Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

Rich2808 · 12 May at 2:15PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995510#Comment_81995510

Paragon are extremely efficient with electronic transfers - but Saffron only do postal transfers. So lots of post going backwards and forward from you to Saffron Walden to Wallsend in the North east and back and forth. So it could also be the Royal Mail.

Although I sent a transfer form recorded delivery to Paragon in Wallsend last week and it got there next day at 9am (all signed for) despite the distance being nearly 300 miles - sent a similar letter recorded which was going just a few miles away from me in London at the same post office on the same day and it took 3 days to arrive (and I posted them both on a Monday). No logic!!

gwapenut · 12 May at 2:28PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995687#Comment_81995687

They do and don't do postal transfers. The initial paperwork is signed paperwork, and even if you post that, payments from electronic providers are done electronically, not through a cheque in the post. Similarly, ISA transfer histories can be handled electronically by them.

This is an important distinction to me. A cheque in the post, which may need to be cancelled and reissued after waiting the mandatory 3 weeks for Royal Mail to accept it's been lost, is far more troubling than an ISA transfer form in the post. I used to avoid ISA providers who used full paper transfers, but am happy with this hybrid approach.

In my experience, the delays with Saffron are nothing to do with the postal system - in fact, they accept ISA transfer forms by email, which cuts all postal legs of the journey for most donors. The speed with which Skipton registered my transfer after I prodded Saffron implies they commnicated electronically, and makes me think that, although signed forms are used, all stages of the ISA transfer journey post-signature-and-scan can be electronic.

10_66 · 12 May at 3:05PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995628#Comment_81995628

The latest version, 304 at 4.56%, came out a couple of days' ago. The previous 18 month at 4.55% was 302.5 version.

p1ston · 12 May at 3:13PM

"The reality is that, we have more money now than we can ever use before we pop our clogs and no-one to leave it to." @luci

I'm more than happy to oblige. Way better than the King.

Dizzycap · 12 May at 8:45PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995656#Comment_81995656

I think most ISA providers were inundated with last minute; 2 weeks before the end of the last tax year, new subscriptions and/or ISA transfers. Under 65's will certainly have to get their Cash Isa sorted well before the end of this tax year, especially with the proposed up and coming changes to ISA's in the next.

masonic · 12 May at 9:01PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996250#Comment_81996250

Delays will affect everyone. The potential loss of this year's allowance is probably not worth risking even for over 65's.

Dizzycap · 12 May at 9:56PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996291#Comment_81996291

Personally, I like it done and dusted asap, funds and a decent interest rate permitting 😉. May seems to have produced some very nice fixed rate Cash Isa's, fuelled by competition in the fixed rate Bonds market at the end of last week.

luci · 13 May at 9:46AM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995768#Comment_81995768

Send me your full name, address, email address, phone number, bank details and shoe size and I'll see what I can do! I promise I won't sell them on ;)

I can't quite believe that we're in this position, considering that neither of us have ever earned enough to pay the higher rate of income tax. Years and years of being frugal, saving hard and having a personal and works pension have definitely paid off. I still like to keep abreast of what's going on in the ISA world. Old habits die hard.