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LongTermLurker

therivierakid wrote: »

My wife and I are currently with FD but my wife has a business account with Santander. Does anyone know if we'd be able to switch from FD to the Santander 5% current account?

Thanks.

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I have no idea.
But given our experience of the two companies, it would take more than 5% interest to get me to switch from FD to Santander!

Yes, and it's only 5% of the first £2500 anyway, so no compounding, so about £125, less the return from a good savings account, which would be compounded, less tax...

Not worth the s**g and hassle

Any

Hi,
I was looking at the Santander Zero account - no fee and £100 cashback if you move your bills and salaries to them...

However you have to have mortgage and investment with them... Anyone knows what counts as investment if you want to get the £100? Would it be savings as well, or just pension etc?

LongTermLurker

Any wrote: »

Hi,
I was looking at the Santander Zero account - no fee and £100 cashback if you move your bills and salaries to them...

However you have to have mortgage and investment with them... Anyone knows what counts as investment if you want to get the £100? Would it be savings as well, or just pension etc?

What you need to do:


1. Have a Santander mortgage which is not in arrears or hold a Santander Investment

Specifically, it says "you must be a residential mortgage account holder
with Santander UK plc or a Santander investment
account holder. You must remain a Santander
mortgage or investment account holder for the
duration of time you hold a Zero Current Account"

It's not clear, but I suspect it's one of these

http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/Satellite?appID=abbey.internet.Abbeycom&c=Page&canal=CABBEYCOM&cid=1210608704629&empr=Abbeycom&leng=en_GB&pagename=Abbeycom%2FPage%2FWC_ACOM_TemplateA1

chriskross

LongTermLurker wrote: »

Specifically, it says "you must be a residential mortgage account holder
with Santander UK plc or a Santander investment
account holder. You must remain a Santander
mortgage or investment account holder for the
duration of time you hold a Zero Current Account"

It's not clear, but I suspect it's one of these

...

Correct. I called them today as I'd applied for a Fixed Rate Savings Bond, thinking that would count, but was told no, it has be to one of the other investments which are run by "Santander ISA Managers Ltd, Santander Portfolio Management UK Ltd or Santander Unit Trust Managers Ltd" (see the small print at the bottom of the Zero page). The Savings Bonds are among these. But they said I could open one of the other accounts and upgrade later to the Zero account if I opened a suitable investment. A bit miffed that I already have a Zero credit card, and an e-Saver account! Will wait to see what Nationwide do with their Flexaccount (they tried calling me twice at home today after I sent a message on the Web site!)

Money_saving_Martyn

Hi all,

Just want to give you all a heads up. Santander's current account might be the best looking at the figures, but I've had abysmal service from them.

Luckily, most of my direct debits go from the joint account with held my OH - they got a grand total of one direct debit to transfer from me to pay off a credit card I didn't use (and have since cancelled :money:).

They wanted £500 per month paying in, which I did for a few months. I got the £100. I didn't find their online banking very user friendly and at the time I couldn't view my Santander credit card with my Santander (Alliance&Leicester) current account.

I've since cancelled my Santander CC, and I am trying like hell to cancel my account. Apparently, "there are lots of things to check" and it's still not closed after 2 weeks. They keep promising to call me to update me and never do - then they claim some other random person did call me (why didn't they do it themselves - I ring through to the same person!:mad:)

If you're happy with the service from your current bank, I'd switch over a non-main account to Santander with a direct debit for them to swap - get the £100 and run. Not impressed. Just my experience - maybe other people have had a good time.

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I have no idea.
But given our experience of the two companies, it would take more than 5% interest to get me to switch from FD to Santander!

I'm the only one I see!

student89

it says you must earn 23k odd to have the first direct service. however, as i am a student (just looking to grab a cheeky £100)...then maybe leave and grab another £100 could i simply move around money to credit the account with £1500 each month? or would they clock on to this?

JimmyTheWig

student89 wrote: »

it says you must earn 23k odd to have the first direct service. however, as i am a student (just looking to grab a cheeky £100)...then maybe leave and grab another £100 could i simply move around money to credit the account with £1500 each month? or would they clock on to this?

I was told by them that the money would have to come in from an employer and it couldn't be funded by standing order.
However, we received the £100 bonus before changing my salary over after making a transfer of just one month's salary into the account from our previous current account.

So worth a try if you wanted to, but I don't think you'd have grounds for complaint if they decided not to pay up.

But we have found them to be a really good bank. With hindsight we'd have been happy to do the swap despite the bonus...

Trialia

This article is no use to me at all!

I have an overdraft that's currently at -£30, a monthly income of about £550 and am 24 years old and not a student. None of the bank accounts listed are any good for me. Can anyone suggest one that might be - one that's not Lloyds? I'm looking to leave them, if I can.

central

jicms wrote: »

I'm thinking of leaving Cahoot. Been with them for years and had no problems but they seem to be going backwards with their technology. Very poor statement and direct debit details and refusal to join the Faster Payments scheme.

I'm considering First Direct or Santander. I like the look of Santander's banking demo and the fact they have branches with good opening hours. However First Direct apparently have excellent customer service. (No idea about Santander's). Still confused about the difference between A&L and Santander as they still seem to be offering separate accounts.

Any thoughts on this? Are there any up-to-date satisfaction reports?

Exactly the reasons I'm leaving Cahoot, the best thing about Cahoot was the cheque deposit envelopes - don't have to go into the branch.

I had a slumbering Lloyds current that I've morphed into a vantage.

Really good internet banking, I love the telephone confirmation of new payees, notification of foreign transactions and faster payments works brilliantly. Streets ahead of Cahoot!

LongTermLurker

I'm considering First Direct or Santander.

experience of both leaves no comparison - FD are good, A&L are !!!!. I have no problems with the FD website, it's pretty much fully functional.

Also, if you make a FP into FD, the amount appears immediately - it's like dragging and dropping your money from one window to another - A&L on the other hand seem to take days for your money to be available and they don't do FP out - I can transfer from FD to Halifax and back before you can say "gizafiver"