Problems with Abbey 6% current account

WoodU62

I don't know if I'm alone in my distressing experience of Abbey Bank. For the past 6 weeks, once I realised Abbey wasn't honouring it's higher interest promise on its current account (providing so much paid in each month), I've endeavoured to ascertain why - and now have so many conflicting reasons offered, mostly to do with the paying in dates in any month - eg. payment to be made between the 2nd of one month & the 2nd of next month, or 1st and 1st, or 9th & 9th, or 3rd and 3rd, and so on, and that it's the same as the statement dates - but these vary month by month & often don't arrive at all!
All of which contradicts what I was told when I opened the account some months ago.
The complaints dept now it's finally got back to me has been mind bogglingly unhelpul and seems blind to Abbey's errors, to say the least.
I know I must now go along the road of approaching the financial ombudsman, but it's all so time consuming and really not the right way to treat people.
I surely can't be the only customer who has been misled and ill advised in this way by Abbey.
Is there anyone else out there? Are they allowed to con people like this?
WoodU62

partlydave

WoodU62 wrote: »

I don't know if I'm alone in my distressing experience of Abbey Bank. For the past 6 weeks, once I realised Abbey wasn't honouring it's higher interest promise on its current account (providing so much paid in each month), I've endeavoured to ascertain why - and now have so many conflicting reasons offered, mostly to do with the paying in dates in any month - eg. payment to be made between the 2nd of one month & the 2nd of next month, or 1st and 1st, or 9th & 9th, or 3rd and 3rd, and so on, and that it's the same as the statement dates - but these vary month by month & often don't arrive at all!
All of which contradicts what I was told when I opened the account some months ago.
The complaints dept now it's finally got back to me has been mind bogglingly unhelpul and seems blind to Abbey's errors, to say the least.
I know I must now go along the road of approaching the financial ombudsman, but it's all so time consuming and really not the right way to treat people.
I surely can't be the only customer who has been misled and ill advised in this way by Abbey.
Is there anyone else out there? Are they allowed to con people like this?
WoodU62

I'm in the same situation as you. I have already contacted the ombudsman and written to Santander complaints dept in MK. During one phone call the man hung up on me as I wouldn't accept his non help.
The paying in dates shouldn't have anything to do with it.I keep a balance of around £2400 and just put in the rtequired £1k then take it straight out again

Consumerist

This problem sounds similar to A&L (Santander) Premier current account. The terms of this account stipulate that a minimum amount should be paid into the account each month. The "month" for this purpose is the period between statement dates.

It does seem that your statement date varies a bit but if the variation is unreasonable then the Financial Ombusman may decide that your bank is treating you unfairly.

I have a similar problem but haven't yet been subject to any fees. Don't know how long for, though.

Be interested to see how you get on with the complaint.

lightbulb2760

I had a similar problem , with ShAbbey paying me no interest at all for several months, despite fulfilling the criterion of the £1000 pay-in per month. After three or months, many phone calls, and visits to my local branch, they paid me the interest owing to me one month at a time. My advice: when the year's up, close the account and tell them exactly why (although don't be hasty: make sure you get what's owed to you first!).

partlydave

lightbulb2760 wrote: »

I had a similar problem , with ShAbbey paying me no interest at all for several months, despite fulfilling the criterion of the £1000 pay-in per month. After three or months, many phone calls, and visits to my local branch, they paid me the interest owing to me one month at a time. My advice: when the year's up, close the account and tell them exactly why (although don't be hasty: make sure you get what's owed to you first!).

Ive made it clear in my letter to the complaints dept that I want my missing interest paying back. I will close my account after that happens

WoodU62

Thank you for all these reponses. Hope this reply arrives ok, it's my first go at a forum (driven by fury & extreme frustration). My unfortunate saga with Abbey continues. I've just been given yet a different version by the complaints dept, who say the monthly 6% interest is based on the "STATEMENT INTEREST CALCULATION PERIOD", giving yet a different date for this. It's not the statement date (as I've been told for some of the last 6 weeks, though with many different dates stated), nor is it the date of the account opening.
Soo the "statement interest calculation period" story may be true, but it is the umpteenth version of things I've been given.
I have been misled, right from the account opening, and the needed information not given to me. No amount of organisation and keeping track of dates are of any use if you've not been given the correct information to do it accurately. I still got it wrong even after I contacted them the first time because I was again advised incorrectly. Etc. Trying not to rant -
but people need to be aware that all is not what it seems with Abbey.
I have now spoken to the financial ombudsman, & will be pursuing this if necessary.

partlydave

WoodU62 wrote: »

Thank you for all these reponses. Hope this reply arrives ok, it's my first go at a forum (driven by fury & extreme frustration). My unfortunate saga with Abbey continues. I've just been given yet a different version by the complaints dept, who say the monthly 6% interest is based on the "STATEMENT INTEREST CALCULATION PERIOD", giving yet a different date for this. It's not the statement date (as I've been told for some of the last 6 weeks, though with many different dates stated), nor is it the date of the account opening.
Soo the "statement interest calculation period" story may be true, but it is the umpteenth version of things I've been given.
I have been misled, right from the account opening, and the needed information not given to me. No amount of organisation and keeping track of dates are of any use if you've not been given the correct information to do it accurately. I still got it wrong even after I contacted them the first time because I was again advised incorrectly. Etc. Trying not to rant -
but people need to be aware that all is not what it seems with Abbey.
I have now spoken to the financial ombudsman, & will be pursuing this if necessary.

Ive got a response from Santander which was as a result of getting a letter on my behalf from the ombudsman. Theyve asked me to ring them with my contact no. so they can ring me back. Theyve already had my contact numbers twice. I've sent a letter of complaint direct to the complaints dept as well as complaining to the ombudsman.
Keep on the case WoodU62, I am, until I get my money.

td_007

partlydave wrote: »

Ive got a response from Santander which was as a result of getting a letter on my behalf from the ombudsman. Theyve asked me to ring them with my contact no. so they can ring me back. Theyve already had my contact numbers twice. I've sent a letter of complaint direct to the complaints dept as well as complaining to the ombudsman.
Keep on the case WoodU62, I am, until I get my money.

I have had this happen - long story short, I pointed out that their t&c requires depositing £1K each month and common understanding of a month is the time period within Jan, Feb etc. and if Santander considered it was any different then I kindly asked them to point where in the t&c it is mentioned.
Result: interest plus goodwill gesture promptly paid.

It is annoying to see that Santander is now trying to pull the same sneaky trick that npower does by making up its own definition of "month".