A & L migration to Santander

Gav8

tellmeitsfriday wrote: »

Oh, I never thought of that...! Although I emailed FD a copy of the documents I retrieved from s/der, I didn't tfr my DDs myself. To be honest, I am too lazy!

I didn't actually swap for the money though, more for the escape from satan-dan-der!

Maybe I'll ring up in a couple of months and ask, but either way is fine, I am freeeee (well when they find my ISA money!)

I didn't go for the £100 either, I already had a savings account with FD and so thought I wouldn't be eligble, but as it wasn't a current account then apparently I can have it. Cool.

Good luck with the ISA. They've proably just given it to someone else for a while. :rotfl:

blueberrypie

Gav8 wrote: »

Do you still get the £100 for joining First Direct? Thought it was dependent on FD sorting the transfer themselves?

Then again FD are probably both sensible enough and polite enough to figure out what Santander are like and still give you the £100.

The FD joining bonus isn't dependent on using their switching service. The leaving bonus is - but I suspect not many people take that anyway.

RumPunch_2

I wasn't sure whether we would not be eligible for the £100 if we didn't use the first direct easy switch service. We haven't got that many DDs and could very easily print them off and post to first direct. Glad to hear we can still receive it. Might take this option rather than wait and wait and wait and wait and wait for Santander 'manyana' to do it. Having said that, I could just contact DD orginators myself and be done with it.

When I first lost access to my account in July I really didn't think I would still be reading and posting about how rubbish Santander are in October!

bungalow_bill

RumPunch wrote: »

So, we've now received compensation for 'unacceptable levels of customer service'. This has been credited very promptly. But, we'd already lost faith so have opened an account with first direct, the only problem is A & L haven't given them DD information, this has been requested three times!

Looking forward to Watchdog!

Further to previous posts, and new bank saying A&L wouldn't provide DD details I have sent 2 secure messages complaining to A&L, with no reply 3 weeks later. Written formal compalin also received no reply.

Watched watchdog last week, and sent copy of full complaint, plus complaint of them not replying as they commit to, by e-mailing address given by squirming Santander employee. Even though she guaranteed 'immediate' replies, 8 days later I have heard nothing. However looking at account today, there is a mysterious payment for £100. Could this be compensation I wonder?

DDs now appearing on new account, but I'll hold my breath for another month before I risk shutting A&L down.

£100 for joining A&L last year, £100 for leaving now. I suppose that means overall I'm quids in, but never again....

Dave_Hollick

Hi All,

I have a major problem with a deceased relative's A&L postal current A/c.

No statements were issued between 05 June and 07 Sept. She went into a Care Home on 30 Jun and I'm unable to supply her asset details as requested accurately. I wrote on 6th Sept asking for Statements and also cancellation of a number of S/o's and D/D's. NO REPLY TO DATE

She died on 14th Sept and as Branch told me earlier they wont get involved with postal accounts I wrote (1st class) on 14th advising of death and requesting all S/O's and D/D's be cancelled and Statements expedited - NO REPLY TO DATE.

On 16 Sept found a pass book for a deposit a/c I was unaware of. Registered death on 17th (delay per Coroner) and took Certificate and Will into local Branch who very helpful, took copy and said would be sufficient for company to finalise matters on receipt of copy of Grant

On 20th September sent copies of all letters to "Lets Work it Out" at Narborough as a complaint. No replies to previous letters having been received.. Received acknowledgement on 28th saying "One of my team will be responsible for investigating your complaint and once this has been completed we will write to you again" and "High quality customer service is of great importance to us at Santander and we will do everything we can to resolve your complaint in a timely and satisfactory manner". The A & L web page says "We will aim to sort out your complaint immediately. If we can’t, we will aim to sort it out by the end of the next working day."

Phoned Narborough on 30th and told matter being dealt with at Bootle (shudders!!)and transferred. Then told matter being dealt with by "back office" and I am refused a transfer to them or any contact details. I am told one S/o and one D/d not yet cancelled - will be done immediately - and suggestion others paid after my stop instructions received.

Today had letter from Probate & Bereavement Dept. asking me to send Will and original Death Certifiacte plus two forms of identification. Have replied saying this information already taken by local office and obviously acceptable as they gave me a substantial cheque in favour of the Undertakers from the deposit account. Also sent copy of file asking if they could give me any help but not expecting any. Still NO REPLY to my original letters or copies of Statements.

