Santander "Free" Accounts - Important Changes...

euroaccountpls

chevrons2 wrote: »

I've had the letter too. What concerns me is whether they are changing us all to a different account in order to get around the 'free forever' promise. They tried it a couple of years ago and we collectively stopped them. If the proposed changes mean that we no longer have the account that guaranteed 'free banking forever', then, even if the new account is free to start with, what stops them changing that in the future?
Am I being paranoid or could this happen?
What do people think?

Of course they are, otherwise they would have advertised it and stated 'And keep your Free Forever Banking'. If you get bundled with other business accounts that thave different terms, and they are all amalgamated to same terms, do you really think they will give all of them 'Free forever banking'.!! no chance.

Pete_Skinner

Archi_Bald wrote: »

When you have been on the MSE Forum a bit longer, you will know that MSE Towers pull the trigger without outside help.

I was just joking but it's a shame that something went wrong as M.C. was one of the driving forces in getting Santander to climb down.

darren72

I've just had a letter today stating 'Important changes to your business account' - Has anyone got anywhere so far with complaining to them about the so called 'Free For-life' ?

euroaccountpls

not yet, still waiting for a call back. very keen to know if its going to be ditched, and if not imediately, then when.? cant imagine it will be long after changing our accounts if we have an initial free period. ill update when i talk to the as teh last chap refused to speak to me about it, guess they have specialist conversants, prepped and primed. Is there another thread on this as i cant beleive this is as quiet on this at it is. will update if i actually ever get a call back.

darren72

It is being ditched immediately. My later says it is going from Unlimited cheque deposits free of charge, to only 100 free, then they charge £1 per cheque deposited

Pete_Skinner

darren72 wrote: »

It is being ditched immediately. My later says it is going from Unlimited cheque deposits free of charge, to only 100 free, then they charge £1 per cheque deposited

This was always the case on the Abbey/ Santander account. I still have a copy of my original terms & conditions.

darren72

Pete_Skinner wrote: »

This was always the case on the Abbey/ Santander account. I still have a copy of my original terms & conditions.

Sorry, I should have said mine was one of the original Alliance and Leicester accounts that offered unlimited cheque deposits.

euroaccountpls

i spoke with santander today for 25mins, the chap was worse than a politician in that he never wanted to say yes or no to anything (even a basic 'will my free banking forever come to an end'), and every answer was diverted to what was changing on his 'simplification comparision table'. What i could basically accertain was that the new bank account would not have 'Free Banking for Life' as per my original abbey/santander account. He also said the account would 'most probably' be the same for at least 6-12mnth ie no monthly fee for this period, he said it could be longer, but to even have a figure to throw out at me of 6-12mnth says to me they will introduce month fees very soon after they change it. (he did say the had no plan to change the charges in the future also, which kind of contradicts his earlier estimation on how long it could stay the same.) He qoted the usual that my previous terms and conditions small print state that they reserve the right to change the terms and conditions and basically that gives them the right to do away with 'free banking forever'. I never really followed the whole situation back in 2012 about the similar issue but id say if people don't call them and complain en-mass and request a 'furthering your compaint form' it will get pushed through. (well the chap was quite adamant that this was going through, like it or lump it) and it seems awful quiet on here about it. Personally im not happy as i can see that in a very short time my free banking for life account will start charging me, even if they arent straight off they will change it. If anyone knows what can be done (or if theres another thread where this is all at) id like to hear as i'd add my name to unhappy people. i wonder how many of the 200,000 free banking accounts people are still out there, 'free banking is not for life'

BusinessIsBusiness

euroaccountpls wrote: »

Id say that was naive thinking

Id say I worked at Santander for long enough to understand what is happening...

So it sounds like the limits imposed on cheque deposits are in line with abbey accounts, PO access is given to all in line with A&L accounts etc etc. Sounds like they are amalgamating all free accounts together. There are literally hundreds of free accounts on their backbook. Simplifying it to one, like they did to the retail accounts makes sense. Ultimately the t&cs have changed so much already. The fact is with Steve Pateman as head of UK banking its unlikely he would renegade on his renegade in 2012..

PS pressuring some poor front line staff about whether it means free for 12 months or free for life isn't going to get you anywhere. They know as much as you do. Its the decision makers behind the scenes you need to speak to to get any idea and even that can change month to month, person to person, project team to project team...

euroaccountpls

BusinessIsBusiness wrote: »

Id say I worked at Santander for long enough to understand what is happening...

So it sounds like the limits imposed on cheque deposits are in line with abbey accounts, PO access is given to all in line with A&L accounts etc etc. Sounds like they are amalgamating all free accounts together. There are literally hundreds of free accounts on their backbook. Simplifying it to one, like they did to the retail accounts makes sense. Ultimately the t&cs have changed so much already. The fact is with Steve Pateman as head of UK banking its unlikely he would renegade on his renegade in 2012..

PS pressuring some poor front line staff about whether it means free for 12 months or free for life isn't going to get you anywhere. They know as much as you do. Its the decision makers behind the scenes you need to speak to to get any idea and even that can change month to month, person to person, project team to project team...

to be honest 'BusinessIsBusiness' i had guessed you worked for santander from your first positive post with the slant in santanders favour/defense. I find your title/name quite appropriate to Santanders probable view about this change.

I absolutely Do Not agree with you re pressuring Santanders staff who answer the phone. these people have the info required to answer my very basic questions and if they dont they really should have/find out, or shouldnt be answering the phones. The people you quote i shoudl be speaking to you can not get hold of and they shoudl be listening to their staff on teh front line about what issues need looking into. personally i think everyone should call them.

In terms of the actual change, what serious use it the extras like the new 'wow' facility to pay cheques in over the PO counter,.?! jeeze were going backwards here, most post offices around me and have shut. I've really liked santander and i think they done a great job on my business account over the years id just like to ensure something i signed up for years ago 'free banking for life' would remain as such and not get changed because it is finiancially not the best for santander. IF it is going to stay as Free Banking santander would have said and carried it forward to the new account. illl check back in 6mnhs and well see if were all paying a monthly fee then and whether its naive to think it banks dont just consider it business is business.