Santander's "Test Your Loyalty" ISA

Vortigern

Despite all the justified complaints about Santander, I thought I'd apply for their loyalty ISA at 3.5% I logged on to their online banking service but it said I would have to visit a branch. I visited a branch and they said I would have to make an appointment. After expressing incredulity I said OK make me an appointment. They said there are no appointments available till 10th May. They also said there is no guarantee that the rate advertised will be available on that date! (Are they planning to pull this rate soon?)
"Why can't I apply online?" - "because we need to check that you're a customer"
"Doesn't the online service know I'm a customer?" - No answer
"Can you give me a form to fill in, in advance, to save time?" - "No, we do it online"
"Why can't I do it online, dear Liza?"
There was one customer in the branch, two cashiers and a guy sitting at a desk in the foyer, doing nothing. He's probably the ISA adviser :mad:

pressuredrop_2

You apply in branch. You make an appointment for 10th May.

What's the problem?

Vortigern

pressuredrop wrote: »

You apply in branch. You make an appointment for 10th May.

What's the problem?

1. 20 days loss of interest
2. Rate may not be available in 20 days time
3. Waste of time visiting branch twice

As an existing customer I should be able to open an account instantly, online, as I have done with several other banks. Even the Halifax does it better!

Sceptic001

Isn't there a phone option?

pressuredrop_2

Vortigern wrote: »

As an existing customer I should be able to open an account instantly, online, as I have done with several other banks.

A reasonable argument.

pressuredrop_2

Sceptic001 wrote: »

Isn't there a phone option?

Apply in branch. As per Santander website.

Sceptic001

pressuredrop wrote: »

Apply in branch. As per Santander website.

OK, but they were advertising heavily a few days ago with a freephone number.

Ilya_Ilyich

Yeah they pulled the phone application a couple of weeks ago unfortunately, I found the phone application process very quick & easy.

Baldur

For the sake of the £13.83 difference between the 'Loyalty' Flexible ISA and the standard one @ 3.3%, I opted to open the non-loyalty version - I can then dump the dire Preferred Interest current account when the 5% interest on £2,500 balance finishes in October.

frivolous_fay

This does really annoy me about them. I have a Santander mortgage, yet opening a particular credit card involved me sitting with an adviser for nigh on AN HOUR filling in forms and sitting around while the guy kept scurrying off to check his facts after I pointed out the paperwork I was signing showed different terms to the ones I was meant to be getting.

It can be pretty difficult to actually get an appointment in the first place, too, as the front desk is rarely manned when I go in.

Me, I didn't have the £5340 lying around, so I've opted for a regular saver ISA again this year at 4%

thenudeone

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Me, I didn't have the £5340 lying around, so I've opted for a regular saver ISA again this year at 4%

Which regular savings ISA offers 4%?????