Warning: the terrible Saga saga

yakamalayo

Wanted to share an extraordinary experience I've been through trying to get a Saga credit card (for use overseas) - shocked that a company specialising in services for the 'elderly' (ie over 50) should be the cause of the worst customer experience I've ever had (and that's saying something).

Following Martin's advice, I decided to apply for a Saga card to use on holidays abroad. I applied online in May to allow loads of time before travelling in late July. I didn't get any response at all except a marketing pack about other services. Eventually I rang them and was told I needed to send in proof of ID. No probs (but would have appreciated being told without chasing). They told me which document they needed and that they only needed one. I sent two (copy of passport and drivers licence) just in case.

Again, not a dickie-bird. So I phoned a couple of weeks later. I was told they hadn't received it, please send again. Double-checked they only needed one, but sent copies of both again anyway.

Again, no response. Rang again - Aha, they've received it. But actually they also need 2 X proof of address. They assured me that they wouldn't have told me the wrong thing(!!!!) - was it Saga or Allied Irish (which it turns out is the credit card supplier)? As a customer, I haven't got a clue - I just phone the number given on the Saga website and assume it's Saga. By this time, holiday date getting closer and me getting v. frustrated as I was mis-informed twice and I'm having to do all the chasing while they blame each other, the post, anything else they can think of. I asked if it could be referred to Complaints.

Took deep breath and posted two further items of ID. No response (surprise). Eventually, a couple of days before I was going on holiday, got a letter from Complaints explaining why they need proof of ID information - DUH - I wasn't complaining about that but about the appalling service, no response from them, ludicrous amount of time elapsing, etc. etc. The letter also said they now needed 6 months bank statements! At that point I gave up and went on holiday with my normal credit cards. I assumed that was the end of my application - I certainly wasn't going to carry on and in fact want nothing to do with Saga again (and having just turned 50 this year, I could have been a potentially long term customer for them).

Came back from holiday to find EIGHT letters from Saga! NONE of them contained an apology, they were cards, pin numbers, log-on numbers, etc. etc. I wrote to Saga and Allied Irish to ask them to cancel everything, explaining the whole horrible Saga which took 10 weeks, lots of calls and post, and was a complete waste of time as my holiday came and went. Didn't want the application affecting my credit score etc.

Just got a curt letter confirming they've closed my account.

THANKS!

izools

Pity you closed it.

I would have raised a formal written complaint about the service for sure, hoping for some form of compensation, but to deny yourself a Saga card is a bit nose-biting to spite face. It offers some unique benefits, including interest free cash advances if the statement balance is cleared in full which is literally unheard of in credit cards; no one else offers this.

But fair enough, voting with one's feet is a sure fire way of making a point.

May I suggest as second best the Halifax Clarity?

jonesMUFCforever

They were stupid weren't they 1 Passport was proof of ID 2 Your driving licence confirmed your address!

yangptangkipperbang

I think the problem you have here is that you think you are dealing with Saga but you are actually dealing with AIB - who must be the most incompetent bunch of "bankers" on the planet !
I tried to open a Post Office account recently -(AIB under another name) I ended up chucking it all in the bin - complete waste of space ! Similar saga (sorry !) to you over forms of ID

Having said that - I have had a Saga card for some years - no problems.........