Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

forevergrey

moneysaver wrote: »

I phoned Nationwide head office up & they told me I should get 6.15% on the day I apply to transfer, but in the branch they are telling me it is not guaranteed. On page 4 of this brochure http://www.nationwide.co.uk/pdf/savings/P5905_ISAs.pdf it does say the rate may change by the time the transfer goes through.

Moneysaver

Having contacted head office, I'm now getting conflicting information. They are saying that the fixed rate is only guaranteed if in force at the date of the cheque from the previous provider.

Having relayed this back to the branch who told me it would be on receipt of forms, they insist they had an internal memo confirming their account but are going to check again.

Not sure where this leaves some of us at the moment!

Jumping_Bean

Jumping_Bean wrote: »

I'm trying to choose between the Abey Direct ISA and the A&L Direct ISA. On page one of this thread it says that Abey has a rate guarantee but A&L doesn't but I can't find any guarantee on Abey's site. Is there one, and if so what is it?

Are these the two I should be looking at for an instant access ISA that will accept transfers? Are there any other (better) options I should consider? I don't mind giving 30 days notice just as long as I don't incur penalties - But it seems that the 30 day accounts are no better than the instant ones?

Does anyone have an opinion on the above?

(This thread really should be stickied)

billieboy_2

Jumping_Bean wrote: »

Does anyone have an opinion on the above?

(This thread really should be stickied)

From A & L Website for Direct ISA 4
Earn 6.25% gross p.a./AER (variable) for Direct ISA Issue 4 applicants from 8 February 2008
Includes a 1.00% bonus payable to 31.05.09

I've gone for A & L. The Abbey as far as I know does have a bonus for the same period. I'm trying to transfer previous years' funds from Abbey Direct ISA Issue 1 to the new A & L. The first application I sent over two weeks ago they never received! The second application I sent on Tuesday I haven't heard about yet although the girl said they do send an acknowledgement. My OH applied to transfer from Nationwide on 25 March and it was in the A & L account on 2 April!

[Deleted User]

I'm sure most people are already aware of the below but it still doesn't seem to be on the first page?!

Bradford & Bingley 6.25% p.a. AER, 1 Year Fixed Rate eISA (Issue 4)

http://www.bradford-bingley.co.uk/savings/product/one-year-fixed-rate-eISA-issue4.asp

Special_Saver2

Jumping_Bean wrote: »

I'm sure is says 2009. From the T&Cs:

Before 1 April 2010, if you give 30 days notice of intention to withdraw money you can have penalty free access to it. From 1 April 2010 your account automatically transfers into our easy access Cash ISA. Closure at any time until 31 March 2009 is subject to a 30 day notice charge. You must keep a minimum balance of £1,000 in your account. If the balance of your account falls below the minimum, the interest rate will change to the Society's variable base savings rate applicable at that time. You cannot replace withdrawn funds.

Just feel I should jump to Kazza's defence here. What Kazza has on the first page at the moment was correct - I can vouch for that as I looked into this account for myself too. Jumping Bean, you are right, the terms and conditions have changed to show exactly what you have above.

The new terms and conditions make this account more attractive than it was before - it all depends on whether you trust Scarborough BS not to drop its rate in relation to others before 31 March 2009.

I won't be going for this account as I previously had an ISA with them a few years ago and had to transfer it out (penalty-free) when they dropped the rate on it making it quite uncompetitive.

Special_Saver2

Thought I would add this ISA in case anybody is interested.

Leeds BS Inflation Buster ISA

Issue 4 pays RPI + 2%. It is for new money and / or transfers in. The terms and conditions are a bit complicated and not easy for me to paraphrase so please follow the link if you are interested.

mango850

gavinthegreat wrote: »

Thanks, that is quite reassuring.

Now I've just got to decide whether to go with this choice, or to choose Halifax's 6.20% 4 Year Fix. Given that I already bank with them it would surely be quicker and easier to transfer from their variable ISA into the fixed one. I just can't decide whether 4 years is too far to fix - I won't need the money, but what if interest rates were to increase dramatically. It's all too complicated :rotfl:

im in the same situation as urself atm i have over 8k in a varibale account. the adviser says i can put it in a fix rate over 1,2 or 3 yrs does anyone know the rate for each of the yrs? i cant find it on the halifax site

gavinthegreat

mango850 wrote: »

im in the same situation as urself atm i have over 8k in a varibale account. the adviser says i can put it in a fix rate over 1,2 or 3 yrs does anyone know the rate for each of the yrs? i cant find it on the halifax site

Rates are available here:
http://www.bankofscotlandhalifax.co.uk/savings/personalrates.asp#fixed_rate_isa_saver

So 1 or 2 years is 5.80%, 3 years is 6.00% and 4 years is 6.20%. Personally, I finally decided to simply place my £3000 from last year and my new £3600 in the 4 year Halifax Fix for a couple of reasons (partly laziness ).

My other choice was the Nationwide 2 year fix at 6.15% (unclear as to whether this rate would definitely be the one I got) which would have meant all the hastle of switching to guarantee a lesser rate than Halifax (by 0.05%) for 2 years, and then only 2 years where I could possibly get a better rate than 6.20%. As I think 6.20% is pretty decent I am happy with that.

I could also have put my new allowance in a 1 year fixed such as Skiptons but for the minimal gain I didn't think it was worth it. Also, as I was in the Halifax ISA Saver Direct Variable account it literally took the advisor 2 minutes to switch it to the 4 year fix, meaning no hassle with filling in forms or worrying about interest being backdated.

Regardless, even if the rate does increase over the coming years, I am still better off than I was in my previous Halifax Variable ISA paying a measly 5.25%!

mango850

i though 5.25 was pretty good . until last yr i never looked into my isa i too was a variable isa at 3.9%

gavindoc

mango850 wrote: »

i though 5.25 was pretty good . until last yr i never looked into my isa i too was a variable isa at 3.9%

Well I suppose it wasn't absolutely awful - I meant it was measly in comparison to 6.2%