Alliance & Leicester (Fraud Concerns)

Loaded_Bachelor

(I admit that I am far more paranoid than most about minor risks however................)

I applied on line for the A & L's on line saver 5.35% account. I went to A & L's site via a search engine. Have since received my id number, password and pin by three separate letters in the post. I logged into the account on line and it is open okay and accessible.

Here are my concerns: 1) However unlikely, it is possible that the site I originally applied on line with is not the real A & L site and that paperwork etc that I have been sent is also phoney and allows me to log into and pay funds into a phoney account. Therefore if I went straight ahead and sent funds to my A & L account is it genuine? I am thinking of depositing a large sum so I want to be 100% sure it's legit.

2) A & L have opened the account without seeking any of the usual proof of identity and proof of address documents that one is always asked for when opening a new account these days. Even when I have opened a new a account with another bank/building society that I already have an account with I have still been asked for this proof. So I am puzzled by this. I did give my bank account details during my original on line application so perhaps this was a form of id and address check but it is still way below what most other places require to open a new account.

I phoned the help line as shown on the correspondence I got (0845 300 2562) and raised the non proof of id and address issue and they simply brushed it off by vaguely saying that "oh, we probably don't need it for this kind of account". I also asked the help line that if I went into an A & L High Street branch would the branch be able to confirm that my on line saver account exists? The help line said that the branch would not as the account is purely on line.

So basically, I'm still not 100% confident. I may be 99.9% confident but this is not quite good enough for me to make a 5 figure deposit.

The sort code to send funds to as stated on the letter I have received is 72-58-10 and the account no. is 00000000.

P.S. I have got Halifax, Yorkshire and Nationwide on line accounts but in all cases I have always transferred funds in via another account already held with that organisation so have never had any worries about an elaborate fraud taking place.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, reassurances etc from anyone who already has one of these A & L on line saver accounts.

Thank you.

rinoa778

Hello. I opened one of these accounts in August.
You're very unlikely to get a fake site when searching on a well known search engine. Fake sites usually come from links in emails. I popped the site in my favourites first thing but I always make sure the site contains the proper name (no extra dots or double letters). When you log on, make sure it is https and the little lock icon appears. This means that it's safe.

I'm surprised you didn't need to send in any photocopies of documents. I also understand this is the first account you have opened with A&L.
I did send off these items because it was part of the instructions in my letter.

That sort code seems correct (I hope I don't cause doubt through my wording, I did check). You just use your account number as the reference.

Overall, I am very happy with this account. I use Barclays online banking and I was surprised about the extra precautions and safety measures A&L used! Barclays is a lock compared to A&L's safe!
I did play it safe and transferred a small amount to start off with and logged on 2 days after to find it there. So I just transferred the whole moolah after that. (Don't transfer after Weds.)

Apart from not wanting verified photocopies of documents, this account is sound.

System

I didnt have to send any proof of my id either if i remember correctly. I just had to send in the forms and that was it. Unlike Cahoot who wanted bills and proof of residence.

dunstonh

They probably did an electoral role check via the credit score system.

Fatboy_NSS

An electoral roll check would only confirm your address, so they should still need something to confirm your name.

Incidentally, if you're worried if your account is legit, why not just go into a branch and ask what their website address is. If it's the same as where you signed up for the account then nothing to worry about.

Paul1_2

2) A & L have opened the account without seeking any of the usual proof of identity and proof of address documents that one is always asked for when opening a new account these days.

They are using the same method as Ing Direct: the savings account is linked to another UK account for fund transfers and therefore proof of identity has already been provided to your current provider.

Paul1 8)