In general I feel that although The Co-operative bank is ethically lead, it does not have the correct resources in place to deal with customers effectively. There are not enough local branches, the online services are slow and not efficent enough and the general training of branch advisers ... Read review
Advantages: An ethically lead bank......... Disadvantages: Slow service and limited branch access......
...was time that I contacted Co-op to see what was happening.
I rang the information line and was told that there was a delay in processing all online applications and that I would be contacted soon by post with a decision. I was happy with the explaination and I understand that sometimes there are technical faults that can not be avoided.
I then recieved a letter and I was thrilled to find that my application had been ... ...concerned to find that the Co-op would not return these items, this also made it harder to fnd items as I obviously couldn't send my passport if I wasn't going to receive it back again!
Another 2 weeks went by and I received an identical letter to the previous one saying that my application had been approved and now all I had to do was confirm my Id. As I had already sent these items off to them two weeks ago I was worried that maybe ... more
In general I feel that although The Co-operative bank is ethically lead, it does not have the correct resources in place to deal with customers effectively. There are not enough local branches, the online services are slow and not efficent enough and the general training of branch advisers is poor. Below I have outlined my experience withThe Co-operative bank and I hope it is helpful to those who read it.
I have banked all my life with Nationwide Building Society, however I recently saw and advert for The Co-operative bank and its Credit Card. I decided that the introductory offer of 0% on balance transfers for the first 6 months was worth looking at and I filled in an online application.
4 weeks after completing the application I was rather concerned that I had not heard anything back. Had my details got to the right place?? Was there a problem with my credit history that was being looked into?? Need less to say I decided it was time that I contacted Co-op to see what was happening.
I rang the information line and was told that there was a delay in processing all online applications and that I would be contacted soon by post with a decision. I was happy with the explaination and I understand that sometimes there are technical faults that can not be avoided.
I then recieved a letter and I was thrilled to find that my application had been approved and that all I needed to do was provide Identification. I selected items from the list to send off as proof of my ID, but I was slightly concerned to find that the Co-op would not return these items, this also made it harder to fnd items as I obviously couldn't send my passport if I wasn't going to receive it back again!
Another 2 weeks went by and I received an identical letter to the previous one saying that my application had been approved and now all I had to do was confirm my Id. As I had already sent these items off to them two weeks ago I was worried that maybe they had gone astray in the post. I contacted the Co-op on their head office phone number and was told that yes, my ID had been received but it was not sufficent. As I had no other documents that I could post out to them I was asked to visit a branch with my Driving License and Passport.
I was rather shocked to find that the nearest branch to me was almost 12 miles away and as I am registered disabled this was a bit of an effort to get to, but as I really wanted this credit card I managed to make my way there.
On arriving at the branch I was quite taken aback at the level of customer service, at the reception desk there was a customer adviser who I presumed would greet me and ask me how he could be of assistance, instead he said 'how many credit cards have you got?'
I was quite taken aback by this greeting and was cross that I had not even been welcomed. I explained why I was there and he showed me to a seat and said that an adviser would be with me shortly.
I was seated in a waiting area only a few feet away from the consulation desk and I was quite embarassed to find that I could hear every word of the converstaion with the adviser and customer and felt that this was a bit of an invasion of privacy especially when talking about personal finance.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, my ID was recorded and I was told it had been sent to head office for processing and I would hear back in 5-7 working days......
Did I??? NO!!
In fact it was almost 5 weeks later when I eventually did hear from the Co-opertive bank and I was absolutely furious to find that in the letter their decision to offer me a credit card had been withdrawn as they felt further lending would put me at risk.......
I understand credit scoring and it's reasons for being in place and I have no arguement if they felt I did not pass the recommended level, however what I do feel most strongly is that I was informed that I had been accepted and then was asked to make the journey over to a branch in order to complete my application and then be told that it was all a complete waste of time, and this conclusion took 3 months to reach???
As a result of my experiences I wrote a letter of complaint to The Co-operative bank, however I was not suprised when 3 weeks later I still have not recieved an acknowledgment of my complaint!! I will keep you posted if I do hear!!
