Virgin Direct

Advantages: good value
Disadvantages: none.

...Virgin direct all shares tracker is one of the best perfoming tracker fund at the moment. While during the last few months many tracker has fell into -ve territory, Virgin still manged to stay a float with a 0% change. Also, the management cost of Virgin direct is extremely low, just amounted to 1% and with negligible further mangement and advise charges. The not only offers good value, good performance but also low management cost. Lots of growth could be hampered by a high management and 'advice' charges as the money that goes in earlier during the investment is those that will grow most, but these advise/mangement charges are usually deducted fairly heavily in the first few years of the investment. Further, their advisors are friendly and efficient. Their website also provide a call back button to save the user from having to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent customer service
Disadvantages: Low interest rate

...I know that I have written a reviews recently about First Direct (a division of HSBC Bank plc) and their products and facilities and 'no', I do not work for them and am not on any commission! However, I would be delighted to work for them as I think they are absolutely first class..... After 30 years of banking with the Halifax I moved to First Direct for my banking. The reason I moved was because I took out a mortgage with First Direct and one of the conditions for getting a mortgage was that I had to open a bank account with them. I can quite honestly say that First Direct are like a breath of 'fresh air' in the world of banking. This is one of the best moves I have ever made and I am delighted with the outstanding customer service and the excellent products that First Direct offer. One of the most pleasing things about... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: they're not bad but far from the best
Disadvantages: very expensive management charges

...At 1% management charges, Virgin are very expensive. There are plenty of other UK Trackers which do the same job with charges from 0.1% - 0.5%. Why would you want to give them extra cash? I know that some others (especially the biggest banks) not only levy initial charges but also charge a massive 1.5%pa. Again they are not better at what they do. Who do you think pays for the City boys' bonuses each year? Most trackers have no intitial charges so if yours isn't performing well or has high management charges (over 0.53%) why not take your funds elsewhere? Consider M& G, Legal & General, F&C (although there performance is variable). A bit of research could pay huge dividends, particularly over the long term.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful