COOP Bank - Useless?

[gibby]

WE chose the coop bank due to their ethics but lately the service has really gone down hill.

Over the last year its almost been impossible to use the internet banking before lunch as the pages just keep timing out or coming up with errors.

We have complained several times and been told the system is due to be upgrades, a large customer is being moved onto a new server etc etc but always with a promise it will be rectified shortly.

This means we have to keep calling them on the rip off 0845 number to make every payment.
Yesterday we were told the system is really struggling, there has not been any plans to upgrade it & that there is nothing we can do.

Its not very ethical when they lie to you for months on end


G

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Change your bank.Not hard is it?

 

[*Lexxy*]

i use co-op & smile, never had any issues with online banking - just lucky i guess. i very rarely have to contact them, but when i have, always sort it out on 1st attempt.

they do seem to come out well in surveys all the time, but if you're having issues they can't resolve, no reason not to move bank.

 

[wood1e2]

I use COOP business banking, and although the internet banking, which is all I use has had some issues, it has never stopped me eventually doing what I need to do.

I love it, now 'security calculators' no user id, no user membership numbers...just a good old username and password...and all 'free' as FSB...

So I am happy to not give bankers any of my money, in return for a service that gets interupted...

But you should just leave and go to another bank...

 

[TotallySport]

We use the coop bank, and although there are issues with the internet banking, if you wait for a bit it generally works eventually, and since it's free (also with the FSB),I don't think I can complain, but I wouldn't be happy paying for it.

 

[papverpoppies]

Change your bank.Not hard is it?

If you shop around there are some good deals to be had from the high street banks, as they ALL compete for our 'money'.

You do not have to put up with 'poor service'!

Get the best for you, and your money - make the banks work for you, and kick the CO-OP into touch.

Poppy

 

[Richie N]

Not been impressed with them either, as recently opened a new account with them and they haven't been the best dealing with my victim of fraud situation...

 

you could try tridos bank

 

[An Oasis]

I think we all agree that the online aspect is not wonderful, can you not use it at night, seems to be stable at night?

However, the ethical aspect and the fact that I think their staff are very effective, I've been with many banks over the years and the Co-op staff have so far been excellent.

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

I've had trouble over the years with nearly all the high st. banks and was just about to change to the co-op because of their good reviews and the fact that I am with the FSB. However I use internet banking a lot, and this thread has made me think again. Is their IB really that bad?

Barrie

 

[gibby]

for the personal banking the staff are really good & the website works well
but for business we cant use the internet bank before 12 but over the last few weeks this has been all day

Every time we try to make a payment, view statements etc the pages time out or come up with an error "no resources available, please contact support..."

What has really annoyed me is the lies - they have been telling us for over a year that the website will be upgraded, large customers are being moved to a new server to free up bandwith, etc etc.

yesterday - whilst ringing to make our payments the member of staff told us there are no planned website upgrades, the service is terrible, they are having issues with the service provider but not looking to fix things before the new year & that all they are getting is customers rining up to complain.

In every other respect they are pretty good but a business bank that has an usuable website is joke.

Lying to customers over & over is not at all ethical.

Im wondering if those customers who do not get the free banking have the same issues????


G

 

[An Oasis]

I've had trouble over the years with nearly all the high st. banks and was just about to change to the co-op because of their good reviews and the fact that I am with the FSB. However I use internet banking a lot, and this thread has made me think again. Is their IB really that bad?

Barrie

Yes, during the day (heavy usage) it falls over, sometimes to the point of tedium but if you can do transactions at night then it seems to be fine.

 

[Spongebob]

I've been with the Co-op for three years and have found them excellent. I use internet banking every day and have never had a problem.

However, I run my business through the Cashminder account I set up during my bankruptcy. This thread suggests that a business acount would give me an inferior standard of service.

I think I'll stay as I am for now.

 

[garyk]

I was with smile for a while as a personal customer, the whole experience made me anything but smile, dreadful. I didnt think it was possible to provide lower levels of service than the high st banks do but smile provided it was indeed possible, shocking!

I have been with first direct for many years now, best service and banking I have ever experienced, just a real pity they dont offer business banking.

 

I do sympathise Gibby, I have always found the online banking system to be slightly 'cranky' but was prepared to put up with a slightly outdated and often slow website in return for free banking.

The last few weeks however have been appalling and the only time that I have been able to get on and make BACS transfers is by doing it either very early in the morning or very late at night. I haven't been able to get on at all today however despite trying numerous times.

OK, it is free so I am prepared to put up with a certain amount but the last few days have been truly dreadful.

