Alliance & Leicester rant

arfster

Just thought I might save some folks the hassle I've been through. Basically,they're totally incompetent, and tell you something different every time you phone. I've wasted several afternoons this week on wild goose chases, doing exactly what their "customer services" have told me, only to be told on doing it that previous instructions were wrong, and to do something else entirely.

The problem seems to be that they advertise great overdraft conditions, but as a matter of policy don't actually give them to anyone anymore (that's almost verbatim from the mouth of one of their people). In other words, it's just a misleading advertising hook.

On top of this, I told them not to transfer my direct debits till the overdraft was sorted, and was told a note to that effect would be put on my account. It wasn't, the DDs transferred, and if I hadn't checked today my mortgage payment (and several others) would have bounced. Fortunately I was at a computer and could see the DDs has been set up, so could take cash to a post office and deposit to the A&L that way to cover it. Another afternoon wasted.....

Sorry for the whine, just wasted a lot of valuable time this week, and thought others might like to know what to expect.

Milarky

A&L is not the bees knees granted. Their account facilities do leave a lot to be desired. Using a switching service is not compulsory with them (unless applying for a matching overdraft) and best avoided in general with any new bank. But don't A&L say somewhere that normal charges will be waived for the first month or so precisely because of these sorts of overlaps?

arfster

Yeah, well given my experience so far there's no way I'm trusting them not to bounce all my payments. It's not so much their fees I'd worry about, but those from my mortgage provider (and multiple missed payments on my credit record too).


Also, switching may not be compulsory, but it's pretty much inevitable. I'm not going to pay my monthly income into one account just to satisfy their 500/mth minimum, then instantly transfer it back to the other to pay DDs. Why not just stay with the original account?

redimp98

I have to say that the PremierDirect has been ok. Transfer in 500 pm to satisfy the requirements, then do as you please. 6% interest on first £2k, paid monthly.
Now there's an £80 recommend a friend invitation.
This is prob the first time ever Ive praised a bank.

skybluesaver

I closed my Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct account due to the new overdraft charges & the fee of £5 for a statement. I couldn't fault their customer services though.

mrs_deadline

redimp98 wrote: »

Now there's an £80 recommend a friend invitation.
This is prob the first time ever Ive praised a bank.

And where does all this free referral money come from I wonder? They obviously expect to earn it back very quickly in charges...