Anyone managed to update a Portman account to Nationwide yet?

nearlyrich

I took my Portman passbook, my passport and a utility bill into a local Nationwide branch recently, (as instructed by the helpline) whilst I was there I opened a Loyalty Bond and Flex Account using this ID. They took copies of my ID and put it in an envelope with my passbook to send off to HQ to update my old account. I got back from holiday to my old passbook enclosed in a standard sounding letter saying they couldn't verify my ID and had tried to call me. I have only given them a mobile number and I have had no messages and no missed calls so something isn't right.

If the ID I presented was good enough to open 2 new accounts successfully what more can they need to update an account into the new company rather than the old company?

Anyone else had this problem? or have you all got the account changed without any problem?

sham63

Yes - same thing. I took my Portman passbook into a N'wide branch and asked to close the account. They said they needed to send it to 'Head Office' to close it. Got my passbook back and same letter as you in last weeks post. As I withdrew all the money (they let me do this in the branch) I think I'll just leave the account open.

bristolleedsfan

if ID was supplied to a branch portman house didnt need to phone you, i had the same problem see this thread, was told it was an error asking me to reverify id after i had already supplied ID to a branch.

portman house and "errors" appears to be as common as night following day.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=556826

lolarentt

I closed my 2 Portman (ex Lambeth) accounts and transferred to a Nationwide account that I already had and had no problem with that bit. However I had a mega problem with the Nationwide branch staff having queued at the counter for some 10 mins. I explained I simply wanted to transfer the balances to my N'Wide account, that I would have been happy to do this online but they didn't have the facility, so was forced to come into a branch to do this. I passed the 2 books across....." we can't do this at the counters, you will have to see a saving consultant". She left her position, came out to the front and escorted me to another central console where someone else was making entries on a list. We explained what I wanted, "ah yes we'll book you an appointment with one of our savings consultants; there's about a 20 minute wait at present" By now I'm getting cross and said (among other well chosen observations) I would just leave the 2 passbooks there and let them sort it out. This caused panic and more staff were called all of whom after a rereun of the story, said only the savings consultants could undertake this onerous task of moving money from what are really 2 N'wide accounts to a third and I would have to wait. After more polite observations from me an even more senior guy was summoned, who took me into a side area, heard the story again, and then walked me back to the original line of tellers! He went behind and had a word with one (who was the one I saw first 20 minutes earlier) and lo and behold she did what I had asked in the first place! We moved the balances, less £1, across and I left the 2 passbooks (which now had £1 balances) to be sent off and accounts closed. What a palaver!!

Milarky

lolarentt wrote: »

After more polite observations from me an even more senior guy was summoned, who took me into a side area, heard the story again, and then walked me back to the original line of tellers! He went behind and had a word with one (who was the one I saw first 20 minutes earlier) and lo and behold she did what I had asked in the first place! We moved the balances, less £1, across and I left the 2 passbooks (which now had £1 balances) to be sent off and accounts closed. What a palaver

The only good thing to come of your experience is that that assistant in that branch has learned a valuable lesson and will be able to be more helpful to the next ex-Portman accountholder who walks in and asks for money to be moved. It really is a shambles and the Board should consider their positions if it continues like this for much longer.

will-in-estoril

Shambles is exactly the word to describe this so-called merger.

The answer to the original question is 'no' in my case. I am now pursuing a complaint in respect of Nationwide's refusal or inability to swap an ex Portman account to a better paying one. Closure and reopening is not an option as the account is held in trust.

Now Nationwide has 'lost' the passbook.

lolarentt

Milarky wrote: »

The only good thing to come of your experience is that that assistant in that branch has learned a valuable lesson and will be able to be more helpful to the next ex-Portman accountholder who walks in and asks for money to be moved..

I'm afraid not even that benefit will result as the manager who went to talk to her first was giving her special authorisation to carry out the transfer - she had known what to do but it is not in the tellers remit to carry this out! In fact she had to explain to the manager that she couldn't transfer the whole balance, but the way round it was to move everything but the £1 in this branch and then send the books off to get the a/cs closed on the £1 balances.

lolly5648

I was told that if you had a Portman branch near you that has now been taken over by Nationwide you could go there and they could carry out the transfer to a N/W account as they still have Portman computers. I was advised to go to St Albans which they said was the nearest branch to North London

caveman38

I live in Romford but would have found it easier (parking wise) to go to Hornchurch but was told that they were not equipped to process the Portman books and would have to send them to HO.
Myself and son both went to the NW Romford branch and closed both Portman accounts without any fuss at all (except ID).
We only closed them due to having too much money already in NW at it was at the time of the Rock farce.

steady__eddie

Tried to transfer my Portman a/c. to my Flexaccount on the 19th of September. Still waiting for the balance of £1-23 and my closed passbook from Bournemouth

nearlyrich

My new book came back today....