Appalling service from Alliance & Leicester

taster

Applied for A&L current account got an email that you are successful next two days recieved their welcome package. A day after I sent back premier plus current account agreement form, sadly recieved a letter that FACILITY CANNOT BE OFFERED.

Please fellow money savers advice me urgently next step to take.

Thanks

Taster

russTheFoss

I'm in the middle of transferring from First Direct to A&L, and so far it's all been very lovely (although the list of DDs hasn't arrived yet).

My reason for leaving First Direct is the length of time it takes them to answer the phone. I'm regularly sitting on hold for 5 minutes these days, whereas they used to answer on the third ring. It's doubly annoying when the on-hold message keeps telling me to use the internet instead - sometimes it's just not convenient. They aren't really a telephone service any more IMO, and that used to be their thing.

I changed through our local branch, which may have made a difference because I haven't had any of the hassle other people seem to have had. (Touching wood!) We have relatives with 10 years of happy banking with A&L behind them, which was part of our reason for finally deciding to switch.

FieryBlondeScot

eek my next step was to switch to A&L from IF ...........

who incidentally screwed up my transfers too and this resulted in my sons mobile being cut off due to non payment and barclaycard reverting my special 2.9% rate back to 24% due to non payment and belive me i had murders with barclaycard trying to get that special rate!!!

id seriously keep a very very close eye on any transfers when switching current account it is not as straightforward as it looks!!! >:(

Cas

We transferred our main bank account to A&L in May and it all went very smoothly although the direct debit transfers took a little longer than expected, about a month I think.

Only niggle is the length of time it now takes to speak to someone when you phone them. Oh, and the fact that when I paid money in at one of their branches earlier this week I was told that as a Premier Plus account holder I should be using only the post office to pay in cash. Pity their T&Cs say that I can pay in at any A&L branch ...

Cas

eek my next step was to switch to A&L from IF ...........

(

FireyBlondeScot,

We did open accounts with IF but they made a pig's ear of what should've been a simple process. You name it they got it wrong. Plus their customer service was dire - if I phone up I don't expect to sit in a queue for 20 mins only to be transferred to an answering machine and get a return call 24 hours later. We sent in a very long letter of complaint (sent recorded delivery to the Chief Exec) and closed the accounts. Compared to IF's "service" A&L is wonderful!

nh

I haven't read through all these posts but I just recalled a conversation I had with my dad who works at A&L in IT. They are having a new system installed next year and that may be why everything is a bit rubbish at the moment.

Don't know anything else, sorry!

MarkyMarkD

We transferred our main bank account to A&L in May and it all went very smoothly although the direct debit transfers took a little longer than expected, about a month I think.

Only niggle is the length of time it now takes to speak to someone when you phone them.  Oh, and the fact that when I paid money in at one of their branches earlier this week I was told that as a Premier Plus account holder I should be using only the post office to pay in cash.  Pity their T&Cs say that I can pay in at any A&L branch ...

Are you sure you are looking at Premier Plus Ts & Cs? The website links for Premier Plus Ts & Cs actually take you to generic current account Ts & Cs which include a section for Premier Account but no section for Premier Plus.

stormCat99

Hi guys, been reading this thread and am sorry to hear that so many other people are having such a bad time.

Since my last post, I've sent 2 complaint letters, but no reply as yet. My last letter stated that I required a response within 7 days or I would have to escalate to the FSA. But to be honest, I still don't think this will elicit a response.

Even worse, about 8 weeks after starting the transfer process, I have just received a letter from them to say that they are assuming I don't want to transfer any more as they've not received my signed list of DDs/SOs!!!!!!

I sent this AGES ago and this is not the 1st time they have 'lost' things I have sent to them. I am sick and tired of this now, and could have cried when I got that letter. They're basically telling me that after 8 weeks of my phoning nearly every day, and sending them multiple copies of each document as they keep losing them, they are now going to abandon the transfer process? They must be joking >:( >:( >:(

Cas

Are you sure you are looking at Premier Plus Ts & Cs?  The website links for Premier Plus Ts & Cs actually take you to generic current account Ts & Cs which include a section for Premier Account but no section for Premier Plus.

Definitely looking @ Premier Plus T&Cs
http://www.alliance-leicester.co.uk/premier-plus/index.asp?page=page4#pay

It clearly states that you can deposit cash or cheques at any of their branches.

shropslad

Due to the really good interest rate I decided to move my current account over to A&L. I have had no problems at all and my tip for obtaining a smooth transfer from your existing account is to handle all the Direct Debit and Standing Orders yourself. It took me around 30 mins one Sat morning to contact all the companies and inform them of my new account details. I've not had any problems at all and I've now been with A&L for 2 months now. Hope this helps some folk. (Remember to use the saynoto0870numbers website to avoid all those expensive call rates when contacting the companies)