A&L - Is it just me?

glen_almond

Have fixed term ISAs with Northern Rock, Nationwide and A&L. When they expired I intended just to transfer into their new products (not because they are great - just I'm a bit lazy).

A&L required me to turn up at the branch personally with identification (passport or driving licence). Just to transfer from one ISA to another! Neither of the other two needed this. Is this official A&L policy or is it just the local branch with nothing better to do?

VT82

Sounds a bit unnecessary. Don't be surprised when they lock you in a room for a 'free financial review'.

So much for taking the quick and lazy option!
(My experience with A&L has only ever been bad, mind)

KingL

it says somewhere in their blurb that they can do id checks, even for existing customers.

I certainly had to do the same first time I opened an account with them. Mind you, I've had the good sense not to open any more. You, too, will reach that point - it's just a matter of time

CuriousGem

Personally I haven't had any probs with A&L, I've found them pretty easy (albeit I opened my account before they were Santander), Nationwide however made me jump through a dozen hoops just to change my address. Apparently the new town I live in is dodgier than the old one!

How comes you're updating 3 ISAs though? Aren't you only allowed to hold one 'live' one per year?

juicyjude

It is getting too much hassle to open savings accounts, but what else can we do, stick it under the mattress?Takes ages to activate accounts, what with ID, further ID, access tokens, pins, user id, sorry rant over!

ses6jwg

What do you expect, with so much bank fraud about costing the country billions of pounds each year.

I work for Santander, our computer systems physically do not allow us to open accounts without details of ID being entered.

The ID is not needed for the transfer - its for opening the new ISA account.

glen_almond

How comes you're updating 3 ISAs though? They were all opened in different years and all carried forward.

My A&L branch were absolutely insistent that I not only showed them the documents but they needed a photocopy to keep - just to transfer fromone A&L ISA to another.

KingL

ses6jwg wrote: »

I work for Santander, our computer systems physically do not allow us to open accounts without details of ID being entered.

Sorry, but that's exactly the kind of jobsworth attitude that is fuelling the countless "I hate Santander" threads on this board (and, presumably an equivalent exodus of customers). So what if your computer systems require the entry of ID details. It sounds pretty reasonable. But why on earth is there nobody in Santander with the authority and intelligence to say, "well we did extensive id checks on this guy just a year ago, so it's safe to say he's kosher - let's just copy the id information that we already collected for his old account and enter it into his new account", eh?

dunstonh

With new money, you are expected to do a money laundering check each time. Although you can use existing information you hold if its still valid. Transfers are treated as new money.

missile

Not all banks have the jobs worth petty rules like A+L and Nationwide. I find them so frustrating.

I opened an ISA online with RBS (they had a good rate at the time) and no ID check crap. Transfered it to Nationwide and had to go to branch.

I opened NS&I ISA online with NS&I no problem. Transferred it to NW and had to go into branch.

I would like to open another ISA with NW, but do not want to go to branch and wait for an appointment simply to fill in a bloody form. I have better things to do with my time .............. like waste it on MSE website

Acremead

KingL wrote: »

Sorry, but that's exactly the kind of jobsworth attitude that is fuelling the countless "I hate Santander" threads on this board (and, presumably an equivalent exodus of customers). So what if your computer systems require the entry of ID details. It sounds pretty reasonable. But why on earth is there nobody in Santander with the authority and intelligence to say, "well we did extensive id checks on this guy just a year ago, so it's safe to say he's kosher - let's just copy the id information that we already collected for his old account and enter it into his new account", eh?

Absolutely agree. I've just had a nightmare 24 hours trying, as an existing customer, to open a new Santander account so I can transfer money across from an existing A&L account in order to get better interest. Got conflicting advice all down the line. Tried to set up an e-saver on line only to be asked stupid questions (You do NOT need to know my employment details and my income if it's a savings account) and eventually a question it was impossible to answer (Something about a debit card password??). Rang the advice line @ 6p per minute to be told- incorrectly- that an e-saver a/c could not be opened on line but I'd have to go into a branch. Went into a branch to be told I'd have to make an appointment. When I said this was not convenient the manager tried to argue with me that it was not inconvenient! eventually tried to set it up telephonically only to have the same intrusive & un-necessary questions demanded of me ("Because of the Data protection Act" What?!). Then it turns out that I have to be issued with a debit card, whether I want one or not- I don't. Ended up withdrawing the whole amount and even then got conflicting advice on how to close.