Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

ForumUser7

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034361#Comment_82034361

Been a member for a few years now (<5), and they were great at the start. They had very competitive rates consistently and some of the best and most helpful service I’d experienced. My 2 cents is unfortunately they’ve slipped significantly over the past couple of years with good rates being rare, and service being very inconsistent but mostly poor.

Rich2808

I have been with Saffron since their old Saffron Walden, Herts and Essex days - they used to have a very useful branch in east London in Stratford.

I sort of stay with them out of habit but I haven't been to a branch in years! I will wait and see what members regular saver they offer for loyalty month in September.

Money_Stitch

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033946#Comment_82033946

That's interesting as I had issues with Paragon to Saffron transfer in the end the issue was that the request had 'been filed in the wrong folder' by Paragon. At first I wasn't sure if it was Saffron but Paragon have admitted it was their mistake. Even after admitting that, they still took another 8 days to send it, so perhaps there are things afoot with Paragon now as well. Saffron however did not chase it for 20 w/days and only after prompting from me. I agree there needs to be some mechanism which triggers a chase after 5 days of the other provider not responding. The incoming provider is supposed to 'manage' the process, not the customer.

Saffron is new provider to me and I do agree they seem to have been overwhelmed with subscription to a market leading offer, which I hope they learned from. They had the good sense to pull it almost immediately at least. They responded to my complaint swiftly and it's been resolved now to my satisfaction without drawing out the complaints process.

I'm willing to give them a second chance and see how the year goes. At least they have not given me the run around which a certain high street bank is still giving me while keeping a promotion going for weeks even after it became apparent they couldn't cope.

p1ston

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032029#Comment_82032029

Just to see if I could find info already provided. And not bother users too much. Was looking for oaknorth experiences.

It turned out that my problems solved and I don't need it now

Rosa_Damascena

Paragon cost me a bit in interest by not keeping me in the loop. I had applied for an ISA transfer to Santander and the money never got there because unbeknown to me the money had been transferred into another account, so when it came to pulling the funds the cupboard was bare.

Generally though I am happy with Paragon's CS. I'd happily open another account with them if rates were attractive.

Stompa

Chip to Monument, 5 days (which includes a weekend).

MichaelAP

Chip to Moneybox 3 working days. Just one day interest lost whilst Moneybox processed the money.

flobbalobbalob

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038037#Comment_82038037

I think the ISA rules specify no days should be lost without interest. When I transferred to Vanquis there appeared to be a lost day in the transfer times but was automatically credited by Vanquis.

CuparLad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038133#Comment_82038133

Not quite, but the effect should be the same. The old and new ISA Managers must agree a common transfer date; that is the date on which responsibility for the ISA transfers from old to new Manager. The money usually, but not always, transfers on the same date. You might see wording from some Managers saying words to the effect that if the money is transferred by cheque, interest is accrued from the date of issue of the cheque (the transfer date), rather than the date the cheque is received. But essentially the investor should not be out of pocket due to the transfer process, so you can see interest adjustments made to sort things out. 😊

pecunianonolet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038235#Comment_82038235

Fine in theory but good luck figthing this in practise. When proviers blame each other, you are having to raise 2 complaints, one for each provier, to claim losses. All you really get is compensation for inconviniene and often that doesn't warrant the time to fight your case.

Also, a transfer should not take more than 15 working days but if the new provider (Saffron) sits 5 days or more on the form before they sumbit to the old provier, and if the old provier takes (some I would say do deliberatly) their max time it could easily drag out, with weekend to almost a month.

Now, subscriptions are cut to encourage more people to invest, where it can take even longer to make transfers with S&S ISA's.

Rules and procedures need fixing first because even with the best saddle, if you ride a slow horse the saddle doesn't make the horse quicker, it will remain a slow horse.