The Top Easy Access Savings Discussion Area

mebu60

MichaelAP said:

ForumUser7 said:

Have you contacted the companies specifically and told them the ID you have and asked if anything can be done? Sometimes it says at the bottom of the lists that they may accept other non-listed items at their discretion. Might be worth a try, but no guarantees of course. Good luck

My sincere apologies is continuing with this but to answer your acceptable question:-
Indeed yes I tried; 

After not being able to provide Chase with the Photo ID requirements they requested I contacted them direct and tried to explain my situation. 

I explained I was in the Armed Forces for 27 years but invalided out after an injury that left me 80% disabled.
Now no longer able to legally drive and medically unable to travel abroad I do not have in possession Driving Licence or Passport.
Whilst I could purchase said Passport I would be doing so not for what it is issued for but to prove whom I was.
As I already have two legal documents that show all details required for proof of ID I fail to understand why I should pay for the Passport when only used for identification where again I already have two other documents.
I even offered to show them my Ex-Forces Passport now clipped at the top.

Chase reply was they do not offer any other means other than the items listed.
In other words, totally disinterested.
I have mentioned this to my MP whom has taken my details and hopes to raise questions at a later date.

Being Ex-Forces and disabled my principles are paramount especially as I fight daily with authorities on disability and Veteran’s welfare matters. As such the idea of purchasing a Passport simply to appease some unknown pen-pusher is the furthest from my requirement.

Thank you kindly for your interjection of “Good Luck”. Appreciated. 🫡

Sorry to hear all that.

Have you considered writing to one of the financial consumer champions from a newspaper? Adverse publicity seems to have a dramatic effect on these organisations. Potentially this is discrimination and it certainly doesn't seem to align to the FCA's Consumer Duty for firms to put their customers' needs first. 

MichaelAP

TiVo_Lad said:

I would suggest a complaint is made to Chase. You might also want to drop an eMail to Radio 4's MoneyBox. Whilst you are absolutely right that you shouldn't have to battle to open these accounts in the first place, it's a sad fact that change only comes from making a fuss.

mebu60 said:

Sorry to hear all that.

Have you considered writing to one of the financial consumer champions from a newspaper? Adverse publicity seems to have a dramatic effect on these organisations. Potentially this is discrimination and it certainly doesn't seem to align to the FCA's Consumer Duty for firms to put their customers' needs first. 

My sincere thanks to you both in parting with your information/ideas.

I will most definitely look at options at the soonest date. Currently I have several other Veterans issues that require my time.
As is always the case you often end placing your own requirements at the tail of the line. 

ForumUser7

For those with Plum for DD purposes, they've increased their rates today:

The Easy Access Interest Pocket provides an interest rate of 3.51% AER variable for Plum Premium subscribers, 3.05% for Plum Pro and Ultra subscribers, and 2.75% AER for Plum Basic customers ~ https://withplum.com/savings/

RG2015

MichaelAP said:

TiVo_Lad said:

I would suggest a complaint is made to Chase. You might also want to drop an eMail to Radio 4's MoneyBox. Whilst you are absolutely right that you shouldn't have to battle to open these accounts in the first place, it's a sad fact that change only comes from making a fuss.

mebu60 said:

Sorry to hear all that.

Have you considered writing to one of the financial consumer champions from a newspaper? Adverse publicity seems to have a dramatic effect on these organisations. Potentially this is discrimination and it certainly doesn't seem to align to the FCA's Consumer Duty for firms to put their customers' needs first. 

My sincere thanks to you both in parting with your information/ideas.

I will most definitely look at options at the soonest date. Currently I have several other Veterans issues that require my time.
As is always the case you often end placing your own requirements at the tail of the line. 

Thank you for sharing this with us. It does put into perspective most of the issues discussed here.

I also appreciate that opening a Chase account isn’t high on your priorities. Nevertheless, I have the impression that if it were you would find a way to succeed.

MichaelAP

RG2015 said:

Thank you for sharing this with us. It does put into perspective most of the issues discussed here.

I also appreciate that opening a Chase account isn’t high on your priorities. Nevertheless, I have the impression that if it were you would find a way to succeed.

My sincere thanks. 🫡

Zaul22

Well at least Zopa are working on *something* then.  

ForumUser7

Skipton has now released their new rate information PDF effective 22nd May ~ https://www.skipton.co.uk/base-rate-change

ForumUser7

Cambridge BS Your Saver to 3.5% effective tomorrow(?)

Source ~ https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/saving/article-12089993/Now-easy-access-rates-hit-3-75-Heres-best-deals.html

karlie88

ForumUser7 said:

karlie88 said:

Opened a Hanley Economic branch saver instore. Took 15 minutes. Even received online banking details within an hour via email. They have a mobile app too which is good to see.

Deposits can be made via debit card as well FP, SO, cheques etc. Withdrawals are not as bad as I thought; you can set up a nominated account and ask for payments to be sent across over the phone.

Overall very good service especially with such a big gap to the next best rate.

I'm chancing my luck by posting in the forms - hoping they'll open it for me. Did they tell you which number to call to request withdrawals over the phone please? They told me that the passbook must be present for the branch saver withdrawals to be processed, but I'm wondering if perhaps I need to speak to a different team to organise that.

They told me to phone the local branch and that the passbook was not required to withdraw. They did complete a form to link a nominated account, which I also had to sign.

karlie88

refluxer said:

karlie88 said:

Opened a Hanley Economic branch saver instore. Took 15 minutes. Even received online banking details within an hour via email. They have a mobile app too which is good to see.

As the account is branch/post-based, do you get any form of online access to it ? I was presuming not, but even being to view the balance would be better than nothing and would help with confirming that deposits have arrived.

karlie88 said:

Withdrawals are not as bad as I thought; you can set up a nominated account and ask for payments to be sent across over the phone.

That is definitely much less restrictive than the cash or cheque via branch or post options listed. Presumably you'd then be able to update the passbook at your leisure ?

It's just basic online access, can view accounts and balances, send secure messages etc. The app is quite good too and can do the same as online banking (i.e. send messages, see balances and so on). You can also see documents online; for example, I was able to view my welcome letter within an hour of opening the account which has not arrived via snail mail yet.

They also have a live chat facility on their website. It's certainly one of the more progressive building societies in terms of online/mobile banking.

Passbook can be updated in future.