Birmingham Midshires online

Geoffo_M

I'm about to take out a one-year bond with Birmingham Midshires, using their online facililty. Has anyone any good/bad experiences? Just looking for some feedback really.

ManAtHome

Opened a couple of accounts with them in the last year - no problems.

nilrem_2

Geoffo_M wrote: »

I'm about to take out a one-year bond with Birmingham Midshires, using their online facililty. Has anyone any good/bad experiences? Just looking for some feedback really.

My online experience with them was frankly terrible, I applied for a 1 year bond earlier in the year online, I heard nowt so after two weeks I sent an email which they totally ignored, after another week I emailed again which was also ignored, I then wrote a letter to the managing director complaining and asking them to look into it, one week later I received a reply from a manager saying that they were looking into the issue and would write again within three days, six weeks later and no reply so I wrote again to the managing director and this time they said that they had my application but could not proceed as they did not have my occupation which I had marked as retired!

FWIW They had my phone number and email address so they could easily have contacted me if they wished, the other thing that annoyed me was that whilst they were messing around I had £40k in an existing account with them!

Ruy

Likewise, I've had a terrible experience trying to set up a BM on-line bond by a transfer from my existing BM on-line account. I've wasted ages on the 'phone, have been given totally wrong info & false assurances and would not bother again.

I'm still waiting for the new bond to be set up aftyer having to 'apply' again on-line as a 'new' customer. Their 'on-line' service is a joke as is their customer 'phone 'assistance'.

info_addict

Just opened their new 6.70% Bond on Saturday and I must say it's a bit confusing.

I already have an online web saver with them, so applied after logging in.

Now at the start of the application it states in bold, that the account has to be opened by cheque or cheques - one of which has to be from your linked account (which you have to set up ) So far so good. But after this, all references are to direct debit (no more mention of cheques). So I called them. After much deliberation, they called me back and assured me that the account would be opened via cheque and the direct debit was only for the expiration of the bond in 1 year.

Then this morning I get my confirmation letter for the account, but again all references are to the direct debit being set up. No mention of paying in a cheque. So I rang again. This time I have been told that as my internet web saver account and the fixed rate bond are both linked to the same current account then a cheque will not be necessary. They also tell me I can pay into the bond via BACS and keep adding to the bond (if I wish) until it is no longer available.

Confusing to say the least.

oldfella

they managed to loose a BACS deposit of mine - "we dont know what happened ". At least I made £60 out of it. Suggest you verify deposits.

Mike

free4440273

looks like i will be avoiding BM then when my bond with nationwide expires in a month. On a similar note any good/bad experiences to speak of Leeds BS. i am interested in their three year postal bond. are they reliable/good service etc. thanks all

averi

hi
I am sorry but can you just explain
From Birmingham midshires site -

• You must link your account to another Bank or Building Society account (which must accept Direct Debits) and be in your name.
• Your account must be opened by cheque. At least one of your opening cheques must be drawn from your linked bank account and made payable to yourself.

-what is this linking of account ?


I want to invest some money for 1 year for my daughter in fixed rate internet bond account. Now she has Barclays account where I will be depositing money. If she sends a cheque for the amount will it be accepted by them . We will be doing one time payment. So why direct debit
So confusing for my decaying brain cells!

aver

ManAtHome

From what I remember with BM, it wasn't a problem transferring from the online saver to the fixed rate bond - that was back in January though. Haven't needed to contact CS yet.

Leeds are a bit confusing - when you look at the 2 or 3 year fix and click Apply, it takes you into a drop-down selection containing ALL their accounts (remember there's a lower-rate non-postal 3 year fix in there). Have had a couple of issues with them over the last few years, and can't say they're substantially better or worse than other societies

free4440273

oh god, this does not look promising. i would love to invest my existing nationwide bond (in october) with leeds because of the great rate (6.70 gross) on offer. say what you will about nationwide but their service has always been good to me. unfortunately, their bond rates are pretty dire. anyhow, i have until october to make a decision. i really wish halifax would increase their rate to 6.70 - make life easier for me.

Searcher2

I opened an instant access savings account with them in September last year. Put in a lot of money - which went in okay. In November I put in another £1500 from my Nationwide account. It didn't appear in my B&Mafter a week. I rang B&M who asked me to check with Nationwide. Nationwide did and said it could not have gone missing and B&M must have it. Eventually - after another few days not appearing I rang B&M and they admitted that they had had a computer problem and a load of money had gone into a holding account and mine was 'probably' in there though they could not tell me...but to check my account in a few days. I asked if I would get interest from when I made the transfer and they said yes. When it did appear in my account the transaction date was the date it appeared and not the date I did the transfer. I wrote and complained and they said interest was from the date I transferred the money and offered me £25 settlement if I considered the matter closed. I accepted and guess what.... I waited over 2 weeks and the £25 didn't appear in the account. I rang up and was told that because it was Christmas they had a lot of people on holiday and maybe that was the delay!!!!

Anyway - I have recently closed my account and transferred to Sainsbury's. Fortunately the CHAPs transfer went okay from B&M but I asked about getting an interest statement for next year's tax return. The bloke said he would send one out straight away. Guess what? After 3 or 4 weeks nothing had been sent so I wrote and asked where it was - and without any reply from them or apology one turned up in the post.

Would I recommend them to anyone? No chance. Anyone can make one mistake but 3 areas of slackness in very few interactions with them cannot be a coincidence.