Manchester Building Society - Anyone had problems?

mickW_2

Opned a Premier Guarantee account 5.51% after seeing it talked about on this forum 2 weeks ago. Sent banker's cheque 1st class 10 days ago for £10k. Got letter saying not received any funds. Rang them 3 times and kept getting told someone will get back to you. 3 times I got no call back despite leaving 2 contact numbers. Rang again next day asked to speak to the person who had signed the letter they had sent. She was not very apologetic at all and said my cheque had not arrived. I asked why they hadnt phoned me back but she replied they were too busy. When I asked why they had taken the time to type out and post a letter to me asking where the funds were when a quick phone call would have been easier she changed the subject. So having read the stuff on this forum about the Manchester being run from a little office with few staff I am rather thinking its not worth the hassle. Anyone else had problems with the Manchester?

Milarky

Yes. I sent my existing passbook in to close and transfer to open the above above account on 5th(or 6th) December. So far nothing has been returned. I called on a few occasions, beginning last Monday, and finally spoke to someone who went away and then confirmed that they had my request but it was still awaiting processing.

At one stage (Tues/Weds) they put the 'ansafone' message on all their numbers - including the 'switchboard' - so I imagine they have been snowed under.

I'm not worried now - knowing that my passbook wasn't missing in the post - so as long as I do get the 5% guarantee I'll be happy to wait.

mickW_2

Yes I rang after 4pm thursday and theyd put the phones onto a recorded message. Left a message and still didnt get a call back. Not very impressed with their customer service. I've dealt with quite a few banks and building societies and this one looks like one of the worst on a par with Anglo Irish and Tesco Finance.

Milarky wrote: »

Yes. I sent my existing passbook in to close and transfer to open the above above account on 5th(or 6th) December. So far nothing has been returned. I called on a few occasions, beginning last Monday, and finally spoke to someone who went away and then confirmed that they had my request but it was still awaiting processing.

At one stage (Tues/Weds) they put the 'ansafone' message on all their numbers - including the 'switchboard' - so I imagine they have been snowed under.

I'm not worried now - knowing that my passbook wasn't missing in the post - so as long as I do get the 5% guarantee I'll be happy to wait.

mickW_2

I rang them again today and was told they'd employed a lot of temps to open the sacks of mail that they havn't got the staff to deal with. My cheques were sent off 10 days ago but until now they kept saying they hadn't arrived. Now I know the truth. They are not opening them due to staff shortages and huge demand. So Ive got a cheque for £10k stuck in the system bnot getting interest. Plus all the grief of ringing up all the time thinking my letters got stolen in the post and being continually told "Oh we'l ring you back' then not getting any such call back. Think Ill call it a day and cancel the cheques. This seems to be a small fry disorganised buidling society that puts out an attractive account then can't deal with the response. Surely other members of tghis forum have letters stuck in the sacks of unopened mail but no response on this appeal for your views.

mickW wrote: »

Yes I rang after 4pm thursday and theyd put the phones onto a recorded message. Left a message and still didnt get a call back. Not very impressed with their customer service. I've dealt with quite a few banks and building societies and this one looks like one of the worst on a par with Anglo Irish and Tesco Finance.

greenface

theve moved most of the mortgage team into the savings offices to help. But they are seriously snowed under and all thats on their mind is xmas .. soorry but true

mickW_2

Thanks for that grrenface. Doesn't instill confidence in an investor does it. Im definitely going to cancel my cheques in the morning. Their management are a disgrace. Not blaming the staff they are just doing what theyre told. How much salary do these management amateurs get?

greenface wrote: »

theve moved most of the mortgage team into the savings offices to help. But they are seriously snowed under and all thats on their mind is xmas .. soorry but true

greenface

mickW wrote: »

Thanks for that grrenface. Doesn't instill confidence in an investor does it. Im definitely going to cancel my cheques in the morning. Their management are a disgrace. Not blaming the staff they are just doing what theyre told. How much salary do these management amateurs get?

more than their worth tbh S.I.L is in there at the moment from the mortgage to the savings and hates it . With mortgages he says every one (customers) are trying to be as nice as pie to him and others to get the mortgage they want and its not them that get verbal when mortgage is refused so nice easy days work . the savings get """"WHERES MY MONEY YOU ?><??@:"""" from morning till night and are offered good money to work over or weekends get ahead but they are p1~sed off so much not many are up for it and just want to go home .. if you asked him why he would say its you (savers)
I belive the head honchos are saving their own necks by offering a super rate for a short time but havent got a clue down the line how much trouble it causes there staff

mickW_2

Doesn't sound like the best firm to work for. Like I say the office staff are great its the mangement who are the problem including supervisors who are irate with customers. It was one of the office girls who admitted they had taken temps on as there were sacks full of mail unopened. Hope anyone on this forum reads this before deciding whether to invest. Tell your friend theres no critism of the office staf who are working their butts off.

greenface wrote: »

more than their worth tbh S.I.L is in there at the moment from the mortgage to the savings and hates it . With mortgages he says every one (customers) are trying to be as nice as pie to him and others to get the mortgage they want and its not them that get verbal when mortgage is refused so nice easy days work . the savings get """"WHERES MY MONEY YOU ?><??@:"""" from morning till night and are offered good money to work over or weekends get ahead but they are p1~sed off so much not many are up for it and just want to go home .. if you asked him why he would say its you (savers)
I belive the head honchos are saving their own necks by offering a super rate for a short time but havent got a clue down the line how much trouble it causes there staff

mickW_2

Cancelled my cheques today then rang Manchester BS and told them. Low and behold they rang back very quickly saying they'd suddenly found the cheques which had been waiting to be processed. So why have they continually denied having received them and on each on my 13 phone calls said "There's no record but we will ring you back" then not getting any call back. Even 3 or 4 e mails have proved fruitless. So the obvious reason was that the letter with the cheques must have been lost/stolen. Well after a belly full of this shocking building society I told them to return the cheques.

mickW wrote: »

Doesn't sound like the best firm to work for. Like I say the office staff are great its the mangement who are the problem including supervisors who are irate with customers. It was one of the office girls who admitted they had taken temps on as there were sacks full of mail unopened. Hope anyone on this forum reads this before deciding whether to invest. Tell your friend theres no critism of the office staf who are working their butts off.