I have been with the TSB for a few years now. About two months ago I bothered to read one of those annoying letters they like to send out. I was pleased to discover that I didn’t owe them any money. In fact, they were encouraging me to sign up for their on-line banking.
I did. Hey, I’d read the entire “20 most recent opinions” on Ciao at the time and had nothing else to do.
The on-line form was easy to follow and fill in. Clearly, hopefully, I’m not one to get shy around computers or web pages but when /my/ money comes into play its very easy to get me all nervous and cautious. If I had done something wrong then that £2.37 I had in my account at the time could have been wiped!
There was a catch, a nasty catch!
At the very end of the on-line form I was horrified to discover that I had to conclude the whole process by phoning up and confirming who I am. You see, the Lloyds TSB on-line bank is the /same/ bank as Lloyds TSB, it isn’t some separate off shoot. In theory, some cunning scallywag could enter my account details from their computer, get set up with access to the on-line details of my account (my £2.37)
and transfer the whole lot to his account. So, okay, I can see why the TSB needs this phone call.. but, whaa! If I was happy talking to bankers then the idea of dealing with the computerised version of my account might not have had the same appeal.
There was another catch, and it was just as nasty!
My phone was dead. Okay, so my BT line was all crackly and useless. I suspected that TouchTone typing might involved (I was wrong) so I didn’t want to use that line to ring. The Telewest line was busy maintaining my connection to the internet and I wasn’t about to disconnect for some phone call. BT turned into gibbering fools and took an absolute age to repair the line (Review already written) and so my trip to www.lloydstsb.com was tucked away into that safe part of Manx’s brain where things are forgotten.
A few weeks later the TSB sent me out another annoying letter. I was pleased to see that I still didn’t owe them any money. In fact, thanks to Crimbo gifts my account had surged passed the impressive heights of £2.37. This letter was a friendly reminder that I had started to register for the on-line banking service but hadn’t made my phone call yet. The phone call was free. Their phones were manned from, er, 8am to midnight and for seven days a week. I had a number I could give them and identify myself.
A few phases of the moon later I was bored again. The reminding letter from the TSB was still lying around and so I thought I might as well ring up. I did. They had some simple questions to ask me so I could identify myself as me. Now, the thing to remember was that it was now two weeks or so since I had visited the web page and about a month since I had done anything with my TSB account.
I’m sure I got my name right. They asked what sort of account I had. I was fairly sure it would be a Student one. Maybe. They asked me what my last deposit was. Erm! Um! I was sure I had included one of my 50p cheques from the Bananalotto in with that deposit and so the amount would have ended in 50p. That was the best I could do. They (she) wanted to know what my overdraft agreement was. I have an over draft agreement? This was news to me!
So, having successfully *ahem* identified myself as me they agreed to send me my username and an introductory letter. The username in the letter and the password I had entered into the web site would allow me to access my details!
I had entered a password into the web site? Hey! That was two months ago! Bummer
The letter came. It had my username in it. It had a booklet that said I had three attempts to guess my password otherwise I’d need to reapply and make another phone call!
I got it on my third attempt! Phew.
I could now see that I had more than £2.37 (thanks to Crimbo) and I could see that I was doing nothing else with my account! Huzzah. I suppose, though, I might be able to pay for stuff from the computer. Neither my local pub nor chip shop accepts the promise of an internet bank transfer though, however, I have directed any Ciao earnings towards it! Ah-ah!
So, my best efforts to break their system… failed at the last jump. Drats! I mean, phew!
> The Web Site
The web site is fair. They have done the right thing and kept it as professionally plain as possible.
The text is of a good size. You’ll not have to peer at your monitor in order to read the fine print. The left and the right hand side provide banner style navigation to categories within the page. Your On-line bank details, loans, your home, travel, etc as well as links to companies like Scottish Widows, who, I guess, must be a part of the Lloyds TSB empire.
I’ve noticed an issue with the speed of the site though. Even at work where I enjoy a hi-speed connection I find myself waiting for their pages to finish loading. I suspect it has as much to do with the graphical content of the pages than any stress or strain on the server. As Lloyds TSB on-line experience matures this will get better, well, in theory.
> Ahem…
Oh yeah! Lloyds TSB is also a very well established high street bank!
I’m not going to include too many details about interest rates and the like because the bank has about two dozen different account schemes. Instead, check out: http://www.lloydstsb.com/rates/
The bricks’n’mortar side of the bank, if you ask me, is somewhat behind the times. When you visit the desk to pay money in you have to sign little slips of paper. Details such as your account number and sort code aren’t always entirely clear from your cash card and I remember asking the assistant which of the details where which. It struck me then and there that she, the assistant behind the screen, should have been filling in the paper note and not me.
> Real life security
Everyone is concerned about the security of on-line banking. I’m not that worried. The internet might be a fairly new concept to banks but keeping my monetary details on computer is not.
However, I did notice a flaw in the Lloyds TSB real security though. This was a few years ago now and so hopefully the procedure has been fixed. I had had a little too much to drink and wanted to drink even more. Money was required for this and so I paid a visit to the ATM (this was before ATMs started doing the evil thing and appearing inside pubs…) but I got my PIN number wrong three times in a row and so the machine kept my card.
The next day I rang up the TSB and said that their mean machine had eaten my card and I wasn’t sure why! Ahem. I was told to come over to the bank and collect it. I did just that, I turned up, said “Hello, my name and your machine ate my card”. At which point, the helpful man I was talking to popped around the bank and returned my card. Easy, huh? The thing was I didn’t have to prove I was really me! I could have been my flatmate.
I do, however, like the bank.
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I agree with you on most of the issues, but you could say it in a shorter one, omitting nitty-gritty dramatized details!
blakey 31.01.2001 10:28
Hiya - I live on the Isle of Man and wondered if you used the name 'Manx' as you were?? If so, presumably you do not have a Manx bank account as you would be using www.LloydsTSB-offshore.com website. This has recently become available to offshore account holders and I find it very convenient with all the benefits you mentioned.
Advantages: Track account movements and transfer instantly between accounts. Apply for e-savngs account. Disadvantages: Access code device doesn't work overseas
Advantages: They will extend your overdraft without your prior knowledge or permission Disadvantages: That overdraft will then cost you darely should you ever fall into financial difficulties
Advantages: I can check my balance or whether a payment has gone out without leaving the house. I can also set up a full months bill payments in one go. Disadvantages: I still have to go to town to get money out - unfortunately I can't see a solution to this problem
di-buzz 20.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of LloydsTSB
Advantages: A hard copy statement can be printed out. Disadvantages: No identification of who has been paid, or paid you, although this information is provided in the normal monthly statement sent by post.
very helpful by (86%):
helpful by (11%):
somewhat helpful by (4%):
