Cheshire bond applications delays?

baby_boomer

Anyone else still waiting for replies or cheques to be cashed for their 4.75% bond which closed on Mon 5 January or the 4.5% bond which closed shortly afterwards?

My letter should have got there by the 5th but there doesn't seem to be any sign of life in Macclesfield.

Has their "customer service" been swamped by demand, or do I need to chase up Royal Mail?

fullstop

I would have thought they were swamped, went into a Cheshire branch just after new year, and the rep told me that it's fixed rate ISA and the bonds were very popular. Could believe it as well ,normally no waiting or just one other customer or so but this day they were very busy , one out one in to join the others already waiting.

savetilibleed

baby_boomer wrote: »

Anyone else still waiting for replies or cheques to be cashed for their 4.75% bond which closed on Mon 5 January or the 4.5% bond which closed shortly afterwards?

My letter should have got there by the 5th but there doesn't seem to be any sign of life in Macclesfield.

Has their "customer service" been swamped by demand, or do I need to chase up Royal Mail?

I applied before Christmas and then had to sent ID, which I chose to send by Special Delivery on 23 December. I got the ID back early this month by RD, and I understand now from their CS that the account is open. Wish they would update with emails or something rather than me having to chase. I still don't have the certificate - I was told last week I should receive it this week, though nothing to date. Apparently the account is to be backdated to when the original application was received by them as it is not my fault I failed their electronic ID. It was all messed up initially by the Christmas post delays, even recorded delivery getting there late.

Oh yes my cheque is still not cashed.

I enquired about transferring my ISA recently to their fixed ISA, but with the bond taking so long not sure I should.

skywatcher

I also applied before Christmas and passed their ID check so didn't have to send any documents. However, the cheque was only cashed last week and I received the certificate in the post this week.

Very pleasant and helpful on the phone when I rang them though and they also told me the account will be back-dated to 22nd Dec.

HumanEnergy

Pretty much the same as the above poster; I applied for two bonds at the same time (a one year and a two year) on 18/12/08 and the cheques weren't cashed until 09/01/09.

I phoned them up when the rate dropped to make sure the delay wouldn't cause me to be put on the new lower rate and they were very helpful.

They told me that the account was opened on 22/12/08 and that the interest would be backdated to that date. They also confirmed I would definitely get the rate that was available when I applied, not the new lower rate. The certificates confirming this turned up in the post a couple of days after the cheques were cashed. Good service all around.

juicyjude

I opened two on the 22nd December well my husband and myself, and had no problem at all, bearing in mind that it was nearly Christmas. I found the branch to be very efficient and pleasant.

savetilibleed

juicyjude wrote: »

I opened two on the 22nd December well my husband and myself, and had no problem at all, bearing in mind that it was nearly Christmas. I found the branch to be very efficient and pleasant.

I'm sure the branch would have been easier. But I live in Surrey/London borders!
I'm also told the bond will be backdated. Just today my cheque has been cashed so no reason not to get the certificate now. :rolleyes:

baby_boomer

Thanks for the replies about the postal applications which have greatly reassured me.

I'm not surprised the branches are empty. Several building societies have recently cut 10%+ off their workforces.

triplea35

I applied online on the 26th Dec and sent the cheque off around the 29th. Still not heard anything yet! Phoned the helpline today and recorded announcement states they are inundated with applications which are taking at least 15 days to process and they are not in a position to give advice on individual applications. Not too impressed with that but will give it a few more days before I try again. The earlier posts regarding the backdating have at least calmed my worries over the possibility of loss of interest.

savetilibleed

triplea35 wrote: »

Phoned the helpline today and recorded announcement states they are inundated with applications which are taking at least 15 days to process and they are not in a position to give advice on individual applications.

I was still able to get through to ask about my application last week, despite the recorded accouncement, which perhaps put people off persisting as when I got past the accouncement and pressed the appropriate button, I was through instantly - to my surprise!

baby_boomer

Well done. But having once spent 15 minutes waiting for Cheshire to respond in normal times, I'm not going to try to get on the phone to them when they're inundated.