Online Banking.

[Trumpton]

I'm considering using this facility through my bank. I just have a few questions.

How easy is it to set up an online account?

How secure is it?

Has anyone experienced any problems with bill payment or credit card payment?

Thanks.

[Shopgirl]

I use online banking all the time, for private and business, via Barclays and HSBC, both companies are brilliant, the set-up is easy as far as I can remember, been using both quite a while now, you can't go on-line straight away as they normally have to send you a pin number, but the process is simple.

An excellent way of checking on your account if you need to in a hurry and don't want to speak to a ton of automated voices or someone in China!

Bill payments are quick and easy, I do our invoices and payroll on line and it is very painless.

Highly recommended.

Hope this helps.

Wendy

[Trumpton]

Thanks for that Wendy.

You mentioned a pin number, how do they send that to you?

My bank offers a facility where you can pay off your credit card payment through the online service. Has anyone experienced this? Good or bad?

[jaybo]

The pin number or verification number they send it to you via post on one of those secure letters where you peel away a strip of the back to reveal the number (like a pin number for a debit card) . The payment facility for paying bills etc are straight forward , if it's with the same bank i think it's instant , not sure , but such as coucil tax or payment to a different bank etc i thinkj takes about 3 days , but a lot less hassle than in person or loads of stamps to post everything . The hsbc was really easy from what i can remember the natwest are more security concous , i recieved a card reader from them 2 weeks ago to use with their online payment services , easy enough just sounds daunting at first . Never had any trouble with this sort of stuff . JJ .

[Shopgirl]

Same here, just received a reader from Barclays, paying your credit card is really easy, I know with HSBC all of my accounts are listed and I just transfer any amount over and it is instant clearing, other banks take around 3-4 days.

[Trumpton]

Thanks Jaybo.

My bank, HBOS, states that it will take 7 days to set up an online account.

[Trumpton]

Thanks again Shopgirl.

Btw, what's a 'reader'?

[Trumpton]

I'm assuming that all the banks have the same system?

[diplodocus]

it's a doddle mate, I do everything online, can count on the fingers of one hand the times i've had to go to the bank in the last few years

[Trumpton]

Thanks for that information.