Starling Bank

I have had both Starling and Monzo since they first came out. At first, I predominantly used Monzo as I liked the design and the no-charge for use abroad. However, after Monzo started charging fees abroad, I focused on Starling and moved across to Starling as my main account. I really like the Spaces feature (similar to Monzo's Pots) saving for specific goals whilst still getting interest on it. The customer service is pretty good and the security features are really helpful. I also integrate with some personal finance management apps and being able to add Starling with just a fingerprint is ahead of the likes of Monzo and certainly all the incumbent banks with endless login details!

On the 8th July 2019 I had £200 stolen from my Starling Bank account in two £100 sums, minutes apart. The money was donated to a charity based in London (in a poetic way that's kind of sweet). I was confused by this, so I contacted the charity, as I did not donate this money. The charity were very nice and said they would look into this for me. Th charity came back to me saying that, that very same weekend, they had received an abnormal amount of donations, much more than usual and upon trying to thank these people via email (all Hotmail accounts), each and every email got bounced back, a sure sign something was not right. The charity assured me that any donations received in this manner would be given back, no questions asked and their finance director got in touch with Starling Bank to confirm that the £200 received via my account was indeed fraudulent and I should be given my £200 back. A week or so later, and with zero contact or resolution from Starling Bank, I got my money back. Happy days. All was fine and then on Friday 9th August I noticed two £100 sums taken from my account from a cash machine in Melton Mowbray. This was strange as I am currently in Spain and had been for two weeks. I contacted Sterling and explained that I am currently in Spain and to investigate how money has been taken once more from my account. I got the usual we don't really care, sloppy attitude, have you mistakenly forgot you withdrew the money blah blah..NO! As I keep telling you, I am in SPAIN and not in the UK! Sterling Bank then told me that the £200 that rightfully got returned to me was then contested, so they gave it back. Who contested the charge-back and who did it get returned to I asked? No reply. I therefore rang the charity and they informed me that at NO stage had they contested the charge-back and at no point had they received this money. So who contested it, it can only be the original fraudsters that stole it in the first place? No one at Starling Bank gives a damn. You have to constantly go over information you have already provided Starling Bank. Not one person has rang me to investigating this fraud, and no one is taking this seriously. I am the guilty party yet Starling Bank have decided to refund money to fraudsters that stole money from my account in the first place. You could not make this up if you tried. It appears that Starling Bank do not seem to have a system or team in place to investigate fraudulent activities, which in today's climate of increasing online fraud is scary. I have asked Starling Bank to ring the charity to get to the bottom of this, they have yet to do so. Your money is NOT safe if you bank with Starling Bank and they do not take fraud seriously enough to protect you, the customer. I am fuming that Starling Bank have not phoned me once or got any special team in to investigate this crime, and then they refunded £200 to the fraudsters direct!! How on earth in 2019 can that happen? My advice, DO NOT put your hard earned money into a Starling Bank account, it is clearly not safe there. I am now seeking legal advice. My advice: Avoid Starling Bank like the plague.