When is Internet banking not Internet banking

Happychappy

When it's with Alliance and Leicester - Santander :mad:

I had a large sum with the Alliance and Leicester internet saver 5 which came to an end in July 2010, although in July when I rang was told it finished end of September.

I logged on today to get a pop up asking to check contact details and confirm, I checked address, emails etc and updated phone number, I then tried to find the end date of Internet saver 5, and eventually went through 45 minutes of phone automated pillar to post before speaking to someone and be told the saver 5 dropped to 0.1% on 30th July !!

I immediately asked them to shut the account and send the closing total to my linked bank account, that is when the problems started.

Due to security reasons, sorry can't do the heavy scouse accent, I need to go into a branch to close it as they can't transfer it as my phone number is less than three months old and they cant verify the security ? WHAT !! I have all the security details for them, but they cant ring and verify, therefore I have to find a branch and go in person to close my internet based account over the counter !!

I have only banked on line with them and entered and drawn amounts over 25k online and now I want to close, they won't do this online, what a pathetic bunch of amateurs, I have just had two bonds mature with Firstsave of Nigeria and ICICI, both for 40k and both transferred online to my linked account and now the Spanish banks of scousers wont close the account till I do a 30 mile trip to a city centre branch to close an internet based account, despite doing online banking for years, :mad: unbelievably poor third world service, trumped by Indian and Nigerian banks

GavB79

But at least you're a happy chappy despite it all

juicyjude

When I eventually managed to close mine they said they couldnt transfer my funds to my linked account, I would have to have a cheque sent to me. That took 2 weeks to arrive. They really are a total useless bunch, we have had untold amount of trouble with them, all our complaints (and there are many maladministration problems we have had to endure) are now with the Information Commissioner and the Financial Ombudsman. They say they will be quite a while to sort deal with our complaints as they are snowed under with complaint letters and enquiries!

hannahO_2

Q: When is Internet banking not Internet banking?

A: When a bank has branch but no website.

OP, isn't it time to change to a better bank?

malik999

Egg is the only true online account i have found. All the rest are a disaster in my experience.

oldfella

suggest you withdraw the capital online, then write to the address they provide for closures, to ask them to close the account and forward the interest

molerat

My plan has been to empty the account at the end of the bonus period by transfer (done), wait until the interest is paid and repeat step 1 then close the account which will have a balance of £0. If too complicated to close then leave it with £0. The accounts are much better now as the old A&L accounts could not be drawn down below £1.

Mr_K

A&L were never very cooperative about customers closing accounts, even in the pre-Santander days. Seem to remember having to spend a lengthy assertive phone call to get them to do it, even though it was a supposedly 'online' account. They demanded to know the reasons why and I didn't think it was any of their business. Wouldn't use them again.

savetilibleed

I have a LTSB eSavings account that I use to transfer escess out of my main Vantage account so as to make a tiny bit more than the over £7000 rate. The bonus (such as it is) came to an end a few months back so naturally I wanted to close it. No way online!

I phoned and was told to speak to Internet Banking help and they could. No they couldn't - I had to go to a branch to close it. I had emptied it online but I knew there would be a small anount of interest. Thankfully I have a main branch only a short bus ride away and closed it with my Debit card (not sure if I needed other ID too now). I was then able to open another eSavings account with a new one year bonus.

I have this account purely because I can make instant transfers in and out of it to my current accounts.

Happychappy

hannahO wrote: »

Q: When is Internet banking not Internet banking?

A: When a bank has branch but no website.

OP, isn't it time to change to a better bank?

I don't bank with A&L, just purely used it for a 12 month fixed rate deal, the problem now is trying to get it out?

I have made numerous other entries and withdrawals, without ever being asked for a phone number, but now I want to close the account I cannot as they cannot ring me to carry out security checks ? I can ring them and give them all the security details or do this online, but no I have to travel to a branch where I have no passbook, no proof of the account other than my online sign on details, truly bizarre.

Happychappy

oldfella wrote: »

suggest you withdraw the capital online, then write to the address they provide for closures, to ask them to close the account and forward the interest

The problem with that is they have dreamed up a 10k daily limit for each working day, followed by a four working day period before the money is transferred to my linked account. This would take six working days of 10k per day followed by a further four working days per transaction, whereas to put the original 80k in, it took two days, and they were very happychappy's