Starling Bank Chat (Part 2)

[PaulUK]

Found it very useful during initial lockdown

[Ivan1954]

The connected card is very useful, however, I would like the option to set the usage via the app.
£200 max, ATM restrictions, etc. can sometimes be a bit of a drawback.
If it was possible to set these from within the app, you would still have control over the card but it would offer greater flexibility.

[j06 (Jamie)]

My thoughts earlier on in the thread as to why having an add–on account, for bills, but with one card, doesn’t work.

Starling Bank Discussion: Part 2

Although I have no problem with paying £2 to Starling per month, if that’s what it takes for profitability, and no real problem in having a second account instead of a Bills Pot, unfortunately Starling’s implantation means it’s unusable for me. I’ll explain why… There is no separate card issued on the secondary account, and all my Direct Debits are already set up on my original account. I can’t swap the DDs to the new account, because that would be a right old faff for not much gain, but I can’…

[j06 (Jamie)]

If you’re talking about the separate ‘Connected Card’, that’s a different physical card which debits from an assigned space (pot), but there’s a £200 limit on the balance on that space and the card can only be used in-store, not online or in ATMs. I currently have this free as an early adopter. It’s really to give to someone (my lodger) to buy supplies for the home with.

The second bank account option, which I would pay an additional £2 for is a full current account, but uses my main card which I have to fully assign over to the second current account. So my main debit card can be assigned to either my main account, second account or my euro account depending on what sliders I select.

Maybe I should just get used to viewing Netflix and Spotify as non-bills?

[Peter_G]

Good move, Starling.

[Revels]

Easy win. Something all banks should be doing.

[j06 (Jamie)]

Quite frankly I was surprised this is a UK first. Thought using recycled plastic would have been easy, and being done for years.

I guess it goes to show how far we still have to go as a human race.

[DaveJ (Dave)]

@j06

Quite frankly I was surprised this is a UK first. Thought using recycled plastic would have been easy, and being done for years.

1st using recycled plastic maybe… However

[DaveJ (Dave)]

It would be nice one day if we could just be asked, if we want a physical card or not. Is it a requirement that you have to be given one, a rule with the regulator? Or just banks stuck in their ways.

[Peter_G]

Dozens (on Visa) no longer send you a plastic card by default. You can, of course, order one if you want, though.

[Revels]

I don’t think I’d take a bank seriously without the card.

I want that level of security of being able to use/get my money and not rely on Apple Pay etc.

[DaveJ (Dave)]

I’m the complete polar opposite, I’d happily not have a card at all. If it was optional to at least cover both ends of the spectrum then it be a win win.

Part of me wonders why they had to go down the recycled plastic route. It’s clear you can have fully compostable cards, maybe cost was a barrier and they didn’t want to stump up to actually be a game changer.

[Anarchist (Press ‘Help’ search ‘Contact us’ or email help@monzo.com or call 0800 802 1281)]

@Revels

I don’t think I’d take a bank seriously without the card

I’d struggle to take a bank seriously as well if there was no debit card. Although I’ve never used my physical credit card, or my Starling card, other debit cards are only ever used in ATMs.

So, as soon as I can withdraw cash with Apple Pay, I will have no use for physical cards at all.

[Revels]

It’s not really a logical thought because I don’t remember the last time I took cash out or that I needed to use the card and not my watch/phone.

But I’d still want it, just in case.

[Anarchist (Press ‘Help’ search ‘Contact us’ or email help@monzo.com or call 0800 802 1281)]

@Revels

It’s not really a logical thought

Same here. I guess that there are people out there who feel the same about cheque books. Haven’t written one in years, but like the security of being able to if necessary.

[j06 (Jamie)]

The last time I needed cash was an emergency: I had to get to the only open solicitors during the first lockdown to have my identity document notarised for my remortgage, within 45 minutes, and pay in cash.

I’d always request a bank card, for an emergency, until something like NatWest’s Get Cash function became more widespread.

[danbeddows (Dan)]

Great to see less new plastic being created for each card, I’d love to see Monzo work on this too.

An ironic moment - I just found this thread immediately after reading a story about Starling in a different light.

Starling criticised for Qatari funding despite anti-fossil fuel stance

As much as it pleases me that less plastic is being produced, it’s hard for me to believe the move isn’t solely for PR rather than the environmental impact.

[danbeddows (Dan)]

My view is due to the fact Starling have gotten into bed with a giant multinational fossil fuel fund, whilst also touting they care about being green.

It makes it hard for me to take the positive spin seriously. It doesn’t matter who that is.

[teakitkeat]

@N26throwaway

There’s a trend here though, in that none of these are actual banks yet. So the fact Monzo or Starling don’t (Monzo especially given their recent changes around ordering cards) leads me to wonder if perhaps it is a regulatory thing that means they must provide a physical card as standard.

When I opened an M&S Bank Current Account in 2019 the debit card was optional. When my Halifax debit card expired last year, they told me they weren’t giving me a new one by default because I hadn’t used it for more than a year (though I could still ask for one).

[DaveJ (Dave)]

Starling are still running the ethical back adverts online an all. You’ve then got to match it up with what they’ve said in the past about Investors and what they’ve just done.

You then read the story about the recycled plastic card and ethics, environment etc, which don’t really link up and ring true. If they were that bothered about less plastic then it wouldn’t be used at all. They also mention that having no card could well be the future but not focusing on that yet. Mixed messages or what.