At my wits end now with Santander

callistris

I paid a cheque into my Santander account 2 weeks ago, at a local branch and it still hasn't cleared!!
It took 2 days for it to show as "paid in".
The cheque was drawn from my parents account, and has been cashed, 5 days after I paid it in to my Santander account.

I've been on the phone to them now about it a couple of times, and all I get told is that it's still in the 'clearing process'. When I explain that the money is from my Parents account and has been drawn already, they have no reply and are unable to tell me when the cheque will clear!

On the same day I paid a cheque into my new Natwest account, which was from my parents as well, and this cleared in 2 days:j

Do you think Santander know I'm planning on closing my account with them, so have decided to be awkward !!!!ers?
The money on the cheque is to cover a bill which is now overdue, and the company waiting for the money are starting to get a little restless!

What if anything can I do about this?

pinkdalek

Banks vary on how soon they allow you to withdraw on a cheque. Nat West do allow me to withdraw on a cheque after 2 days, however it has not necessarily "cleared."

The longest a bank can take for a cheque to clear is 6 working days from it being posted to your account, most banks adopt a 2-4-6 rule, 2 days earns interest, 4 days available to draw, 6 days generally has cleared and no risk of it being returned except in extreme circumstances eg fraud.

Now I would have thought that if you paid in your cheque 2 weeks ago that by now it should have cleared, however how did you pay it in? For example did you pay it in before the Jubilee bank holidays and what date does it show on your account has being credited. If you paid it in on the Saturday at a machine/drop box it may not have been credited to your account until later on the following week.

Whatever method you paid in the longest it can take is 6 working days from it being deposited, so check when it went in and how many working days it has been in your account. The fact it has come out of your parents account is fine, at least you know it has been sent, however your parent's bank doesn't contact your bank to tell them, the bank you pay it in at just allows you to draw against it after a certain number of days. With Nat West you can draw on a cheque after 2 days, however if they receive notice the cheque is to be unpaid, you can find yourself then overdrawn as you have withdrawn funds on uncleared monies.

missile

Cheques paid into my LTSB account are available immediately.

What if anything can I do about this?

Make an appointment with the manager. Write a letter of complaint. In future, I would suggest ask your parents to credit your account by electronic transfer?

callistris

Thanks for your help guys.

To confirm the actual paying in date, was Friday 1st June. Both cheques were paid in over the counter. Both cheques appeared on my online statement Friday 1st June, and the natwest cheque was showing as available 7th June.

@Missile I would have preferred the electronic transfer option, but my parents are scared to death of banking online and prefer the cheque route, and getting them to change is difficult!

I have just spoken again to Santander who apologise for the mix up and state the money will be available after midnight tonight.

If it's not, I'll write a letter of complaint to them!

pmduk

callistris wrote: »

Do you think Santander know I'm planning on closing my account with them, so have decided to be awkward !!!!ers?

With their normal standard of service it seems to come as normal with them.

missile

callistris wrote: »

...Missile I would have preferred the electronic transfer option, but my parents are scared to death of banking online and prefer the cheque route, and getting them to change is difficult!!

OK, I can understand their concern.

pwuk

It looks like you already have a measure of Santander. Put it down to what seemingly amounts to a poor experience, to an even poorer experience following this event.

This will resolve itself but I expect that it shall take you driving the process to ensure that they get their act together. Once the cheque is cleared ditch them. Hopefully you have an alternative bank lined up. I did precisely this and moved to Lloyds where I have not been let down to date.

Good luck.

Sailmakers

How much was the chq for?

callistris

Well well despite being told the money would be available, it's not!!

This is really starting to take the mick now:mad:

Yes I have a new account set up, it's the Natwest one mentioned earlier and after this I can't wait for my wages to show up in there in 10 days time. Then I can stick 2 fingers up to Santander!

The cheque was for £800.

missile

callistris wrote: »

Well well despite being told the money would be available, it's not!!

This is really starting to take the mick now:mad:

Yes I have a new account set up, it's the Natwest one mentioned earlier and after this I can't wait for my wages to show up in there in 10 days time. Then I can stick 2 fingers up to Santander!

The cheque was for £800.

Hopefully you might find the cheque is credited at 09.00?

callistris

missile wrote: »

Hopefully you might find the cheque is credited at 09.00?

Have been told this morning, it will be available tomorrow:rotfl:

Where have I heard that before.......?