A & L migration to Santander

LydiaJ

Coming a bit late to this discussion, but just wanted to add to it by saying I'm another RBS current account holder who'll be transferring elsewhere (probably NatWest) before Santander get their mitts on my account.

I'm leaving one of my savings accounts (former A&L) with them because it's a decent rate of interest and I don't move money in and out very often, so I can tolerate a bit of inefficiency. For my current account, though, I want decent customer service, faster payments up to a much higher value than £200 or £250 or whatever it is, online banking that works 24/7, and a feeling of confidence that I will be able to do what I want with my money whenever I want.

One quick question... does anyone know what's going to happen to the "savings accelerator" things? You get a credit card and a savings account (both with RBS) and the interest on the savings account gets bigger when you spend more than X on the card in a month. If Santander are buying the branch business (and therefore I presume the savings bit) but not the credit card bit, then what happens? Presumably you can't have the interest rate on a Santander savings account linked to the spend on a credit card that's still with RBS!

William_Blessing

I'm surprised that this thread is not even busier as when I google "Santander customer service complaints" it is the first to come up apart from the official links. The chaos that has resulted from the attempted integration of Alliance and Leicester with Santander was aired recently in the Mail on Sunday, but now seems to be off the financial pages of the printed press.

It's only when you actually try to do something no matter how simple that it assumes significance.


But my question is, why is there not more talk of this scandal in the press? Is it because they earn money from Santander when they advertise their 5% current account offers, which by the by, are not open to existing customers. That's one reason why I am now banking with Lloyds who offer me up to 4% on the first £7,000 in my current acount. And I invested my life savings of £48,000 in A & L in 2001 which at current Santander prices are worth about £28,000. And you wonder where the money has gone to pay the bankers fat bonuses!

Cheesedoodles

William_Blessing wrote: »

I'm surprised that this thread is not even busier as when I google "Santander customer service complaints" it is the first to come up apart from the official links. The chaos that has resulted from the attempted integration of Alliance and Leicester with Santander was aired recently in the Mail on Sunday, but now seems to be off the financial pages of the printed press.

It's only when you actually try to do something no matter how simple that it assumes significance.


But my question is, why is there not more talk of this scandal in the press? Is it because they earn money from Santander when they advertise their 5% current account offers, which by the by, are not open to existing customers. That's one reason why I am now banking with Lloyds who offer me up to 4% on the first £7,000 in my current acount. And I invested my life savings of £48,000 in A & L in 2001 which at current Santander prices are worth about £28,000. And you wonder where the money has gone to pay the bankers fat bonuses!

Good question. I too would like to see more media coverage against Santander. Perhaps watchdog?

I've had 2 months of no access to my accounts. I've already opened a new account with First Direct and I'm happy with them. But I still can't access my A&L money without going to branch.

I've complained twice to A&L and a few days ago I also complained to the Financial Ombudsman (not received response yet).

Getting fed up now....2 months is a ridiculous amount of time! How incompetent can you be!

Paulgonnabedebtfree

William_Blessing wrote: »

I'm surprised that this thread is not even busier as when I google "Santander customer service complaints" it is the first to come up apart from the official links. The chaos that has resulted from the attempted integration of Alliance and Leicester with Santander was aired recently in the Mail on Sunday, but now seems to be off the financial pages of the printed press.

It's only when you actually try to do something no matter how simple that it assumes significance.


But my question is, why is there not more talk of this scandal in the press? Is it because they earn money from Santander when they advertise their 5% current account offers, which by the by, are not open to existing customers. That's one reason why I am now banking with Lloyds who offer me up to 4% on the first £7,000 in my current acount. And I invested my life savings of £48,000 in A & L in 2001 which at current Santander prices are worth about £28,000. And you wonder where the money has gone to pay the bankers fat bonuses!

Indeed there probably is a strong element of "he who pays the piper calls the tune" about this. This is where the power of the internet comes into play IMO. Big companies can no longer hide bad service by manipulating the more traditional media. For all its flaws and woes, I believe that the internet is one of the better things to happen in the last 20 years.

William_Blessing

Well, I did get some success after visiting my local Santander branch in Broadmead, Bristol. I had to wait for about an hour or so for Darren to come back after lunch as he would be the one to deal with it. Of the three nice young ladies serving, two had just started yesterday, but they were fine.

As I was eventually invited in to Darren's office I felt a bit like I was shop lifter being interviewed by the police. After a bit of chat about the cricket, Darren started sorting out my problem. My £33,000 two year fixed rate bond 3.5% was not paying interest monthly as I had requested.