Frankly I've had enough. Can anyone suggest anything else I can do at this stage or, better still, give the email address of Steve Williams the Service Quality & Complaints Director - PLEASE

Dave_Hollick

Should have mentioned that I have been accepted as deceased Agent for the current account for some months - that took a couple of months to organise too!!!!

pawnbroker_2

If the sum of money is substantial I would investigate issuing a Statutory Demand against Santander. They normally have 21 days to respond to it. If they don't respond you can apply for a winding up order against them to get the money.

It may sound a bit extreme but I can't see what else you could do apart from the County Court route but that may take ages and they could still prevaricate.

RumPunch_2

Forgot to watch Watchdog... might see if it is on iplayer, I'm sure it was interesting!

Message from First Direct today, "please call first direct on 08456 100 100 at your earliest opportunity and ask for the Easyswitch team'.

Could it be that the transfer of our DDs was going ahead 7 October? Of course not, Santander still refusing to provide DD information to First Direct! Apparently we are 'by no means the only customers this is happening to' and First Direct are trying to obtain DD information for many customers switching from Santander. I don't suppose that surprises anyone!

Not going to leave it in the hands of Santander any longer, can't wait to get all of our money out of their hands in case we are unable to access our account online again, find our names have changed again or find more money that we haven't spent leaving our account.

On a brighter note, we've acquired an ISA from somewhere... :rotfl:

datostar

Dave_Hollick wrote: »

Hi All,

I have a major problem with a deceased relative's A&L postal current A/c.

...post shortened ......

Today had letter from Probate & Bereavement Dept. asking me to send Will and original Death Certifiacte plus two forms of identification. Have replied saying this information already taken by local office and obviously acceptable as they gave me a substantial cheque in favour of the Undertakers from the deposit account. Also sent copy of file asking if they could give me any help but not expecting any. Still NO REPLY to my original letters or copies of Statements.

Frankly I've had enough. Can anyone suggest anything else I can do at this stage or, better still, give the email address of Steve Williams the Service Quality & Complaints Director - PLEASE

I'm in a similar black hole with this useless lot. I visited my nearest A&L Branch (20 miles away) in early June to advise my father's decease on 31 May and took will, death cert. personal ID etc. He had a cash ISA and an Easy Saver Account. Details taken and I was told I would definitely need Grant of Probate. No problem as I needed it anyway. Got Probate and visited again in early August with sealed office copy. Details taken again and a big form filled in. It transpired that absolutely no action had been taken after my first visit and the ISA was still running (contrary to HMRC rules as it should have immediately been closed on notification of death and funds transferred to a tax bearing account). The Easy Saver Account funds were given to me by cheque before I left the Branch. 3 weeks later I get a letter from this Probate and Bereavement Dept. saying that unfortunately they need more information and enclosing another multi-page form. The partly completed form still showed the Easy Saver Account as open and showed another account that I had no knowledge of whatsoever, but also asked for full details of assets claimed including accrued interest. Only they know the answer to that of course and they have never supplied an schedule of accounts or statements. I returned this form with a covering letter on 6th September and to date have received no reply.
Every other bank and financial institution I have had to deal with has finalised matters smoothly, provided all necessary information and paid away the funds.
This lot are shockers. I'll wait until the full month after my letter to them then I think I'll have to take the complaint route too.

tellmeitsfriday

RumPunch wrote: »

Forgot to watch Watchdog... might see if it is on iplayer, I'm sure it was interesting!

Message from First Direct today, "please call first direct on 08456 100 100 at your earliest opportunity and ask for the Easyswitch team'.

Could it be that the transfer of our DDs was going ahead 7 October? Of course not, Santander still refusing to provide DD information to First Direct! Apparently we are 'by no means the only customers this is happening to' and First Direct are trying to obtain DD information for many customers switching from Santander. I don't suppose that surprises anyone!

Not going to leave it in the hands of Santander any longer, can't wait to get all of our money out of their hands in case we are unable to access our account online again, find our names have changed again or find more money that we haven't spent leaving our account.

On a brighter note, we've acquired an ISA from somewhere... :rotfl:

Just go into a branch and ask/demand them. It means they have to print each page out separately... but it will save your stress levels.

Then you can post/fax them to FD... they will give you the number if you ask for it, I wrote it in my work diary, otherwise I'd give it to you...

Apparently, they are still doing the switch, so you will qualify for the £100 as if they'd got the details. They will call you back to go through the list with you and will give you a revised transfer date based on the details.

(I did this last month, and once they have the DD details, it's all quite simple)

Hope that helps x


You've acquired an ISA... I wonder if that's mine. They've lost mine :@