That’s nothing, bunq apparently verified me in app (they said it was successful) but then I ended up waiting over a week followed by being told they can’t verify me because of a communications error between their verification providers system and theirs…
No offer of backup verification, they simply set a pin on my app and locked me out. Appalling customer service.
My verification was instant. Straight through no delay Sort code and account number provided immediately no need to wait for card to activate.
I got an invitation for Starling a long time ago, and started the verification process.
It took a long time, then they sent me a message saying that I coudn’t be verified and that I need to contact support. There was no In-App chat either, so I just didn’t bother with them and uninstalled the app.
I was verified when I first got the Monzo app and with the Monzo CA in a matter of minutes…
I’ve uploaded identity proof with photo ID (my passport) so no idea why it’s taking so long. I’ve dropped them a message this morning.
Maybe they’re just getting more popular and can’t keep up. I opened my account back in July and had no issues - verification took maybe an hour.
I don’t think Starling have made it clear enough that it is a beta. With Monzo there’s no doubt at all that it’s beta/ preview - so you can’t complain (just nag 
).
I knew Starling was beta - but I can totally see how someone could open an account without realising and then be like, WTF is this?!
Being an Android user, I’ve never seen the Monzo pulse graph but I thought it looked pretty cool and unobtrusive from the screenshots.
The lack of transaction information with Starling is what swayed me back to Monzo, it started getting unmanageable and I didn’t know where I’d spent my money. I’ve got just as many (more) messed up entries on my Monzo app - but crucially, the original transaction information is displayed with Monzo.
I actually enjoyed sending in corrections when they opened up the thread for them - I felt like I was doing something. But then several transactions weren’t updated with no explanation no matter how many times I submitted them (I still think maybe they were updated but some bizarre bug is stopping them being displayed, because Starling were so efficient with the corrections). After a while I gave up, and also couldn’t tell which transaction was which to even be able to try and get them corrected. Then just at the right time, I received the current account invite, so have been trying out Monzo again.
I love both products and want them both to succeed.
So my account just went active
But it looks like it’s a prepay card?
No it’s a current account, just one you can top up/transfer to via debit card. If you tap ‘transfer’ there you’ll see your sort code/account number.
So basically it’s a normal bank account with a debit card that acts like a prepaid card?
No, it’s just another method to put money into your account.
I think they should remove it personally. It makes it look cheap and a bit prepaid.
The way it says, ‘by using your debit card’, if this is your full main bank account then your Starling card is your debit card. They could at least say, ‘using another debit card’. Plus the term, ‘top up’ - it’s a really bad look.
the debit card acts like a debit card not prepaid, but you can top up your account not just by BACS Credit or Faster Payment but using other debit cards too
I meant if I had say only £10 on the card I can’t spend £50 unless I ‘top up’?
NOOOO… it is a useful functionality as it is instant whereas your other bank may only do FPS on weekdays not weekends or if transfering money from abroad sometimes you may want it quicker than a SEPA transfer, then card top up useful
If you have only £10 you can’t spend £50…unless you get one of the overdrafts they offer
As for top up, they have a £50 minimum
It’s not ‘money on the card’ - it’s a full bank account. This is just and additional way of putting money into your account - by charging another card.
Are there banks that only do FPS on weekdays? I’ve never come across that.
They should totally redesign and re-word that page then. It does make you think prepaid, basic bank account.
I can see how it would be useful for transferring from abroad.
Yep. Some like Handelsbanken UK and Fidor UK and various building societies and credit unions only do FPS transfers during office hours Mon-Fri.
Starling do them weekends too and instant as they are direct participants (like Monzo current account will be)
I thought it was a prepaid thing
Truth is, there’s a number of Starling card holders who’ve indicated they’ll only use it as a type of pre-paid card as they have other current account options. For those, topping up will be important.
As a Starling CA holder, I can’t see the point of doing that, unless having yet another card in the wallet is the thing.
On the other hand, some will regard it as a pre paid tool whilst they monitor Starling Bank’s development. I get that…
I just want a card linked directly to my main account, I don’t want to have to keep an eye on balance that needs topping up.