A & L migration to Santander

tellmeitsfriday

I gave up on Shamtander about 6 weeks ago after the A&L migration fiasco - lost access to internet banking for several weeks, and had a selection of direct debits being taken twice in one day, 6 days early... I decided to switch to First Direct.

You'd have thought I would be celebrating my escape/success. Sadly - s/der are unable/refusing to give my direct debit details to FD, and they have lost my ISA! It's "only" £2000, but it's my money. I want it back!! Complaint pending. No response.

CAN IT GET ANY WORSE

AnonymousForObviousReason

Got a letter today and I think we've just misunderstood Santanders continental sense of humour.

I've had loads of problems, transfers knocked back so money going out and back into my account, bad service and unanswered complaints (the last one informing them I was leaving and they could call me to spend hours on the phone when my money generating number was setup). I emptied all my saver accounts to my current account and transferred them to another bank (where I know I'll have access to it) whilst my new account is setup.

Today I got a letter from Santander saying I've a lot of cash moving through my account, would I like to invest it with them and call them on their free phone number :rotfl:

Advantages were
Accounts with no tax on savings - assume because you lose saving on their made up charges so no tax.
Putting away funds for a longer period - is this when they stop access to your account for long periods of time?
Provide better returns - Yes I was silly and trying to buy something but they took the transfer for a few days before returning it. Only cost me in costs having to transfer it in a different way and in reputation.
Splitting money between different accounts - When you move to different banks savings and current account?

Bravo, Bravo - pure genius :T

Gav8

I'm still without access since 1st July.

At what point can you get in touch with the ombudsman? I initially complained via the A&L complaints phone line at the start of august, but didn't send a letter until a few weeks later.

AnonymousForObviousReason

Gav8 wrote: »

I'm still without access since 1st July.

At what point can you get in touch with the ombudsman? I initially complained via the A&L complaints phone line at the start of august, but didn't send a letter until a few weeks later.

They have 8 weeks to respond from initial complaint. I think.

Mrs_Ryan

Just had a thought. Have had big argument with OH bout his (very) overdrawn account and the amount of bank charges he's getting :mad:

I also have an account with Santander. Mine is spotless, no charges in well over a year, over £1000 paid in per month, no bounced DD's yada yada. We arent married, we dont have a joint account and definitely no financial connections. If el computerdoro del Santander decides enough is enough, can they help themselves to money from my account? I dont owe them anything (they owe ME plenty - they still bleeding owe me overtime from when I worked there and I left in 2003 :eek:) I didnt think they could but with Santander I never know... could they turn around and say just because we happen to share an address they are entitled to steal my money for something thats not even anything to do with me?!

Dowdions

Santander have lost 4 payments since August - since complaining on 3rd September £500 is still missing - only transferred it to pay off credit card, have heard nothing and still have balance on credit card.
2 failed direct debit payments for house insurance - told by Santander it was cancelled by the payee, received default notice, it wasn't cancelled by me at all.
Was very happy with A&L before, had enough now - put complaint through financial ombudsman for money transferred and 'gone missing' in August - changing to First Direct as soon as possible. I keep reading Santander have got it sorted - they havent with my money, its been awful and not got any better at all

Simongw

Is there no escape? I closed my A & L account weeks and weeks ago. Still they send me junk mail offering me loans "as a valued customer"; still they send me online messages (see below). Yet when they were migrating my account I never had a word from them....


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AnonymousForObviousReason

Simongw - try to threaten with stalking or harassment?

RumPunch_2

AnonymousForObviousReason wrote: »

I too have started process of moving. You may want to make sure the details you provided are correct. I used the account details from my cheque book or a statement (would have used from online account but was locked at the time). Remember the A&L this has an extra digit at the front (which I remembered), also your sort code may also have changed like mine did.

I don't remember seeing a letter informing me of the change of sort code in the change to santander (but I could have missed it).



Not from any of the people I know (and hope not on this forum) - I've already warned 4 people of the issues and will continue to warn all I find.

Sorry, I don't know how you just quote sections!

We've provided the new sort code (Santander) and account number (1 digit less), so details should be correct. Apparently, they are painfully slow because they've had so many requests! I can't begin to think why! We opened our 1st direct account around 24th August, we are now looking at 7th October to switch DDs. watch this space....

RumPunch_2

GustyGardenGalaxy wrote: »

I'm sure they'll make some mistakes, what I mean is that it's their responsibility (which they have admitted to). According to the A&L site:

"As part of the account transfer process to Santander there will be a change to your existing Alliance & Leicester sort code however you do not need to do anything and can continue to use your existing details. Your current account sort code is 6 digits long.
The first five digits are 72-50-0- and the last digit is the same as the first digit of your account number.
For example, if your account number is 123456789, your sort code would be 72-50-01."

I know that's what they said.... but that isn't what has been happening.

I know you shouldn't have to take any action, but far better to be proactive and manage the situation yourself than trust Santander to do it. It is your money and account, it is worth your time and effort or you could spend hours trying to sort out a mess.