The Royal Bank of Scotland Reviews 

372
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 102 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Customers frequently report non-existent or incompetent customer service, finding it nearly impossible to speak with a human and facing long waiting times for support and complaint resolution. Many encountered significant issues with payments and accessing their own money, including unexpected charges, difficulties with transactions, and issues with funds being held. Reviewers also describe staff as unhelpful and processes as inefficient, leading to frustration and a desire to switch banks. However, some customers also noted positive interactions, with specific staff members being patient, supportive, and taking the time to explain things clearly during stressful situations.

What people talk about most

Customer service

Clients share negative opinions on customer service, with many reviewers reporting it as nonexistent,... See more

Payment

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of payment, with many experiencing issues related to overdrafts, blocked... See more

Service

Customers consistently note negative experiences with service, describing it as unsatisfactory and... See more

Staff

Customers had negative experiences with staff, frequently describing them as unhelpful, with some feeling... See more

Response time

Consumers find response times to be a source of frustration, with many reporting long waits to speak to a... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

People are nice (if you can speak to one) . Processes are TERRIBLE. Customer service is non existent, convoluted, and online is worse - it is like they have tried to use AI to create a patrician bank... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Have been a loyal customer for over 30 years, now when I need some assistance to recover money from an online purchase which I now know was a scam there has been zero assistance. Followed the retail d... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Customer service staff working from home and incompetent, talking to themselves whilst on call saying 'now how do I open a new complaint'. Have been unable to access online banking and ap for over tw... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had a credit card with them for years, missed a payment as was away had no internet paid one day late and got charged £17.50 interest! No where could I find a way of contact Eventually made a complai... See more


Company details

  1. Bank
  2. Savings Bank

Information provided by various external sources

The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Banca Rìoghail na h-Alba, Scots: Ryal Bank o Scotland, commonly abbreviated as RBS, is one of the retail banking subsidiaries of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, together with NatWest and Ulster Bank.


Contact info

1.3

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

372 reviews

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No history of asking for reviews

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1.3

All reviews

(372)

99 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

!!!!

Poor service and i lost all my money , Check out the use instead of written at the name on my profile photograph bio

27 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Could not have been worse

Could not have been worse. We are a Christian charity and have been customers of theirs for 25 years. Tried to deal with their "Business Account". Took an hour to get through, a further twenty minutes and eight different securities codes, were only after our annual statements for final accounts preparation. Completely failed in this and also informed that we had been involved in some kind of "family domestic abuse". Quite extraordinary and still reeling from this bizarre experience. This terrible institution should be shut down immediately.

2 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Stop harassing me.

I have entered onto a das agreed upon by RBS and yet I am being harassed multiple times a day through email, text and by phone. If this does not stop, I will involve the ombudsman and a lawyer. 5 voicemails in a day is ludicrous and it's only 3pm. Worst bank I've ever had th displeasure of dealing with.

28 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Unable to pay cheque using RBS App

Yet again, terrible experience with RBS. Received a cheque from nationwide Building society, so tried paying it in using the RBS banking app. After lots of issues trying to get the cheque to fit into their grid, it finally scanned the cheque, only to find that the app then cannot process it. Get the runaround with Cora, and net result is I’m going to have to drive miles to a post office or Bank branch to deposit it. If they are forcing us out of branches, they need to make sure their digital services are fit for purpose.

22 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

do not use this bank

I have had troubles logging into my bank app for about 2 years maybe 3.
They keep sending me out a card reader and verification codes and none of them seem to work,
I have had 2 new phone numbers and moved countries since then, but they need my original number to log in, they can’t change it on their end or start it from the top.
Was on the phone again today and waited to speak to an advisor for 15 mins and was on call with them for 2 mins and she hung up.
This happened again when I phoned until I was able to get through to someone else the third time, which is a pain as you need to speak to an automated thing for around 10 mins each time.
I had to take photo of my ID and my face and told to phone back in an hour.
I phoned back and believe it happened again was put on hold and the call ended.
having to explain everything all over again.
I finally got through again, I was asked for digits / letters from my password but the letters I gave weren’t working.
They can’t do anything for me or other people who use this bank.

Earlier on today I was phoning for a fraud/scam incident as well and the call ended had to phone back another 3 times. I’ve been told I need to wait 15 days for a phone call.
It’s hard enough speaking with the robot/automated call never-mind someone where English isn’t their first language.
(no hate I know they are trying)
The staff are lovely but I fear no one knows what they are doing anymore.

Another thing I’m trying to set up was my Apple Pay last week and it says to phone the bank and they had no idea what to do to help, it has the option to verify it in bank app but as I said at the start I’ve been struggling to get in for nearly 3 years. Bank is a joke

Can’t help with fraudulent/scams can’t help with bank app/Apple Pay
I have since asked for a new bank statement so I can hopefully change banks.
Will hopefully be here within 3-5 working days but well, we’ll see

I remember this bank used to be really good , god knows what happened but I highly recommend another bank !!

I do obviously appreciate those who tried to help. But I think everyone needs to go back for another interview to see if they are able to work. It’s definitely a shame for those older people out there who aren’t good with digital stuff, I’m young myself and it’s just getting more and more confusing with this bank.