 

[Matt1959]

you get what you pay for???

 

Yes, it would appear so

 

[gibby]

looks like its died although - not been able to do anything online for 2 days now

did find away around the rip off 0845 number though
0161 829 4711 gets you straight through


so - looking for a new bank - who is happy with which bank?
Any feedback would help


G

 

Thanks for the alternative number Gibby.

Are you still having problems? I have found that the last few days have been OK but will be watching it very closely

 

[Rhodium]

Like many things i'm afraid some people have trouble and some people think it is the best thing ever and everyone will tell a different story or reccommend a different bank/company. Your not really going to be able to get an answer that is mutual between everyone.

All i'm going to say is that the CO-OP bank is part of an enterprising group that have expanded and expanded, and so they don't really have a main one C.E.O so any complaints only lead to a certain hierarchy and from that.. well it's rare that person will even care tbh.

I'm going to probably cause disruption but i'm going to say that I bank with natwest in the U.K shores, A few off shore accounts as well but they don't count...

I've never had a problem with Natwest, some people have and I can't comment for how they feel.. but like I said, they are polite to me and I have a texting service that updates me on ANYTHING that happens to my account or the company, as well as that if you go into any of their branches online banking can be set up there and then for you and the customer advisors seem to really care about getting you sorted out.

Again, this is just MY experience..

-Rhodium

 

[gibby]

Thanks for the alternative number Gibby.

Are you still having problems? I have found that the last few days have been OK but will be watching it very closely

well it ground to a halt - it just wouldnt do anything at all online & trying to call meant long queues
Then a few days ago it started to work. It is still slowish but its working although some services are limited.

I have been on the phone & was told the engineers did some work last week to fix an issue and caused the whole system to go a bit BT.
They did say it would be working by this weekend & it seems to be working although it can be slow.

Im told the problem is that too many customers are slowing the system down, with not enough resources.
They have no idea if the management are going to add more resources or upgrade the system.

Im starting to look around for a new account as we must be able to use it during the day.
Barclays have been on the phone offereing very cheap services & natwest look good too.


G

 

[silvermusic]

Might be of interest.....

Co-op customers attack IT flaws
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8359127.stm

 

[gibby]

Thanks for that

"They've said to me they'd been told by the IT department that once it hits 130 simultaneous users, it starts to fall over."

spring 2010 is not good for us - we need a working system now. they ahve known about this for over 12 months
Ive been told that those customers paying for the service are also getting the same crap

the personal banking is working OK but its very poor.
You have to call each time time you want to set up a new card payment, direct debit or cancel anything

I like their ethics but they are so old fashioned

Talking of bad banks Im also with scabby national & their online banking is getting really bad.
I do have a business account with them but there customer service is really bad for everything.

usually a 20 min wait to pay anything in.

Last week a little old lady was refused a chair after waiting 20 mins in the queue. 3 ppl in front of me closed accounts due to bad service. A teenager was refused £5 from thier account for bus fare home as they dont pay less than £30. A s mother with 2 screaming kids was refused £20 from here account as they had taken charges from the account 7 days early.
there is only ever one person on the till at lunch time but a member of staff always comes around asking if you will pay cheques into the box ont he wall. I think I will film it next time & put it on u tube

When will we get a bank that looks after customers before profits.

G

 

[Matt1959]

Thanks for that

"They've said to me they'd been told by the IT department that once it hits 130 simultaneous users, it starts to fall over."

spring 2010 is not good for us - we need a working system now. they ahve known about this for over 12 months
Ive been told that those customers paying for the service are also getting the same crap

the personal banking is working OK but its very poor.
You have to call each time time you want to set up a new card payment, direct debit or cancel anything

I like their ethics but they are so old fashioned

Talking of bad banks Im also with scabby national & their online banking is getting really bad.
I do have a business account with them but there customer service is really bad for everything.

usually a 20 min wait to pay anything in.

Last week a little old lady was refused a chair after waiting 20 mins in the queue. 3 ppl in front of me closed accounts due to bad service. A teenager was refused £5 from thier account for bus fare home as they dont pay less than £30. A s mother with 2 screaming kids was refused £20 from here account as they had taken charges from the account 7 days early.
there is only ever one person on the till at lunch time but a member of staff always comes around asking if you will pay cheques into the box ont he wall. I think I will film it next time & put it on u tube

When will we get a bank that looks after customers before profits.

G

this is where the big high St Banks score. Yes you have to pay to use their services but you get what you pay for. Banking for many is a crucial cog in the wheel of their business - why would you expect to get a great or even adequate service whens its free.