Advantages: excellent level of service Disadvantages: no longer the best APR around
...of APR.
The only reason that I am looking around for an alternative is that the the APR isn't the most attractive around and for someone like me who rarely pays off my card in full.
Would recommend this Co-op visa card for its level of service to anyone. ...
nholland 24.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Co-Op Advantage
Advantages: Fast response on acceptance as a customer Disadvantages: You have to use the card twice a year otherwise they close the account
I have been a customer of Co-operative bank since 1998. I have never had any problem with them. I do not bank with them I just only have their Visa card. I am very satisfied for many reasons such as a fast response on my acceptance as a customer. I provided everything they needed and the sent me the positive answer after two days. The card can be used as a cheque card in conjunction with a Co-operative Bank cheque book upto £100. Recently I had a ... ...Visa account due to that I was not using the card, but after my call they sent me a new one.
I would recommend this card to individuals. They also have great offers from time to time. They have now started doing car and home insurances.
Also you can check and pay your bill via internet. ...
nmanias 26.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Co-Op Advantage
Advantages: none Disadvantages: even more than i first thought
...take my mother to the Co-Op bank in Balloon Street Manchester, where I thought I would get some answers about the appalling customer service off the bank. What a joke. First of all the lady I was speaking to denied I was ever set up to oversee my mothers account, so the bank had a right to freeze the account. But as it happend I had previosly printed some statements which proved I was set up to oversee my mothers account, then her answer to my paperwork ... ...my mothers money from the Co-Op to the RBS but the Co-OP seemed to have ignored this request. I have been speaking to the RBS staff and I find them at all times very helpfull and understanding of my mothers siuation and assist me in all ways to oversee my mothers accounts. Well done RBS. If and when i hear off the Co-OP bank I will update this site with an honest review. Thanks for reading this review and i would appreciate any comments that you ...
philbird1 30.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Co-Op Advantage
Competitiveness of APR
Product package
Quality of Customer Ser...
Reward Scheme
Additional Charges
Security and Privacy
Ease of Application
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Advantages: Neat (if garish) interface, loads of features Disadvantages: Slow to download
I joined Smile on the first day that it opened. I joined mainly because I liked the ethical approach that the Co-op Bank has taken over the last few years. I already had a Co-op Bank account with Internet access, but a dedicated Internet bank seemed to offer some advantages.
I have ISA, savings, current and credit card accounts and have been very pleased with all of the financial aspects of the relationship--excellent interest rates being the most noticeable.
So what about smile as an electronic bank? In general it works well.
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andy.redfern 05.12.2000 (16.02.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Smile
Advantages: Ethical policy, good customer relations, and good internet service Disadvantages: Low interest on credit balances
The co-op offers a really good banking service, and you can, well, feel good about banking with them.
The advantages are:
Ethical
They don't bank with just anyone, and will reject business customers if they don't comply with the Co-ops principles. You know that your credit balances won't be used to fund any unethical plans (eg animal testing, arms etc). You also know that this is a CO-OPERATIVE. They exist for their customers and their communities, not for a bundle of fat-cat shareholders in the City of London!
Customer services
The customer services are really friendly. I use their telephone service. The calls are intially answered by computer but go straight to an advisor with the click of a # key! Also, if they make a mistake they'll give you £15!
Internet banking
Their internet banking fills me with loads more confidence ...
Advantages: None whatsoever. Disadvantages: All contact and services from them.
In 2003 we were buying a property for the first time and needed a mortgage. Co-op was chosen because of employment, we thought it could be an advantage if there were any issues.
Hmmm, how wrong we were.
Firstly Co-op were trying to force us to use their "approved" conveyancer, at a cost 3 times that of the people we wanted to use. Maybe this was something to do with them getting a payment for the referral?
They gave an excuse that there was only one party registered for conveyancing at the business we wanted to use, and they required it to be two people. We proved to Co-op that our people complied with their conditions.
They then said that we couldn't use them because of our conveyancers insurance not being adequate. We proved that it was adequate.
They then said that our conveyancer wasnt qualified or registered, again ...
