Avoiding Bank Fees & Charges

darconio wrote: »

I went today to close my UB account.I called the CS and they advised that I'd need a 0 balance in order to close the account, so I transferred last night the 3000 euros I was keeping in the account to avoid additional charges.
I went in today and those clowns had the guts to charge me 2.22€ for the account being open without the 3000 euro for the whole morning...
I had 2.25 in my pocket, I made sure to claim my 3 cents change... ba$stards

I recall similar stories when PTSB introduced charges a couple of years ago and people were closing their accounts You have someone in a call centre telling you one thing and someone in a branch imposing a different rule after you have already taken the action suggested by the person in the call centre.

It helps your case if you have the name of the person that you spoke to in the call centre if you have any doubts on the advice being given, and ask to speak to the most senior person in the branch and explain the situation. That said, if you're still not getting anywhere and you're not going to be giving any more of your business to them anyway, I'd probably just pay if it's only a couple of €s.

Saying that, being ahead of the majority closing their accounts probably doesn't pay. When UB are in proper closing down mode, they are likely to have proper procedures in place that are known to all customer-facing staff to avoid these eventualities.

Hibernicis wrote: »

I use Ulster for all my day to day banking (Credit card, current account and savings/deposit account). Find the overall service more than adequate and although not free the cost is acceptable** given a largish number of transactions and the facilities and app functionality. I use other banks etc. also but only for infrequent savings/deposit transactions.

** I maintain a €3,000 balance in my c/a and so only pay €24pa in fees.

Many years ago, I paid them €9 a month, but I got more than that back from their Ticketmaster cashback. The interest free overdraft had my balance a good bit away from €3k...

dulpit wrote: »

But it's also €3k you're essentially giving up?

It's the same as a term deposit, but the interest is the amount of charges is saves you and theres no dirt.

daheff wrote: »

It's also a risk if your card gets skimmed. You then have 3k extra in your account that can be taken.

Thats a bank risk not yours so not really a factor unless you done track your account

Islander13 wrote: »

Thats a bank risk not yours so not really a factor unless you done track your account

It's yours until they refund you any money that's been taken. Not always a clean cut discussion with your bank.

Whats the go to bank thats not EBS at the minute?

Just had a fun morning with EBS

Ringing to get a letter sent out so i can access my bank again (if you reinstall the app or do ANYTHING with your phone it kicks you out)

Got the card manager paired, topped up revolut once, went to do it again or have auto top up and no all failed, twice on hold for over ten minutes to no joy

Have a credit union and then revolut for day to day, but theres two days waiting on a payment from credit union to appear in revolut

Had N26 and virtual card kept being declined randomly

Yeah I wasn't paying tenner for a card for free banking (yes I know ONLY a tenner)

Yeah they changed the free card a few months before I changed (the usual about the environment etc)

My local credit union are hopeless for a start

After that all I could see its E4 a month to have an current account, I never checked to see if thats what you have to pay for debit card

I have EBS money manager

Credit Union

Revolut (becuase of issues with N26 and not paying for a card to see IF will fix them)

Lodge money into credit union, then use that to keep EBS topped up, then have EBS credit card to top up Revolut as and when I need to (keep say 100 in it)

Would not attempt to use EBS card to do online etc as you have to allow transactions via the app, plus dont support google pay etc (so much better tapping a phone to pay)

Auto topup from EBS to Revolut wont work as "its not a secure site and try smaller amounts to see if works" I was told on the phone

I did look into KBS, but dont handle cash (dont work so no salary going in) and felt I was disturbing them and handed a booklet an more or less told to leave

This might be the way I go. Deposit to CU, transfer spending money to Revolut and use Avant for credit card. Might test out N26 at some stage but need to renew my passport first

I just checked there and no charges, thats why so many recommend it