Ulster Bank: Easy Access Savings Account at 1.25% pa

Marksfish

My experience was one of incompetence and unacceptable slowness. Applied online, was told I had an account (got the screen shot), but no details. No email confirmation of account, nothing. Online support was useless in helping me find out details. Nearly 2 weeks later I received an email with part of my username. Almost one week later I got another email with another part of the code on it, then a few days later a letter with an activation code. The second email code was wrong!!! I had to go through the rigmarole of re- registering for anytime banking and found the email they had sent me was one digit out. Fabulous!!

Anyhow, transferred money in, didn't know anything about this reader lark until today, but unfortunately I forgot my password. This cannot be reset online, neither can it be reset by phone. You have to re- register (name, address, sort code, account number, uncle Tom Cobbly) again and then wait once more for a postal code to allow you to get back in. Not very acceptable in my opinion. It has nothing to do with security (imo) as my other banks will reset access by phone. Not worth the hassle to me for a small %age extra in interest. Will open another account at RCI with 1.1%.

Edit to add: Having now read the whole thread, I see I am now going to have issues with a card reader. Barclays have incorporated their "PIN Sentry" into their banking app, shame others can't follow suit.

Mark

steve65e

An Anytime card arrived yesterday, 5 weeks and a day after opening the account and being instantly accepted and able to view the account online.
The pin number came in the same post.
Also in that post was the original (cancelled) card, letter dated 8 July. I was told it had been dispatched on 5 July.
Both letters refer to the card reader which will arrive soon. It came three weeks ago.

As it happens I can now manage without this account until October, so may not be bothering with them at all.

2010

Marksfish wrote: »

Not worth the hassle to me for a small %age extra in interest. Will open another account at RCI with 1.1%.

Mark

Amazing after hassle with one "overseas" bank you`re quite happy to risk potential hassle with another!

RCI is not covered by the UK protection of £85k but by the EEA passport scheme for €100,000 (French).

YorkshireBoy

Marksfish wrote: »

didn't know anything about this reader lark until today

The delays?...or the fact you needed one? If the latter, wasn't it explained in the account T&Cs?

Will open another account at RCI with 1.1%.

I'd go with Tesco or Ford Money personally, for the reason given above, but your choice!

Marksfish

2010 wrote: »

Amazing after hassle with one "overseas" bank you`re quite happy to risk potential hassle with another!

RCI is not covered by the UK protection of £85k but by the EEA passport scheme for €100,000 (French).

Don't have a problem with RCI, I can get my money when I want it to my funding account. I know it isn't covered by the UK protection, but we are still (currently) in the EU, so their compensation scheme will do me thanks.

Marksfish

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

The delays?...or the fact you needed one? If the latter, wasn't it explained in the account T&Cs?

I didn't know of the delays or the card reader. Fair play, if you are one of those that reads every word of a convoluted T&C, carry on chastising. However, I did speed read through and picked out what I thought were the relevant clauses, I obviously missed that one.

2010

Marksfish wrote: »

Don't have a problem with RCI, I can get my money when I want it to my funding account. I know it isn't covered by the UK protection, but we are still (currently) in the EU, so their compensation scheme will do me thanks.

Suppose RCI went t*ts up, how/who would you contact for compo?

You`d be on your own, hope you speak French. :rotfl:

Marksfish

The equivalent of the FSCS. I do know the risks, but I thought this to be a much safer option than peer to peer lending. However, as this thread is about Ulster Bank and not where else I have my savings, best not go too far off topic!!

colsten

Marksfish wrote: »

The equivalent of the FSCS. I do know the risks, but I thought this to be a much safer option than peer to peer lending.

I take it you haven't got practical experience with claiming from a foreign compensation scheme. Some on here do, and would do everything to repeat the experience.

miller

Apparently RBS & NatWest branches can be used to provide ID documents. Not sure I'd want to burden myself/their staff explaining it though.