[EandM]

I was an A&L customer for 20 years with no problems. Then they became Santander and, at a local branch level, seemed to completely lose the plot.

Problem seems to be that they're still unsure as to whether or not they're a Bank, Building Society or drop in centre.

[Rogue Trader]

what other benefits do you get with the FSB though , are there any valuable benefits or are you paying £150 per year or £12.50 per month for the gift of FREE banking?

[g.brookes]

i think its a rough deal.  internet payments can be paid into your personal account no problem.  its only cheques written in the business name that necessitate a business account.  i get maybe 10- 20 cheques a month so its totally not worth me paying £7.50 a month

[Mike55]

prob been discussed on here before, but if sole trading, could we not just use a personal account instead of a business account and avoid charges? 

[g.brookes]

yes you can, but i still get a lot of cheques in the business name, and when theyre from commercial clients etc i dont really wanna ask them to write it in my name.  5 years down the line when everyone just does online payments, there wont be any need for a sole trader to have a business account

[traps7]

yes you can, but i still get a lot of cheques in the business name, and when theyre from commercial clients etc i dont really wanna ask them to write it in my name.  5 years down the line when everyone just does online payments, there wont be any need for a sole trader to have a business account

That's exactly what I think.

[William McCafferty]

what other benefits do you get with the FSB though , are there any valuable benefits or are you paying £150 per year or £12.50 per month for the gift of FREE banking?

http://www.fsb.org.uk/benefits/

[traps7]

Nothing for me there. I think i'd rather pay the bank charges.

[matthewprice]

looks like the coop has an account that is free for 18 months up to 100 cheques paid in ,30 a month paid out  and up to4000 cash then after 18 months its £3 a month and you dont need to be a member of the fsb

[p1w1]

looks like the coop has an account that is free for 18 months up to 100 cheques paid in ,30 a month paid out  and up to4000 cash then after 18 months its £3 a month and you dont need to be a member of the fsb

balance needs to be in credit of at least £1000 all of the time to qualify for this the way ive read it

[Barnes Wallis]

Let's get this clear - if I have all my cheques payable to me, and pay them into a personal account, AND get BACs type money transfers into that account as well, then the bank I do that with won't get shirty and demand that I open a business account with them?

[Mike55]

The co op business banking looks a good deal at only £3pm and first 18 months free banking.

Are they likely to hike rates up though?

[bobby p]

i pay into a Halifax personall acc and use the special envelopes to pay in with that state you can put in unlimited amount of cheques -iv had no problem that way and this avoids any nosy counter staff

 the only glitch i had was one day my mad missus decided to ask at the counter about opening a business account(she must have lost her mind ) that then caused a flurry of phonecalls from a business specialist trying to get me onboard . turns out Halifax dont do business accounts,they refer you to a LLoyds bank business specialist-she promised me free banking for 18 months ,longer  if i was a good sort .  i pretended id be doing it "once iv started my business up" to get rid of her , but then let it drift and have carried on paying in using the special Halifax envelopes

[Aqua-dapter]

A happy ending (at least for now)? http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=158274

[H2GoKent]

I got a letter from Santander yesterday they're backing down on this one and will try and sell you the 'better' account for £7.50 a month. So for existing customers it's still free.