Santander 1 2 3 account

BobQ

jacobschi wrote: »

:j Just changed my current account with Santander, to a 123 account & credit card. Did it in the branch, assistant very helpful, all went through without a hitch! which in this day and age of banking problems was a nice change. For me it looks a good deal!!

Yes that bit usually works well and it is a good deal. However, do not be lulled into a false sense of security. In particular check those DDs, make sure they are done or that, if they say they are done, they work. Not sure that problems are necessarily Santanders fault but do not assume things will run smoothly.

innovate

If someone has all the data and documents needed to apply for a credit card, how is the card provider to know the applicant is an imposter?

The 'nasty crook' is more than likely somebody your friend knows quite well. How else could they have got all his data, and got hold not only of his card but also his PIN?

Why do you "worry about security with this bank"? From what you say, it was the bank who told your friend about it, so their security procedures seem to be working? From what you said, the problem seems to lie with your friend,whose data and/or mail appears to have been stolen.

innovate

BobQ wrote: »

Yes that bit usually works well and it is a good deal. However, do not be lulled into a false sense of security. In particular check those DDs, make sure they are done or that, if they say they are done, they work. Not sure that problems are necessarily Santanders fault but do not assume things will run smoothly.

I have had DDs since the year dot for things like council tax and utilities. I openend a 123 when they first launched it and transferred all my qualifying DDs to Santander. All worked like clockwork, and has been, ever since.

You are right though, you need to check that all your transactions are correct. That's advisable for any transactions and with any bank/BS anyway.

Gromitt

Some of the flats I've visited in the last few months, you can walk into the communal area of the flats and literally put your whole hand inside a flats post flap, feel around for any post (they are quite shallow), and even remove small items. I've screwed a blanking plate about half way up for a friend, so that now only letters can be inserted, but at least no one can get them back out again (unless they are determined of course)

wizzards

innovate wrote: »

If someone has all the data and documents needed to apply for a credit card, how is the card provider to know the applicant is an imposter?

The 'nasty crook' is more than likely somebody your friend knows quite well. How else could they have got all his data, and got hold not only of his card but also his PIN?

Why do you "worry about security with this bank"? From what you say, it was the bank who told your friend about it, so their security procedures seem to be working? From what you said, the problem seems to lie with your friend,whose data and/or mail appears to have been stolen.

Well its the speed in which they applied and got everything that worries me. What does it mean when they say acceptance guaranteed for existing customers. To me that means they've already done the checks hence its a few ticks to get the account opened. Just look on this forum many people report how nice and easy it was to change accounts in Santander and switch this and that etc. Just one Click and its done. Yes my friend has been unfortunate and it is easy to blame the victim of fraud but he has a locked mailbox and a shredder and doesn't leave his details lying about so between the bank and the post office one of them is to blame. The bank called him when the perpetrators exceeded the credit limit after spending some few K it seems.

wizzards

Gromitt wrote: »

Some of the flats I've visited in the last few months, you can walk into the communal area of the flats and literally put your whole hand inside a flats post flap, feel around for any post (they are quite shallow), and even remove small items. I've screwed a blanking plate about half way up for a friend, so that now only letters can be inserted, but at least no one can get them back out again (unless they are determined of course)

Thanks, No we checked that. The keys are not the same either and its a metal box. He has since redirected his mail. So that leaves the bank or the post office. Obviously he is or has been targeted systematically by someone.

BobQ

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I've heard the train of thought that the plan is to get people used to the idea of paying a monthly fee for a current account. Once people are used to it it will become more widespread and they can then reduce the perks, increase the fees and we'll all be paying them more than they pay us.
Whether that's true or not, I don't know. Whether it is true or not doesn't stop you from signing up and benefitting from it.

I think this train is ridiculous. Until they start insisting on you signing up for long periods with lockin penalties, its quite easy to move if they do this.

BobQ

innovate wrote: »

I have had DDs since the year dot for things like council tax and utilities. I openend a 123 when they first launched it and transferred all my qualifying DDs to Santander. All worked like clockwork, and has been, ever since.

You are right though, you need to check that all your transactions are correct. That's advisable for any transactions and with any bank/BS anyway.

My experience was with Santander transferring by Alliance and Leicester Account to a "proper" Santander account. At the time they were so incompetent that could not make this change without me opening a new account (as if I was moving from another bank rather than an organisation that part of Santander). About 8 of the 16 DDs were not done correctly.

That said when I moved from that Santander account to the 123 they did it without a problem or change of account number.

I am not a Santander "knocker", they have a good product with the 123 and its well worth considering. But they are not perfect!

wizzards

BobQ wrote: »

I think this train is ridiculous. Until they start insisting on you signing up for long periods with lockin penalties, its quite easy to move if they do this.

Theoretically its quite easy to move but its hassle if the move goes pear shaped. But if you make the effort to get the best deal and follow Martin Lewis advice you can be onto a winner at least short term. At the moment its a good deal if it works for you. Long term who knows but while it lasts if its suitable it can be a good thing but for the nervous you can keep another account ready without all the hookups in case you need to switch. Thats what I plan to do. Keep the ZERO account as well.

JimmyTheWig

innovate wrote: »

From what you said, the problem seems to lie with your friend,whose data and/or mail appears to have been stolen.

I don't think we can blame the bank for the fraud, but they did say that their friend had a nightmare with customer services to sort it out. That sounds like a Santander specific problem.