Edit:: I’ve just been to the bank machine and my card has been spat out and declined in shops, I phoned at say around 9:15pm(emergency line)
This doesn’t count as an emergency to them but I can’t get into my bank app I now have a card I can’t use and no help from the team they just put me on hold to speak to someone else and was told by automated bot that this was closed and the call ended.
How is someone supposed to get to work if their card isn’t working, whole thing is shambles ,what a JOKE!!!
Rated this 2 stars when I first write this but it’s at one now. Never had so much issues with something in my life

13 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Unable to talk to a person

Unable to talk to a person. Robot is a sham. Try customer service again. Keep repeating cust serv over and over. Talk to an agent who said hes not trained and to go online. All emails noreply RBS why cant we contact you. Spent a whole day trying to sort a simple issue. Now have to visit the bank.

3 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst bank known to man

Worst bank known to man. I’ve been dealing with a fraud case since February last year.

Every time I call I’m told i will hear back within 5 working days.. call again that then turns into 15 working days… call again now 25 working days even though it’s meant to be a “priority 1” case doesn’t seem like people actually do there jobs as I noticed that someone was paying off the fraudulent card but somehow the case worker didn’t pick up on that….

I’ll be looking to change banks as it seems no one knows how to complete a job there oh well.

25 March 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless people

Useless people! UselessApp been trying to log into the app Keeps asking for a 7 to 10 digit customer number So i phoned up to ask what it was They had no idea and said we dont use customer numbers to sign into the app But it distinictly asks for the customer number, digital pin and password The help section says: If you've forgotten your customer number you can find it using our mobile banking app within the 'Profile' menu (top left-corner of the screen) or the 'Help' menu (bottom of the screen). BUT YOU NEED THE CUSTOMER NUMBER TO GET INTO THE APP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and trying to reregister for digital banking says 'credit card number not recognised'

18 March 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic Service If You Need Information From RBS

Wanted to discuss some matters with staff but it seems RBS don't want any calls. They have an online bot named Cora which sends you round in circles as it wants you do go to the online solution. In my case the online option would not work so I was 'transferred' to a colleague. After 1 hour of waiting I gave up.

13 March 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

How hard are RBS trying to make it to…

How hard are RBS trying to make it to have a telephone conversation, this is simply unbelievable.

I do not want to talk with "Cora" the app is simply useless when asking questions and getting answers that are not helping in any way.

The telephone numbers published are not answering and in total I have spent almost 5 hours trying to make contact.., with not a human in earshot or sight or whatever medium you care to use.

I am now going into the local branch, which is no longer the local branch and now a 7/8 mile drive to get to as the local branch is closed, this will no doubt cause a long delay at the branch to try and get my money back from a service that has also only got automation and does not carry out the tasks that are being requested. I think A I is fnatastic if the companies using it employ even 1% of the savings they are making from not employing real people to do the job in a system that actually does the job that is needed and not simply a range of options that do not apply and a constant, infuriating loop that ends up with customers having a mental breakdown due to an uneducated A I that is not fit for purpose, if "Cora" was a full time employee taking a salary...........SHE WOULD BE FIRED WITHOUT HESITATION AS INCOMPETENT.

25 February 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Awful Customer Service

Awful Customer Service
So I received a text message advising me of the code I needed to set up Apple Pay, but i hadn't requested such a code so clearly someone is trying to defraud my account by setting up Apple Pay to use my credit card. I thought it would be a good idea to inform RBS.
However, their automated call centre doesn't understand anything I say and there is no option to speak to someone. There was advise to use their app and to identify the fraudulent transaction, but the app was not working, and I am unaware of any fraudulent transactions so far, just that someone is attempting to use my card on Apple Pay.
So zero points to RBS for not having the option to talk to a real person, zero points for having an automated service that doesn't understand anything I say, zero points for giving me options that do not reflect the nature of my call, and zero points for having an app that is unreliable.

12 February 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

what a joke

what a joke, suddenly my Credits cards dont work ( I have two on my account) I cannot get access online keeps telling me info is wrong ( its been the same info for about 10 years, ), then I tried to use the app, and it tells me the security info is wrong then I try to phone for help ( three times so far from abroad, after 18 mins then 14 mins, and then 22 mins, still cant get through, , idiot voice keeps telling me to dial the number on the back of the card if the call isnot related to fraud, so I dial the number ( and I get the same message, ), I reckon a retarded idiot wrote this prorgamme, what a bunch of numpties, after over 15 years I am moving banks, useless,

3 February 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst Bank ever

Tried to open an account. After filling the apolication out,uploading ID,photo etc they could not open my account stating they could not verified my identity. What a joke.
I opened elsewhere and in 5 minures my account was opened. Improve your services RBS.

30 January 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid them like the plague

Loyal customer since childhood.

I was robbed on contactless and the bank absolutely refused to help me reclaim my money. I never asked for a contactless card because of this very issue, I was just given it.

I never had a say in any changes happening to my account, they are very poor in communication, and when you actually request their help, you're met by poor English speakers that just don't care a toss about you as a customer.

They can keep my money, I'm shifting to Santander.

22 January 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Then lent be money when others wouldn't…

Then lent be money when others wouldn't . I had been baking with Lloyd's for 40 years the most they would lend me was 85k for a mortgage which wouldn't have bought a shoe bov but RBS loaned me 63% LTV. The money came through quickly and I was informed at every stage. So cant fault them really

19 January 2025
Unprompted review

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