To Santander or not to Santander?

Sackagold

That is the question.

I'm currently looking at opening an ISA, Current Account, a Regular Savings Account, and maybe even a Savings Account with Santander because they are all top rates. But I see they get hammered in terms of complaints and customer service, I'm concerned because I'll be going away soon for at least 1 year so I'll need things set-up promptly, I'll need excellent online banking services too, and phone services too in case there are problems. Obviously going in branch won't be an option.

Can I trust Santander?


Thanks.

rb7oaks

All I would say is that you should read some of the posts in the forum (do a search), particularly concerning the recent migration for Alliance & Leicester customers..... it has been far from smooth! That is not to say that new customers will have the same problems at all - but you say that you need phone services...... presumably good ones. Personally I am moving away now that Santander have taken on A&L, as are many others - but it really is all a matter of choice. Santander offer good rates with a 'stack 'em high, ell 'em cheap' kind of approach, but don't expect good service as well.

Rochdale_Pioneers

A&L - loved them. Sandanduh, epic fail. Bank accounts migrating to Co-op, credit card cancelled, adios.

pmduk

If you're not going to be available to sort out problems then I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Any and all banks can make mistakes, who doesn't? but you need a company that will put things right quickly and without a huge fuss. Co-op or First Direct spring to mind, although there will be people who disagree with me.

Sackagold

Yeh, I think it might be too precarious to put all my finances into their hands whilst I'm away. That's a shame because if everything were to go smoothly throughout the year then I'd earn myself £300, maybe that's too small a figure to make it worthwhile...*sigh*

pmduk

You might earn £300, but at what cost to your stress levels. If anything does go wrong, how much will it cost to sort.

Sackagold

Indeed. And one thing I've been overlooking is the charge of sending money from abroad, which could be around £10-15, that for one year immediately wipes out £120-180 .

pmduk

There's a report in the Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday of a couple having problems from overseas. http://goo.gl/o8lq

blueberrypie

Sackagold wrote: »

I'm currently looking at opening an ISA, Current Account, a Regular Savings Account, and maybe even a Savings Account with Santander because they are all top rates. But I see they get hammered in terms of complaints and customer service, I'm concerned because I'll be going away soon for at least 1 year so I'll need things set-up promptly, I'll need excellent online banking services too, and phone services too in case there are problems. Obviously going in branch won't be an option.

Can I trust Santander?

No.

Just look at the many problems reported on these forums and elsewhere. Look at the number of people who've had no on-line access to their accounts, no telephone access to their accounts - if you were away how on earth would you deal with that? I've been on the phone twice and into the branch three times now to get my Premier Direct account and linked PlusSaver account closed - the former seems finally to have been closed (although I haven't a clue where the £0.01 that was left in it has gone! - the account number the statement says it was transferred to isn't one I know) but the PlusSaver is stil open (balance is and always has been zero). Imagine trying to deal with that from oversease.

I wouldn't recommend Santander to *anyone* right now, but given your plans to be overseas...stay well away from Santander.

Fairzo

Had been with Abbey (National) since 1988. Things starting to worsen when it converted to a bank but it became a meteoric decline once Satander took over. Have moved accounts away (to First Direct) in last few months and wouldn't trust Satander to empty my bins while I was away.

knightfox

blueberrypie wrote: »

No.

Just look at the many problems reported on these forums and elsewhere. Look at the number of people who've had no on-line access to their accounts, no telephone access to their accounts - if you were away how on earth would you deal with that? I've been on the phone twice and into the branch three times now to get my Premier Direct account and linked PlusSaver account closed - the former seems finally to have been closed (although I haven't a clue where the £0.01 that was left in it has gone! - the account number the statement says it was transferred to isn't one I know) but the PlusSaver is stil open (balance is and always has been zero). Imagine trying to deal with that from oversease.

I wouldn't recommend Santander to *anyone* right now, but given your plans to be overseas...stay well away from Santander.

Dont worry. If you did have a little money in the accounts, they will send you a cheque are some point. The cheque will be in the name of another person you have never heard off. But still you will get a cheque.