Santander - frustration

Grandad99

Despite seeing numerous less than favourable comments about Santander their 4% 2 year cash ISA seemed worth a try to replace a Post Office one that is back on the basic rate.

1. On to Internet to set up an account. After 3 crashes went to the phone to do this.

2. Fortunately used saynoto0870 to use my free landline calls as it was a 17 minute call.

3. Account set up ok and told "you can print the transfer form to complete and send to us from the website"

4. Wrong, link to the form not working.

5. Visit local branch to get a form "Can't give you one as the Branch system is different - you must get it from the internet or by phone"

6. Try internet again, still no joy so back on the phone.

7. "You can get one from your local branch"

8. "Please phone the branch concerned and tell them this. Also ask them to post me a form and please post one from wherever you are as well"

I now want to phone the local branch to ensure they have been put right and that they will post me a form. The only phone numder I have is a national 0845 one .....

To be continued.

sorcerer

Their was another bigger thread, and I think somebody put the link to the form in it.

DervProf

I had to call Santander today about this form. I managed to download it OK, but it only asks for the account number of the ISA that you are transferring from. I found this odd, as I would have thunk that they would also want to know the sort code (previous ISA transfer have always asked for this). There are 6 blank spaces after you have entered an 8 digit account number, so that made me think that it may be required. I was told to include the sort code, so that is what I have done.

My point is, and I`ve asked this many times.......

"Why, oh why, do I find that filling a simple form in, often requires a phone call ?"

I'll answer that myself - it keeps call centre staff employed.

Rant over.

2poor4this

LOL, I opened the 4% 2 year with Santander, I have an ISA with them currently and wanted to move that and this years allowance into the new one, couldnt do it online, rang and they ended up telling me to go to a Branch, went to the branch filled everything in, organised the funding which bounced back to my account, Rang them, told I'd have to visit the Branch again as they'd forgotten to get me to sign a form, went to the branch signed the form, tried to fund it and once again it bounced back, rang them again and someone finally sorted it out, funding in, Gawd knows what's going to happen in 2 years time when I try to get it out again:rotfl:
To be honest though they did slightly better than the Halifax who sent me the sort code and account number for my shiny new ISA and then denied me having an account when I tried to fund it, starting to think all th banks are incompetent as I've had similar trouble with Natwest with a current account.

DervProf

I haven't any problems with ISAs (or any other savings accounts for that matter) in the last couple of years (touch wood). However, about 3 years ago, Lloyds TSB were a real nightmare for both me and my mother. My mother transferred her ISA from Nationwide to Lloyds, and the money vanished for about 3 months !

Despite hearing about a lot of bad experiences with Santander, my limited dealings with them have been OK so far.

evenasus

This is the link to the transfer form I used.... http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/StaticBS?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1223420943545&cachecontrol=immediate&ssbinary=true&maxage=3600

Edit: Hmm - seems to open in Explorer 8 but not in Chrome for some reason.

sabretoothtigger

If a website crashes, try a different browser and dont use internet explorer

chrome safari firefox opera

Seems like its a pdf problem ? Which Ive also had, try right click save as on that link and it gives a document to save. Usually the better option

DervProf

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

If a website crashes, try a different browser and dont use internet explorer

chrome safari firefox opera

It might not be the browser, as it is a pdf document. I'd try reinstalling or updating Adobe Reader.

sabretoothtigger

Adobe Im not a fan, always updating itself. Any older setup can become a victim to it.

Try using Foxit reader instead for PDF files as its alot more lightweight and less prone to self destruction.
Its a 3rd party but perfectly valid way to read PDF files or print even

DervProf

Never had a problem with adobe reader myself, but I do "look after" my PC.

DervProf

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

Try using Foxit reader instead for PDF files as its alot more lightweight and less prone to self destruction.
Its a 3rd party but perfectly valid way to read PDF files or print even

Thanks.

I'm all for "lightweight" software. I`ve just had a look on their website, and there seem to be enough user to convince me to give it a go.

Adobe Reader will now be uninstalled.