Non-taxpayer Santander customers - check your interest statements

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A couple of years ago, I opened two savings accounts with Alliance and Leicester. I'm not a taxpayer, so I completed two R85 forms and gave them to A+L. A+L sent me certificates, confirming that the accounts were registered for gross interest.

Fast forward two years. The savings accounts matured and tax was taken off the interest. I asked Santander why they took tax off the interest. They said it was a mistake. When A+L merged with Santander, the R85 instruction got "lost" from their system.

So, any non-taxpayers who had savings accounts with A+L might want to check their statements, in case this is a systematic failure on Santander's part rather than specific to my accounts.

By the way, don't expect any help from Santander resolving the problem. They just tell you to contact your tax office.