High Street Banks offering quality advice

[Zak33]

Yeah..right

Natwest's website has a page about danger signs that you're in debt
http://moneysense.natwest.com/natwes...T_DANGER_SIGNS

and I quote

Do you pay for your weekly groceries by credit card or cheque?

Oh well that's me in the mire then. I use my credit card for EVERYTHING cos I earn points on it.

And what's the matter with a cheque? Well, the bloody shop wont take it anymore BECAUSE THE BANK CHARGES THEM TO BANK IT..... so I cant use a cheque, but I would if I could to KEEP THE MONEY FOR A BIT LONGER....
How can someone have posted than on such an important page? That's not help! That's dross!

And this one

Are you borrowing money to pay off other debts?

Well, yes, the credit card company wanted 44 zillion percent per hour but the personal loan was at 6.9% per annum, so yeah.... (not me in this case, but it's what people should and could do)

Here, try this one

Do you only pay the minimum amount due on your credit cards each month?

YES, I'm on a new credit card and its' 0% for the first few months, so I'm keeping the money for a while longer.

Honestly, that page worries me to death!

[Funkstar]

Zak, you actualy have a clue about finances, so that page is not for you!

That is aimed at people that haven't got the gumption to exploit cards with 0% deals and cash back.

I get the feeling you are outraged for the sake of it.

Remember this is going to be hitting at the lowest common denomonator, if it didn't and actually explained things properly it would look like a post by Saracen and no-one would read it!

[Main]

Customer service? From Crapwest? The bank that advertise Saturday branch openings, but inevitabley only ever have one cashier open, with another at a desk and busy but not actually open?

[sleepyhead]

LoL. I think my sister and brother-in-law would benefit HUGELY from the advice on Natwests site. It makes no sense how he is an accountant and they STILl cannot manage their finances...

[Stewart]

Danger Signs That You're In Debt:

1) You live in a pond.
2) You are on the run from the Isle of Wight mafia.
3) You are 6 weeks behind on the payments for the large 'Danger: You Are In Debt!' sign that you got to remind you that you are in debt.
4) You wear Ascot trainers.
5) You are the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

[chriswood_7]

LOL at Ascot trainers!

[finlay666]

3) You are 6 weeks behind on the payments for the large 'Danger: You Are In Debt!' sign that you got to remind you that you are in debt.

That is like Rimmer on Red Dwarf making his revision schedule and spending all the time making it and not actually revising

[TooNice]

I am with Funkstar on this. They are not the most optimal advice for everyone, but anyone who knows that wouldn't need that page. However, there are people who do not manage their finance as meticulously, and that page could offer improvement to their habits.

[dodgybob]

Working in a bank I cringe about all this 'helpful' advice. Unfortunately it does seem necessary for some but you do have to wonder if those are the sort of people who will listen.

[Funkstar]

Working in a bank I cringe about all this 'helpful' advice. Unfortunately it does seem necessary for some but you do have to wonder if those are the sort of people who will listen.

Probably not, but then you'd get the populist media jumping all over you if you didn't at least try.

[Zak33]

LOL at Ascot trainers!

me too

Stewart..you kill me

[Zak33]

I get the feeling you are outraged for the sake of it.

I think you're right actually...I think I WAS outraged, because I felt the NEED to be outraged.

Christ...pass me a Telegraph ... FAST!!!!

[Funkstar]

Christ...pass me a Telegraph ... FAST!!!!

The Independant man! quick!

At least get outraged at things that matter.

[tiggerai]

I'm the same as zakky.

It's taken me a while, but as of next month I've got my finances sorted.

Gone from 4 credit cards to 2
1. My faithful tesco card... all my purchases go on this. It earns me points that i'm turning into prizes (well, a holiday on airmiles in 2 years time) - i've been spending on other cards, and it occured to me that I'm losing out on points when I do this... if I'm gonna be charged interest, then I bloody well want the points first! (my local shop/garage is tesco (24hr extra - 0.5mile) so it's silly to go anywhere else)
2. my barclaycard - which isn't going to be used except for the balance transfers. The rule being, once the tesco card is paid off each month, any surplus will go onto the barclaycard (min payment by DD) - as well as any additional money i may come across.

[JK Ferret]

I don't need money advice. I wonned over an extra third the value half of this month's wages today

That made little sense, did it? My wages were x, I also winnered ~x/3 in a betting shop.

Much better!

Apart from that, I only lend out, not loan from, and I have no credit cards, only debit

[finlay666]

One cashback credit card
Numerous debit cards for different things

Don't spend a huge amount yet seem to be short on money each month due to unforseen things (debt from previous tenancy, car repairs, need to replace tyres this month etc) but manage to get by, when I get my money back from the first I should be getting back to profit (didn't even take a student loan this year.....bad enough I pay £30 in interest a month on it )