Alliance and blinking Leicester

iamausername

I've had a online saver with A&L for about a 1 and a half years now. They pop up quite a lot on this site, but to me there is a side to them I wished I had been warned about.

The direct saver is there newest little saver and after three phone calls (today)and being put back on hold after each question I asked, I put the phone down with rage. Unfortunatly this isn't the only time this has happened. The customer service is not up to scratch and your nearest bank usually means taking a day off work and going on a mini-holiday. I know the other high street banks may not offer such a great interest rates, but there is something satifying about being able to pop in to the bank at lunch time and sort out your finance face to face. There we go- had to get that one off my chest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone out there know of a good savers account with good customer service?

tom188

You have to appreciate that the more staff contact you get the lower the rates - hence the good rates for internet accounts compared with branch accounts. That said I dont rate AL, maybe try ICE Save or ING, ive never had a problem with either. I dont know about branch based accounts, they never have interest rates worth looking into.

JEC

Yes, but A&L are just downright rude and arrogant.

iamausername

Cheers for the advice. I've noted ICE, but I don't know much about them. Either way its ta ta A&L. - and I'm glad some else has said it. They ARE rude!!

Llyllyll

I have to agree, A & L are pants. I will be doing some research and looking to change in the new year.

JeanieM

A&L are the worst banking organisation that I have ever dealt with - I cannot wait for the 12 months to be up so I can go elsewhere. It took over 10 months to get our 'refer a friend' payments and only after countless emails and phone calls. Needless to say I would not refer even my worst enemy to them now!!!!!

As well as their total ineptitude it is, as JEC says, their downright rude and arrogant manner that is so annoying.

iamausername

This is better then therapy!!!

ctdctd

Hm...........,

Well, I have several accounts with A&L opened in the past 15 months, including the new Direct Saver, and have had no problems.

I haven't had to visit a branch at all and all admin stuff done by post seems to have worked fine.

Maybe they have bad days:-)

tom188

Unfortunately I think ctdctd is in the minority. Certainly not like that for me. Waiting to get shot of them once my reg saver matures.

DawnW

I switched my accounts from Barclays last year (finally saw the light), and apart from a huge mess up with an ISA transfer, now resolved, have had no problems with A&L. I rarely need to speak to the call centre, but usually find them well intentioned. The branch is a bit of a hike, but fine if I make the effort. Customer service if I am honest (at least over the ISA debacle) is not as good as Barclays, but the interest rates are so much better overall. I hasten to add that I still have the disputed ISA with Barclays, or at least the accumulated years, must move them soon, but am fairly satisfied apart from that. I also have a number of accounts with other providers, both internet and branch based, and have recently 'sacked' ICICI and NS&I, due to usability and customer service issues. Both I think were much worse than A&L.

fablad75

Apart from the fact that my wages tend to go in a day later than every one else's, I've not had any major problems so far with A&L (fingers crossed). I've referred two people already and the money came through fairly quickly too.

I guess it's because I don't have - or need - a lot of contact with them. Money goes in, money comes out.