Cater Allen - FPS finally introduced but it will take 2 days!

mundo2

I complain to Cater Allen everytime I speak to them about this but they just don't want to listen, don't care and swear blind that it isn't an issue for all their other clients. Their online banking is the worst I've ever used as well, it's about 20 years old, hardly any functionality and no usability whatsoever.

NFH

mundo2 wrote: »

I complain to Cater Allen everytime I speak to them about this but they just don't want to listen, don't care and swear blind that it isn't an issue for all their other clients.

Raise it as a formal complaint so that you get a call back or a letter from customer relations etc. I've done that, but they didn't change anything, but if everyone does it, they might listen more.

System

They clearly don't want to invest in the necessary infrastructure.

Many CA business accounts have no fees for day to day transactions.
They know they have a captive audience - those looking for a free ride.

mundo2 wrote: »

I complain to Cater Allen everytime I speak to them about this but they just don't want to listen, don't care and swear blind that it isn't an issue for all their other clients. Their online banking is the worst I've ever used as well, it's about 20 years old, hardly any functionality and no usability whatsoever.

HappySpaceInvdr

pinkdalek wrote: »

There's quite a clear trend and solution to all of this.

Bank with a proper bank and not one that pretends to be a bank, offers you so called fantastic products through rose tinited spectacles but cannot get the basics done.

Carter Allen, I mean it is just so local, there are 100s of branches you can call in on if problems arise.

RBS Group/Lloyds Group/Barclays/HSBC - can offer the services you need, when things go wrong they are the 1st to own up and apologise and compensate. They've been there and worn the T-shirt, wake up and smell the coffee!! They may not be perfect by no means but they can give you the FPS that you so blatently require.

Right but most (if not all) of those banks charge a monthly fee for business accounts, and then additional fees every time you scratch your nose.

I've used Cater Allen for my business (contractor working through a limited company) for the last 5 years, and have no complaints whatsoever. It's a "no frills" service, sure, but there's no monthly fee and no transaction fees whatsoever (and this applies to transactions performed over the telephone as well as via the online banking website). They were also the first bank to integrate fully with Crunch's online accountancy: every couple of weeks, my bank payments are automatically entered into my accountancy software, which is a massive time saver. They do the same with ClearSky online accountancy.

On that basis, having to wait 24 hours for a payment to clear doesn't seem so much of a hardship to me.

HappySpaceInvdr

billbennett wrote: »

HSBC Business Direct. No monthly fee.

lol... but that all changed in September 2013, didn't it? Now it's £5.50 per month.

planteria

i'm surprised there has been a delay, with Cater Allen part of Santander UK:doh:

agrinnall

planteria wrote: »

i'm surprised there has been a delay, with Cater Allen part of Santander UK:doh:

Three year old thread, so the delay in your reply is nearly as lengthy as CA's delay in introducing FPS .

NFH

Cater Allen will soon be moving their underlying bank from Royal Bank of Scotland to Santander. The RBS arrangement was created before Fleming Premier Banking was absorbed into Cater Allen in 2001, so it was only a matter of time for this change to happen, albeit a very long time. This should bring Cater Allen's payments system into line with other banks.

Chordeiles

My micro-business has used Cater Allen since 2009, and it was a part of Santander even then. Have they really been using RBS for their clearing arrangements all this time ?
Sum paid yesterday at Cater Allen has not yet reached recipient. Perhaps it will today ?

NFH

Chordeiles wrote: »

My micro-business has used Cater Allen since 2009, and it was a part of Santander even then. Have they really been using RBS for their clearing arrangements all this time ?

Yes, and despite my post above two years ago about moving away from RBS (after being informally informed of this by Cater Allen), nothing has yet changed. I mentioned it this week during a conversation with Cater Allen and there are still no imminent plans.

Chordeiles wrote: »

Sum paid yesterday at Cater Allen has not yet reached recipient. Perhaps it will today ?

Check what date the payment left your account. If you instructed the payment to leave your account yesterday, it won't actually leave until today and it will therefore be received today as well. This is because Cater Allen doesn't make payments on the instructed payment date, but one working day later. Very confusing. Payments are always received on the same day that they are made.