After about half an hour of his calling "the help desk" and gazing intently at his screen and clicking and scrolling like a trooper he came up with a......."hmmmmmmm can't see why.......it's not paying in. It's an old problem with this one." He promised to ring me "once it's been sorted".

I felt elated. Then I asked him he could also close an old A & L deposit account that I've been trying to do over the phone for three months and have the interest paid up.

"No problem......hmmmmmm.....this is a bit of an odd one....but after lots of further nifty mouse work he actually closed it and the interest is now in my "No Interest" Santander current account. Only new customers get the offer of 5%.

At this point I mused that "this must be a very stressful time for you, what with the Alliance and Leicester migration problem?"

This was news to Darren. He was completely unaware of the chaos that reigns. "Abbey National was a nightmare, but this one seems ok except for a few." I told him I would give him a good review , that I was a shareholder who was transferring all of my banking to LLoyds and perhaps he could feed that back up to his bosses."

I can only imagine what words of contempt raced through his mind as I walked out. And now at home. I log in and yes there is the interest in my no interst account and the old deposit account is closed. I wait to see the interest on my bond to eventually appear. And I will post here to update.

So the advice. See a chap at the branch. Darren did well, and I thank him for it.

And thankyou Martin Lewis and this excellent forum that permits us poor serfs to express our ire!

Cheesedoodles

At this point I mused that "this must be a very stressful time for you, what with the Alliance and Leicester migration problem?"

This was news to Darren. He was completely unaware of the chaos that reigns.

If he's got his own office, he must be of some importance.

if he is of some importance, he must care (a tiny bit) about his employer

if he cares (a tiny bit) about his employer, he would pay attention to any media attention about his company

if he follows the news on his company he surely must have seen all the complaints about Santander.

if he worked for a "proper company" they would communicate with the staff and advise them of any problems arising internally in the company that affects customers......

I went to the branch today to get my weekly mini statement...After all I haven't had access to my account for over 2 months now (i have moved accounts by the way..but still have a couple of DD and standing orders with A&L).

The lady behind the till said she knew about the issues with the migration and that she get's complaints every day about it.

So how Darren could not know about the issues is beyond me....I think he's lying

Just want to add that I have now complained to the FSO about Santander...their last letter to me just said "sorry our customer service has not been up to the usual standard...here's £30 which will be credited within the next 7 day".

Needless to say, the mini statement I got today shows that £30 has NOT been credited to my account...and the letter was sent over 2 weeks ago.

Gazwa

Hi,

recently an entry has appeared on my credit file with experian that shows as Santander Current Account - file updated to the period 1/08/2010.

However i have not got an account nor have i applied, i used to have an account with A&L which was closed in 2008.

On both entries on my credit report they show the same account opened date. I'm assuming this must have happened as part of the migration from A&L to Santander? is it anything to worry about? does this mean santander have re opened my closed account with a&l?. I dont really fancy ringing them as from reading alot of comments on her it looks like their customer service is pants!

any advise would be appreiciated

Cheers

Gaz

Cheesedoodles

Gazwa wrote: »

Hi,

recently an entry has appeared on my credit file with experian that shows as Santander Current Account - file updated to the period 1/08/2010.

However i have not got an account nor have i applied, i used to have an account with A&L which was closed in 2008.

This sounds like a typical Santander thing to do!!! I would contact Experian and tell them your "story". Perhaps worth telling the other reference agencies too.

I would also send a letter to Santander about this. You'll end up last in the queue of complaints....and the queue is looooong, but at least you've approached them. If you have no responce, you just log a complaint with the FSO and they'll quickly sort it out.

Good luck!

Frogletina

I have just looked at my statement which is the first to show it as a Santander account.

Under news and information it says I won't get any interest at all on my Premier current account from 18th November. I only have this account for the free travel insurance - and due to not moving my £500 out quickly each month my interest built up to 22p! I can pay money in via faster payments but it takes days to transfer out, think I might try 2 payments of £250

allan1954

i had a reward isa with santander when it matured i asked them to merge it with a direct isa but they withdrew the reward isa as cash and put it in the direct isa. so this years isa had a block it took from the new tax year till end of july to sort it out. on a computor in the branch they said i had sufered no loss and would give me a £30 goodwill gesture i am still waiting for. i contacted complaints at santander on the 10/07/10 they have give me the run around with more bul...t so i contacted the omudsmen they say 6 to 9 months to sort it out wonder if i should bother or move my buisness else where your views please.