Abbey/Santander Rant

Morglin

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I'm also thinking of moving from Santander - all three accounts.

I have a current account for Direct Payments. My son is disabled and I have to have a separate account to pay the person that I employ to look after him for a couple of hours a week. The council put the money into the account and I write a cheque each week to my employee. Santander no longer send out cheque books automatically - you have to ring them up or go into the branch to request one. Even then, they want to know why I don't just use my card. I don't have a card for this account. I have to use cheques because that is what the council (who provide the money) say I have to do. It is part of the agreement for Direct Payments. Incidentally, I didn't get a letter telling me about having to order the cheque books - they just stopped sending them.

In the branch, I was told to queue at the front of the building to order a new cheque book. After queuing, I was told to use the phone in the branch to order it (I would have done this straight away if the cashier had said so). It kept cutting me off and each time I rang back, I had a different person answer. A lot of hassle to order a new cheque book!

My new card for my own current account (not the DP account) does work, but is no longer a cheque guarantee card. When I asked about this at the branch, the staff didn't even know that Santander are not including a cheque guarantee on the new cards.

My ISA doesn't have much in - just under £400, but I still expected to get a little more than 36p interest for twelve months.

When I went in to pay my credit card, the balance was £100.35. I handed over £105 and said that I wanted to pay off the balance. The cashier paid the full £105 off the card. When I asked for my change, she told me that I had wanted to pay £105. I asked her why would I want to pay more than I owe? She couldn't answer and hadd to get a supervisor to sort it out, making me late for an appointment. This was on a different occasion to the cheque book saga.

So I'm now looking for a decent bank that will accept somebody on benefits and give me a debit card. The Halifax won't give me a card because I don't earn a wage, just benefits (I'm a carer for my disabled child). I just haven't had time to look into it yet, but any recommendations gratefully received!

NatWest are fine, you can start with their basic account, which comes with a debit card, and the facility to set up DD's etc.,

They may well let you have one of their 'enhanced' accounts anhyway - providing money is coming in, NatWest have never bothered if it's benefits or not.

They've always given me good service.

Lin

Sssssss

Pincers wrote: »

I live in London and had my bank card stolen. They sent me a replacement out, and sent it to a local branch. The problem was that the local branch was in Manchester, local to the address from which I had moved a year previously.

they don't like to do change of address, I've been trying since 01/01/10 and 3 letters on still no joy. Next letter is going to tell them to stuff their account!

Sally22_2

I have to say I had loads of problems with my A&L account, once it was taken over by Santander I went into my local branch and they helped me out alot although I did close the account in the end as its easier for me to get to a Lloyds and I prefer Lloyds online banking system.

The lady I spoke to in Santander said that A&L had caused them lots of problems with the switchover that they then had to sort out even though it wasnt their fault!

bratz81

I had a dreadful time with A&L before the take over and even worse after! I made the mistake of getting divorced, moving house and changing back to my maiden name.
I had two accounts with them, a loan and a current account. I've now (thankfully!) closed the current account and after about 6 months of hassle managed to change my address on the loan account. I've been divorced for...oh about 2 years now and I still haven't been able to get them to change my name.