Alliance & Leicester faster payments

spicysomtam

Well A&L are still lousy at FP. Just did one for 249 pounds, and for no reason it went the slow route. No reason why it went slow. I did one yesterday from the same computer and it went FP. What is really annoying is they don't tell you how it will be paid before you hit the button. So your funds are committed and you don't have a choice to send it another way. Natwest is pretty good but A&L is my main current account. Why is A&L so lousy? Its Jun 2011; how much time do they need to fix these issues?

Reasons it can take the slow route:

Using a new computer (you will asked additional security questions when you login)
Above 250 pounds.
Already sent 250 pounds FP for the current date.
New payee
No reason at all!

A&L are being a bit pedantic about the FP system. Most other countries in the world have had this type of system for many years and its not an issue getting money back. If money is transferred to the wrong account, chances are the recipient isn't aware of it, and the recipient bank will freeze the transferred funds so they can't be used; then its just a matter of transferring the money back (this is how it works in Thailand; a 3rd world country!!!).

Sceptic001

I think they regard "same day" as "any 24 hour period". So if you send an FP at 4pm on Monday, don't try again before 4pm on Tuesday.:(

heloid

Does anyone's SOs go by FP? I set one up via A&L internet banking and it still takes 3 days. I wonder if it works only though the Santander (Abbey) internet banking?

Baldur

heloid wrote: »

Does anyone's SOs go by FP? I set one up via A&L internet banking and it still takes 3 days. I wonder if it works only though the Santander (Abbey) internet banking?

Certainly works through Santander/Abbey online banking via SO. I changed a £1 SO from 25th last month (went via BACS) to £1,000 on 1st June and that went via FP.

heloid

Ok, thanks for the confirmation. I don't have access to the Santander side so might give them a call to set it up.

giorgio992

If you're setting up a standing order using the Santander Online Banking the very first payment will always go by BACS (3-4 working days) however payments after that as a standing order will go via faster payments up to a limit of £5000. Again with Bill payments. the first payment to that payee will always go via BACS and then subsequent payments upto a limit of £300 will go via faster payments. These are the daily limits for bill payments so a cumulative £300 limit is in place for all payments

molerat

Anyone have the definite info on Santander FP. Made first payment to this payee last week, went BACS as expected. Made another yesterday at around 10am, in the receiving account in minutes. Made another this morning at 00.30 and it has gone by BACS. I thought that after midnight was classed as another day, several transactions for today had appeared on my on line statement by then, or do you have to wait 24 hours ?

pippitypip_2

molerat - I think the only answer is that it's hit and miss with Santander and you never know. I'd just always assume it will go BACS and if it goes FP then it's a bonus.

SO glad I don't bank with them anymore!!
hth,
pippitypip

Sceptic001

molerat wrote: »

Anyone have the definite info on Santander FP. Made first payment to this payee last week, went BACS as expected. Made another yesterday at around 10am, in the receiving account in minutes. Made another this morning at 00.30 and it has gone by BACS. I thought that after midnight was classed as another day, several transactions for today had appeared on my on line statement by then, or do you have to wait 24 hours ?

Yes, they seem to regard "same day" as "any 24 hour period":(

Darlosthejackal

Hi everyone - it's me again (first post) as I've had more stupidness from A&L on Faster Payments, but at least I have a definitive answer from their CS team now. I quote it below, and although it is pretty much rubbish as a service at least we all know the rules now!
Hope ti helps and puts the matter to bed. Thanks for the responses!

"
Dear .........
Your Account Number:............................
Thank you for highlighting your concerns and giving us the opportunity to investigate the matter.
I understand from your email that you recently tried to make two faster payments at £150.00 each; however, only one payment was sent via faster payment.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain the Faster Payment Method to you.
Where possible payments will be sent via Faster Payments, but this is dependant on both the beneficiary and remitting sort code being part of the Scheme. Also, in recent years the popularity of the Faster Payment process has seen a significant increase. Due to this high demand, not all payments can be sent via Faster Payment. If the payment cannot be sent via Faster Payment it will be sent as a bill payment via BACS.
I would also like to inform you that with an Alliance & Leicester or Santander account, when you are making a one-off payment, a maximum of £300 can be sent via Faster Payment and only one Faster Payment can be sent per day. When sending payments which breach the maximum limit, Santander will automatically route these to be paid via BACS.
With regular Faster Payments, such as a Direct Debit or Standing Orders, the first time the payment is sent it will automatically go via BACS for your own security. However, second and subsequent payments will then be sent via Faster Payment, where possible and the limit for these payments is £1000.00. With these types of payments there is no limit on how many can be sent per day.
After looking in to this matter for you It would seem that the underlying reason as to why only one of your payments was sent via Faster Payment is because only one can be sent per day.
I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you and I can confirm that we are always looking to improve the Faster Payment service were it is possible.
I hope you feel I have offered a fair resolution to the issue you have raised with us. However, if you are not satisfied with my decision, you can refer your complaint to our Central Complaints Department on 0845 600 6014. A leaflet containing further contact details will be sent through the post.
Following this you may still have the final option of referring your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, whose contact details are also contained in the leaflet.
If we do not hear from you within 8 weeks we will consider your complaint closed

"