The Top Easy Access Savings Discussion Area

Steve_xx

ejv wrote: »

I have opened WestBrom 3.17% in Sep 2011.Today Coventry has come up with 3.25%.I have chosen annual interest with WestBrom.It allows 4 withdrawals a year.If I close it and transfer funds to Coventry,how would they be calculating my interest?
Thanx in advance

They will calculate your interest until midnight on the day before they close the account.

Neptune

I opened a Santander Cash ISA, with instant access. Was told it was an online account so I could set-up payments out from the Cash ISA direct to recipients. If I needed access to MY money I could do it all online (I needed the ability to send funds to my current account using the faster payments system). I asked all the questions and got all the answers prior to opening the account.

I finally got all the online and telephone banking stuff through from Santander (took an age). Set it all up........
I can view a balance but you CAN NOT use the online or telephone banking to get instant access via a transfer. You can only withdraw cash (as advised by customer services) at a Santander branch!!!

BE WARNED IF YOU ARE AFTER INSTANT ACCESS, THIS ACCOUNT WILL ONLY OFFER THIS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO CARRY CASH FROM THE BRANCH.

I am arranging to close it down now, which in itself is a mammoth task.

My top tip: AVOID THIS PRODUCT IF YOU WANT AN ONLINE INSTANT ACCESS ACCOUNT.

Steve_xx

Neptune wrote: »

I opened a Santander Cash ISA, with instant access. Was told it was an online account so I could set-up payments out from the Cash ISA direct to recipients. If I needed access to MY money I could do it all online (I needed the ability to send funds to my current account using the faster payments system). I asked all the questions and got all the answers prior to opening the account.

I finally got all the online and telephone banking stuff through from Santander (took an age). Set it all up........
I can view a balance but you CAN NOT use the online or telephone banking to get instant access via a transfer. You can only withdraw cash (as advised by customer services) at a Santander branch!!!

BE WARNED IF YOU ARE AFTER INSTANT ACCESS, THIS ACCOUNT WILL ONLY OFFER THIS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO CARRY CASH FROM THE BRANCH.

I am arranging to close it down now, which in itself is a mammoth task.

My top tip: AVOID THIS PRODUCT IF YOU WANT AN ONLINE INSTANT ACCESS ACCOUNT.

There are several Santander Cash ISA'S, which one did you open?

ejv

Neptune wrote: »

I opened a Santander Cash ISA, with instant access.

Are you sure you are at the correct thread?
This is for Savings Account
Cash ISA has another thread

AndyJ52

I've just seen this 'Instant Access' savings account offering 3.2% from the dreaded Santander :eek:. Quite tempting in the current market.... but then, it IS Santander - and their customer service is widely known to have been awful in the fairly recent past.
Anyone know whether they've smartened up their act of late, or are they still as close to useless as the proverbial ashtray on a motorbike? Should I give them a go or should I stick with my gut reaction and stay well clear?

Any knowledge with regard to recent banking experience with them that anyone would care to share would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Steve_xx

AndyJ52 wrote: »

I've just seen this 'Instant Access' savings account offering 3.2% from the dreaded Santander :eek:. Quite tempting in the current market.... but then, it IS Santander - and their customer service is widely known to have been awful in the fairly recent past.
Anyone know whether they've smartened up their act of late, or are they still as close to useless as the proverbial ashtray on a motorbike? Should I give them a go or should I stick with my gut reaction and stay well clear?

Any knowledge with regard to recent banking experience with them that anyone would care to share would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

What you're really wanting is for someone, anyone to say they're ok because you are lured by the half decent rate compared with the rest that's currently on offer.

Santander are not brilliant. But, you open an account and interest is added at the prevailing rate - what is there to go wrong?

AndyJ52

Steve_xx .......I'm asking the question because experience - mine and that of others - of their really poor CS standards leads me to believe that I really should give them a miss, despite the pretty good rate on offer. That said, it does no harm to make the inquiry and discover whether or not they've managed to raise their game of late does it? Isn't that part of what this forum is about... sharing experience & knowledge of what's out there in the market place?

I-LOV-MONEY

AndyJ52 wrote: »

I've just seen this 'Instant Access' savings account offering 3.2% from the dreaded Santander :eek:. Quite tempting in the current market.... but then, it IS Santander - and their customer service is widely known to have been awful in the fairly recent past.
Anyone know whether they've smartened up their act of late, or are they still as close to useless as the proverbial ashtray on a motorbike? Should I give them a go or should I stick with my gut reaction and stay well clear?

Any knowledge with regard to recent banking experience with them that anyone would care to share would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Well I have had accounts with them for some months and have had no problems (other than the website crashing on me once, but I reloaded and it was okay). I have no need to deal with their customer service. However, I have filed away, somewhere, the passcodes to enable me to speak to an operator.

Steve_xx

AndyJ52 wrote: »

Steve_xx .......I'm asking the question because experience - mine and that of others - of their really poor CS standards leads me to believe that I really should give them a miss, despite the pretty good rate on offer. That said, it does no harm to make the inquiry and discover whether or not they've managed to raise their game of late does it? Isn't that part of what this forum is about... sharing experience & knowledge of what's out there in the market place?

Well, there's no better teacher than your own experience.

Santander have not raised their game and I think that by reading posts on these forums you will easily conclude that.

If you're unsure, then why not go for Coventry Building Society's Telephone Saver account - it pays 3.25%, so slightly better than Santander. It's instant access, but you have to either withdraw or deposit in amounts of £500 or more.

uksavergirl

Please scrap that last comment - I don't think its appropriate for my circumstances.