Appalling service from Alliance & Leicester

System

Judi – big sigh of relief for you, methinks, having finally made your decision to post the letter closing A+L's a/c!

It wasnt easy i can tell you. I think for a current account i need 100% reliability. I dont keep much cash in my current account anyway as anything over a certain amount gets shifted into another account, one that gains maximum interest. I get my food allowance from my husband on a weekend. He transfers it from his account to mine. By Tuesday/Wednesday the money has gone out of my account. Same with bills. He gives me the money for the Direct Debits on the 28th and by the 6th again my account is empty. Any money i have left from shopping goes into a savings account. On Saturday morning i go to my local bank and draw out £5 in 10ps for my sons bus fare for school.

ED

5.37% gross (5.5% AER) is an amazing credit interest rate for a bank current a/c – and on A+L's website it clearly states :

"fixed until 31st December 2005"

The rate is better than all currently available instant access, online savings a/c's, other than Birmingham Midshires (5.40% including bonus for 1st 12 months). This Alliance + Leicester a/c is a current a/c.

(After Judi's unfortunate experience, I'm trying to convince myself opening it was a good idea…hence re-examining the T+C!)

A+L's online Guide states :

"Please allow up to 4 working days for bill payments/transfers to reach the payee’s account"

For me, this is the only slight down side, so far, as that's one extra banking day, compared with what I'm used to from Coventry BS + various banks.

Anyone here experienced SO payments from A+L in fact taking only 3 days inclusive (basically 48 hours)?

sergeant121

Anyone here experienced SO payments from A+L in fact taking only 3 days inclusive (basically 48 hours)?

Yes.  My experience so far:

SO left A&L 10/6/04 and arrived in Halifax Regular Saver 15/6/04 (12 & 13/6/04 were w/e);
SO left A&L 12/7/04 and arrived in Halifax Regular Saver 15/7/04;
SO left A&L 10/8/04 and arrived in Halifax Regular Saver 13/8/04;
SO left A&L 10/9/04 and arrived in Halifax Regular Saver 15/9/04 (11 & 12/9/04 were w/e).

I could be argued that, these days, movement should be instant but pigs might fly too!

System

(After Judi's unfortunate experience, I'm trying to convince myself opening it was a good idea…hence re-examining the T+C!)

Dont worry about it, i am a winger. ;D I havent found a bank i am as happy with as my own (although the interest rates on savings accounts are !!!!!!), i tried FD too and didnt like it!! However i am happy with Cahoot as well as my own trusty LLoyds TSB.

robnye

Anyone here experienced SO payments from A+L in fact taking only 3 days inclusive (basically 48 hours)?

req 18/9 from A&L to NW - rec 22/9
req 20/9 from A&L to NW - not rec yet
req 20/9 from NW to A&L - rec 22/9

so it seems, money in to your account is applied more quicker than money leaving....

ED

Heinz – many thanks for giving useful examples of the time-scale, in your experience sending SO payments from A+L. I see all 4 of your payments took what's generally termed "4 banking days" (including the day of despatch), which confirms my slight disappointment in A+L, and concurs with a test-SO I sent to a Norwich & Peterborough BS a/c.

For instance, via Coventry BS (or Abbey, First Direct, etc) your September 10th payment would have arrived Sept 14th, instead of on the 15th.

Wonder if I can help you…? If you have a Halifax Web Saver a/c, did you know you can link it online with your Regular Saver a/c, & arrange online for an Internal Standing Order. It happens same day, so nil days earning no interest. (I see you've often earned nil for 5-day periods, when a weekend interrupts SO in transit.)

robnye – thanks for your insight re inward transfers to A+L. Was this via BACS?

soba

Slightly different experience for me, up until last week I used A+L for business banking. What an absolutely diabolical service - very, very slow to answer the phone, inefficient staff and a website that's a pain in the backside. Have swapped to Barclays this week, but already having problems with them. I rang my "business relationship manager" last Monday (20th) and got through to his voice-mail, he said he'd call back within three hours! - guess what? I'm still waiting 4 days later!
So I guess it's out of the frying pan and into the fire

Alan_C_3

:-[
I applied on the web site as soon as I read about it on this site as I qualify in all respects. I received an email saying I would hear in 48 hours. Since then I have heard nothing. I have rung three times and have been told that as I am not on the electoral role (63 years of age, in my house 18 years, and a local parish councellor!!!!) I have to take proof of identity into a local branch and a letter is on the way. No letter recieved and its now over 5 weeks. Perhaps the key is in my age - they don't want olds like me -as I probably wont be with them for long.
Needless to say I have now given up and will go elsewhere.

System

..... and 2 weeks after i write to them to cancel my account, i am waiting for them to close my account. >:( >:(

Funny thing is i have gained 3p in interest, but cant get it transfered cause its less than £1. ;D

ED

Alan_C – It does seem A+L have let down rather a lot of potential customers, perhaps due to inefficiencies caused by a vast influx of applications to open the remarkably high-paying a/c.

63 years of age is still middle-aged to my mind – especially with 70 being a likely average age for retirement in the near future! Maybe you'll still be a local parish councillor beyond that…

If you decide to give A+L one last chance, it will be interesting to read here how you get on.