A & L Premier Direct Current Account

Essenchill

Well I think I may have solved some of the mystery as to why I'm not hearing anything, I think it might be as I'm not registered on the electorial roll at my address! I moved almost a year ago and only got a letter through the door on Tuesday night (ironic, the canvasser knocked on the door to speak to me but I thought it was a trick or treater and didn't answer! Thankfully they put the letter through the door and now it's been posted off!). It said in the letter that if you're not registered you will have problems getting credit checks done - hence maybe why A&L cannot proceed with my application. It's only a wild guess though as they could have sent a refusal if they can't find me registered, but now another 48 hours on from being told it will definitely be done I hear absolutely nothing from them.

No idea how long it will take for the electorial roll confirmation to be inputted and finalised for A&L to access the information that I am registered at my address though...

I will keep patiently waiting!

Essenchill

demon99 wrote:

hopefully the switch from HSBC to A&L will go smoothly aswell.

Let us know how it all goes!

cheggers

My mate opened the account for the £50 bonus, if he closes it down now will he be charged anything??

Sponge

Slightly off topic, but connected to my new A&L account.

This is the second month I've had my account and I'm in the process of re-organising my finances so existing debits are moved to the new account. I decided not to use their switching facility as I had heard a few horror stories. (I'm starting to regret this.)

Anyway, I set up a standing order of £500 from my old account into this new A&L account.

I had also set up a SO of £175 from the A&L account into another bank account. (Housekeeping.)

Unfortunately, it took longer than I anticipated for my £500 to go into the account. Subsequently, I went £50 over the agreed OD limit (£1000) when my SO went out on the 1st of this month. The £500 reached the A&L acc ont the 3rd.

I received a letter this morning informing me of the error and the £34 charge they have levied.

Should I take it on the chin and move on? Or do you think £34 is too high and it's worth a call? I am aware of their T&Cs and the fee for such things

masonic

cheggers wrote:

My mate opened the account for the £50 bonus, if he closes it down now will he be charged anything??

Not as long as he keeps paying in at least £500 per month until the account is closed.

masonic

Sponge wrote:

Should I take it on the chin and move on? Or do you think £34 is too high and it's worth a call? I am aware of their T&Cs and the fee for such things

The way I see it, you have 3 options:

1) Take it on the chin and move on.
2) Call them, make some excuses and ask them nicely to drop the charge. If they say no, take it on the chin.
3) Call them, make some excuses and ask them nicely to drop the charge. If they say no, persue it further.

Bear in mind, though, that if you do (3), they will probably respond by closing your account and block you from banking with them in the future.

Sponge

I called them and they offered a 50% refund as a gesture of 'good will'. I pursued the full amount, but the woman was having none of it. She said we'd have to right to A&L to get the rest. So I did. I got a reply this morning basically saying they won't refund me (I haven't checked to see if I got my £17) and that their charges are fair and the OFT comments on unfair charges don't apply to them anyway.

I'll probably write them one more letter, then accept it.

I'm starting to wonder about having a different bank account. I currently have a joint account and single account with the LloydsTSB. I'm used to transferring money between the two and it happening straight away. If I continue with moving the joint account to A&L I will have to contend with delays as funds are processed, cleared and transferred.

Thanks for the comments.

Fait_accompli

Sponge wrote:

I called them and they offered a 50% refund as a gesture of 'good will'. I pursued the full amount, but the woman was having none of it. She said we'd have to right to A&L to get the rest. So I did. I got a reply this morning basically saying they won't refund me (I haven't checked to see if I got my £17) and that their charges are fair and the OFT comments on unfair charges don't apply to them anyway.

I'll probably write them one more letter, then accept it.

I'm starting to wonder about having a different bank account. I currently have a joint account and single account with the LloydsTSB. I'm used to transferring money between the two and it happening straight away. If I continue with moving the joint account to A&L I will have to contend with delays as funds are processed, cleared and transferred.

Thanks for the comments.

I was charged by A&L because my wages were a week late crediting my account - a cheque was subsequently paid taking me £3 in excess of my overdraft. Completely my fault (well, my employer's actually!) but I thought it was unreasonable to charge so much (£25 paid cheque fee & £25 exceeding overdraft fee), especially as it was the first time a 'hiccup' had occurred on my account.

I called up A&L (on a SayNoTo0870 number) and the adviser questioned which country I was in because I used an international number - I told her my personal life has nothing to do with her! I was then very polite in explaining the error, but she was very unprofessional and argumentative; she grudgingly offered 50% of the £25 paid cheque fee. I declined and said I'd rather have her name, location of her call centre and Cheif Executive (Richard Pym) details.

The eventual outcome (after two letters on my side) was a refund of both £25 charges, a £20 goodwill payment and 2 x £50 refer a friend payments which on application A&L said I was eligible for, but then changed its mind after the account was open.

MarkyMarkD

And all because of your employer's error ... very fair to A&L

Essenchill

Applied Tues 24/10/06!

Acceptance email arrived today Thurs 9/11/06!

Initially told would recieve information if accepted or declined within 24/48hrs!

Things are finally moving!!