[poundwise]

I apologize that I didn't respond sooner. Sweeps, of course, is right on re: chasing rates. Frankly, I don't think I'd bother to jump for less than .50% difference and, even then, it would need to be from a source that I believe will keep its rate consistently among the higher rates. I've seen too many offer good rates for a short while and then drop like lead.

If I didn't have an account anywhere, I might would have jumped for the HSBC deal. Get 6.0% now and 5.05% (presumably) when the promo is over. However, I felt no inclination to move my money from where it is now over to a new HSBC account.

I have found, after trying out a few, that a solid site and good customer services (at least, the ability to get some customer service) is worth something, especially when most of the time the quibble is over less than .50% difference; a difference that is likely to change in a little while anyway.

Ultimately, my policy is that I want to be within reasonable range of the top rate(s) but I don't chase the top.