small print .... " We aim to process transactions as quickly as possible , but in some cases this may take up to five days " Why is it that they say 5 days ? It is to allow for the longest non-banking period possible in the UK calendar .... ..... from the Thursday before Easter until the following Tuesday . But don't fret , because your debit / credit card spending will still go through the accounting system in seconds .
I've been with Lloyds for years. They don't do much for me but never had any major issues. They called me in 2017 to say I should consider moving my savings from a standard instant access jobby to a 12m locked in type deal to get the very best, market-leading rates... I then ask how much interest will you pay me on my hard-earned savings of £50k after 12 months. The reply - £71.00!!! We all had a good laugh and left it at that.
Had a very frustrating day today trying to pay a credit card. I changed to HSBC a few weeks ago and used the switching service to go from Halifax to USBC. I also closed my HSBC Business Account which they converted to a current account. Went to pay my Tesco Credit Card today and it failed on my computer. Then tried it using their phone app and it still failed. That p1ssed me off and so I tried to switch again. First Direct are not accepting applications for new accounts (although they swear blind that they are not going bust!) and the Halifax (who I used to be with) think what I am trying to do is too advanced for them, ie open a current account. So, out of frustration, I rang the bank pretending that I am a key working facing financial ruin. The helpful chap that I got tried to do it and it failed for him to! But he sussed it. It turns out that if you use the switch service that the banks are always going on about, then you may be f**ked! It turns out that for some cards, each bank has an individual reference. So if I try paying my Tesco card from my HSBC account, it uses the Halifax reference and fails! It is not all cards as other ones have worked, but if you use the switch service, that all of the banks are so proud of, some credit card payments won't work anymore. To me, as a banking outsider, that is sh1t and banks should know better... but they don't. To come back to a biking subject, I've pretty much decided on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel coz I want shaft drive. But, as it is cheaper than the Multistrada, KTM Superduke etc, so I'm going to get a track bike that will get a cheap(er) 748, 749 that is road legal but I will track day it. So, it can be cosmetically challenged and I don't mind sorting out mechanicals (or Rich at Louigi Moto can). I like bank account problems. It clears my mind to sort out bike issues - but still haven't heard from DVLA. If there is nothing in the post on Monday then I'll send them yet another letter. Although my solicitor used to be very formal with me, I've always been quite informal and chatty with her. I said ages ago that I didn't mind a less formal, more relaxed approach. That may of backfired on me. I've been badgering her about getting interim payments and starting legal action because Hastings still deny any liability (and that I wa riding the bike). Her reply (in nice solicitor speak ) was to back the f*c* off as she knows what she's doing and I don't! She said to just concentrate on my physio and getting better. I wasn't offended -especially as I'm not paying her! I quite enjoy it, as every time she has to respond to one of my mad emails, her costs go up. And Hasting are paying! If I get really hacked off, then I can write and ask about the weather today in Bracknell. Everytime she replies, it is between 100 and 300 pounds that Hasting have to pay! In fact, I am tempted to ask about the office decorations!
I've had a quick scan on eBay and Autotrader. A 749 will be between 5 and 6k. As I know that they make a cracking Track Day bike (I rode a Ducati demonstrator at one of their track days years ago - at Mallory Park, it was cracking!) and it would be the business in the nearby Brecon Beacons. Depending upon how much money I end up with, then a 749 would make a great garage companion to a Guzzi. The fun thing will be if I haven't spent a fortune on it, then I can use it as a toy and play around with suspension and engine mods. With Rich at Lougi Moto to help me, then I can see some future fun. I'll have time to wander and so I'll try some of the more distant tracks that I've never been to - such as Cadwell and Oulton. The last time that I was at Brands, nearly 30 years ago, I ended up in hospital. I feel the need to go back and exorcise some demons! I like sitting on my arse and planning out my future! Better go and do some exercise biking now! Oh, and I trust that nobody from the enemy (Hastings Direct) is reading this! If you are then you've got a big, big bill facing you!
Timing probably isn't right for you at the moment Perry, but there's a 749 Nero* for sale over here at €3200 would be perfect for a track bike. Piece of cake (plus £300) to get it delivered door to door. * I say Nero as that winds up @Exige
Where was that advertised? Reading through advert more carefully, it looks bang on. Both price and history.
I've the ultimate 749R track bike for you.... how deep are your pockets? Failing that for an even deeper pocket how about a 748 Racing?
Not deep enough! As I PMed you, I have two payments coming but dunno when they will be. It'a crazy as my sol is not worried at all. I get the impression that she just finds it funny how mad Hastings are and the crap that they come out with. Her practice has just merged and she has about 10 legal people working for her. She is a partner. The legal fees for my case will be out of this World! Hastings must realise this, surely? I just can't understand why they insist on arguing undeniable facts and so putting up the claim. If I was a shareholder in Hastings, then I would be incandescent with rage! This will hit their bottom line!
