A&L Customer Services

Bisoy

Dear fellow MSErs,

I need your help and advise. This morning I rang A&L to enquire regarding my current using a number from saynoto0870 but the rude lady from liverpool call center ask me which number that I rang which I honestly gave she then told me that I am not allowed to ring this number again and she said she'll put a note on my file.:mad:

Can they do this preventing customers to ring free phone numbers or local numbers? What else can I do to put my case forward?

Any replies greatly appreciated.

Dagobert

You can use the geographical number but you must prefix it with 141 to withhold the caller id.

This line is intended to be a priority line for international calls. When asked, you have to pretend that you are calling from abroad. They tend to be off-hand when customers withhold their number. They might even ask you which country you are calling from.

Bisoy

Thanks for your replies.

I am fully aware that their CS is appalling but has been happy using their secure area to send mesaages and also their online facilities. But there are instances that you need to make an urgent phone call to clarify some transactions as waiting for email replies takes 24-48 hrs.

ts-ally2000, I would disagree with you not holding accounts with them as avoiding them means your losing out top paying products on the market. I currently hold premier direct account, Direct ISA 2, Direct Saver account and has also benefitted their recommend a friend cash incentives. As I have underlined in my original post that it is their CS is the main problem and not their products. I don't have any loyalty to any banks but as of now would continue to use their products unless there are much better options out there.

peter999

Bisoy wrote:

.....but the rude lady from liverpool call center ask me which number that I rang which I honestly gave she then told me that I am not allowed to ring this number again and she said she'll put a note on my file.

Sounds like she doesn't want too much work !!
.

YorkshireBoy

Bisoy wrote:

What else can I do to put my case forward?

Ring them for free on 08000 688 638.

Option 2, then option 1 for current accounts

Option 2, then option 2 for savings products.

gpjuicer

I phoned customer services today as i have just switched to them and am worried that my mortgage direct debit has not been registered. I also spoke to a rude lady from Liverpool! She told me I had to contact the mortgage people as it was not the banks problem! Also whilst all my direct debits and standing orders have been switched my salary has not so I am overdrawn, luckily I had the foresight to arrange a large overdraft which was not straightforward to achieve. The supposed hassle free switching service has infact been a complete pain. I hope it will be worth it.

tom188

I had so many problems with AL when i started that i gave up trying to move accounts to them, or even use it other than to finance my regular saver and online saver 2. Didnt do what they said they would do, didnt help, provided incorrect information and charged me for things that they said they would not. Cant wait until my twelve months is up and I can take my 10% saver money and run.

They have (or at least had) a class leading product selection but are terribly badly let down by the cavalier basil faulty like cs operation they run.

YorkshireBoy

Am I the only one who is (99%) satisfied with my A&L experience? I'm enjoying 5.00% on my current account, 10% on my regular saver, 5.55% on my OS2 account, and 5.45% (hopefully soon to be 5.70%) on my ISA. So far, the only complaint I have with A&L is the extra day taken to transfer from my OS2 account to my external linked current account.

tom188 wrote:

Cant wait until my twelve months is up and I can take my 10% saver money and run.

Tom, if I was as fed up as you seem to be, I'd close my account down now and take the interest earned to date.

MPH80

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Am I the only one who is (99%) satisfied with my A&L experience? I'm enjoying 5.00% on my current account, 10% on my regular saver, 5.55% on my OS2 account, and 5.45% (hopefully soon to be 5.70%) on my ISA. So far, the only complaint I have with A&L is the extra day taken to transfer from my OS2 account to my external linked current account.

Nope - I'm very happy too. Haven't had any problems - dealt with CS a few times - never found them rude or unhelpful.

My only problem is that I'm now 18 months into my Current Account - which means I'm on the lower interest rate - but it compares favourably (now) to the Lloyds @ 4% which would be my alternative - so that's fine.

And I don't have the 'extra day' complaint because for me - the linked account IS the A&L account.

M.

tom188

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Am I the only one who is (99%) satisfied with my A&L experience? I'm enjoying 5.00% on my current account, 10% on my regular saver, 5.55% on my OS2 account, and 5.45% (hopefully soon to be 5.70%) on my ISA. So far, the only complaint I have with A&L is the extra day taken to transfer from my OS2 account to my external linked current account.Tom, if I was as fed up as you seem to be, I'd close my account down now and take the interest earned to date.

Dont get me wrong im doing ok at the moment. As long as I can do everything myself its fine, its only when i take my chances with cs i get driven to dispair. I certainly cant complain about rates ive earned with them - my primary driver - to date they have been pretty unbeatable, its just now the 5% c/a and 10% r/s ive enjoyed for the past year are ending on 1st Jan its looking much less attractive. OS2 still good for a couple of months but my regular savers are beating it. They never did manage to transfer by banking arrangements from LTSB despite 3 months of my best efforts so theres no reason for me to keep the account now.

tom188

MPH80 wrote:

And I don't have the 'extra day' complaint because for me - the linked account IS the A&L account.

M.

But if you withdraw money from your online saver into your AL current account it takes at least overnight to be there "properly" unlike almost every other bank which will do it instantly - This is a pain when trying to feed my IF current account by debit card. So there is the "Extra day"