bazzerfewi wrote on Mar 11^th, 2011 at 4:22am:



My thought is that they will respond pretty quickly by disabling the 0800 number  

That puts things back a few steps  

Being a Nationwide customer for over a year, I have never needed or wanted to call the 0800 number.

I have alway's used the 01793 number listed on their website and on the rear of my debit card.

As noted to bazzerfewi in a PM I also was surprised to see that Nationwide suggest calling the 01793 number for their automated telephone banking IF your call provider does not include 0845 calls in your calling package (this is pointed out in the leaflet describing how to use their telephone banking service)

No other bank I have ever used was that upfront about an alternative number and why it could be used.

I also not that unlike Alliance and Leicester (now Santander) who have an 0844 number Nationwide still use an 0845 number and display alternatives for MOST if not ALL departments.

Mark,

Firstly welcome to SayNotTo0870.com 

Indeed both Credit and Debit card Customer Services are listed on the back of the cards, and their site here: http://www.nationwide.co.uk/contact_us/telephone_numbers/telephone_numbers.htm

I have been very impressed with Nationwide on that basis alone, also you can type Nationwide in the Search on here 

Dave I have never had to call the branch direct, and having previously been with Abbey (now Santander), I was very glad to move to Nationwide.

I do appreciate they like other banks have their downfalls, but Santander make you call their overseas customer service, which is worse than useless!

I am an avid user of SayNoTo0870 as you are well aware, and am very pleased to see someone has worked out the 01793 alternative to the 0845 branch numbers.

When I left Santander I had to call an 055 number, of which I had NO idea of the calling cost.

CJT-80, if you check back on previous threads relating to Nationwide, you will see why many of us are so dissatisfied as their service has declined consistently since just before they switched to the 0845 numbers for branches, these two factors are why we moved most of our business away from them, I will say again that I have noticed with many organisations which move to 0845 their customer service declines as they move the number which to my mind is clear evidence that a move to 0845 indicates a m particular management mindset which puts the customer last.   I do accept Santander is absolutely diabolical from reports I've heard, when we changed banks we felt that, if they all have covert premium rate numbers, we might as well at least have better customer service.

Good evening,

Maybe I stand alone in not having any issues so far with Nationwide. If that maybe the case then I am happy to say so. My only gripe along with millions of other customers was the change regarding the EU/Overseas card charges. However I have never needed to use my credit/debit card outside of the UK and frankly wouldn't. But that's a personal matter.

I have never yet had to raise a complaint against Nationwide, and I hope I never have to.

Much unlike the service from Tesco, National Rail and our lovely Traveline!