The Top Easy Access Savings Discussion Area

orange-juice

searching4bestrates said:

Has anyone else had a horrible experience trying to withdraw their savings from Santander's eSaver?

My withdrawals were blocked - going back into the current account with another provider that funded the savings account in the first place! - and I had to phone their "helpline" - 30 minutes later I finally spoke to someone and it then took nearly an hour of invasive security checks and being on hold for them to unlock my account. I'm frightened to try any more withdrawals today in case the same nightmare occurs again.

Their rate is good (albeit there are now better rates), but the customer service and ease of use of the account is horrific and makes a mockery of the term "easy access". I wouldn't recommend the Santander eSaver account to anyone.

Yes, blocked my payments I made to Al rayan. Got that unblocked after an hour on the phone, reattempted payment the next day which was blocked again and meant another hour on the phone. Apparently it’s random and I don’t mind the increased security, but the questioning on the call was uneasy like you say (e.g Why are you moving your money? What’s the interest rate for the other savings account? Where did you get bank details for this account … etc 😂)

I’ve finally managed to move all my money out.

Steve_xx

searching4bestrates said:

Has anyone else had a horrible experience trying to withdraw their savings from Santander's eSaver?

My withdrawals were blocked - going back into the current account with another provider that funded the savings account in the first place! - and I had to phone their "helpline" - 30 minutes later I finally spoke to someone and it then took nearly an hour of invasive security checks and being on hold for them to unlock my account. I'm frightened to try any more withdrawals today in case the same nightmare occurs again.

Their rate is good (albeit there are now better rates), but the customer service and ease of use of the account is horrific and makes a mockery of the term "easy access". I wouldn't recommend the Santander eSaver account to anyone.

Santander do not like large amounts being moved to new payees. Regardless of the fact that you may be making the payment to an account where monies were received from. Best to make a few payments over a period of days before attempting to transfer a large amount.

Section62

orange-juice said:

...but the questioning on the call was uneasy like you say (e.g Why are you moving your money? What’s the interest rate for the other savings account? Where did you get bank details for this account … etc 😂)

Completely normal security questions...

E.g.

"Why?" - has someone told you to move the money (e.g. to 'protect' it).

"Interest rate?" - have you been told about a 10% 'savings' interest rate (which is just a scam).

"Bank details?" - are they from a trusted source (or did you get them in an email/text).

AndyW79

Steve_xx said:

Santander do not like large amounts being moved to new payees. Regardless of the fact that you may be making the payment to an account where monies were received from. Best to make a few payments over a period of days before attempting to transfer a large amount.

Exactly if you have your old inked accounts payees it generally works fine, but with new ones, they might randomly block it. It's a pain that has happened to me twice but it is a good security practice. Since many of us are constantly moving to get the best rate it does appear to the algorithm as something strange...if like me Santander is the intermediate account. 

AndyW79

poshrule_uk said:

When does the Santander E Saver pay interest, is it on account anniversary?

Was going to ask the same question, since we didn't get it today I guess is on the day that you opened it albeit the 123s pay a couple of days after. 

jaypers

Investec Flexi Saver up to 2.45% this morning. Atom still dragging their heels. 

ericlered7

searching4bestrates said:

Has anyone else had a horrible experience trying to withdraw their savings from Santander's eSaver?

My withdrawals were blocked - going back into the current account with another provider that funded the savings account in the first place! - and I had to phone their "helpline" - 30 minutes later I finally spoke to someone and it then took nearly an hour of invasive security checks and being on hold for them to unlock my account. I'm frightened to try any more withdrawals today in case the same nightmare occurs again.

Their rate is good (albeit there are now better rates), but the customer service and ease of use of the account is horrific and makes a mockery of the term "easy access". I wouldn't recommend the Santander eSaver account to anyone.

Yes I had the same trouble with them earlier this year after a fixed rate account with Atom matured into my Santander 123. Took me 3 or 4 phone calls before I could move my money out of it, horrendous. They must havew asked me at least 15 to 20 times if I was being coerced into the transaction.

chris_the_bee

poshrule_uk said:

When does the Santander E Saver pay interest, is it on account anniversary?

Yes it is.

veryintrigued

searching4bestrates said:

Has anyone else had a horrible experience trying to withdraw their savings from Santander's eSaver?

My withdrawals were blocked - going back into the current account with another provider that funded the savings account in the first place! - and I had to phone their "helpline" - 30 minutes later I finally spoke to someone and it then took nearly an hour of invasive security checks and being on hold for them to unlock my account. I'm frightened to try any more withdrawals today in case the same nightmare occurs again.

Their rate is good (albeit there are now better rates), but the customer service and ease of use of the account is horrific and makes a mockery of the term "easy access". I wouldn't recommend the Santander eSaver account to anyone.

Yep.

Blocked my account access by both app and website.

Issue compounded by:

The telephone number they give being limited hours.

The account supposedly being easy access.

The external account (in my name) already being one that my Santander current account has been linked to for years and has many payments each way.  Why more institutions don't allow you to choose an external account already used by another of your accounts with them is poor.  Or, at least, reflect it in any fraud algorithm.

Upon unlocking the accounts the four figure sum was then transferred twice.

Poor, very poor.

I've now moved a not insignificant sum to Cynergy as I don't trust the very poor Santander algorithm to hit me again.

Steve_xx

veryintrigued said:

searching4bestrates said:

Has anyone else had a horrible experience trying to withdraw their savings from Santander's eSaver?

My withdrawals were blocked - going back into the current account with another provider that funded the savings account in the first place! - and I had to phone their "helpline" - 30 minutes later I finally spoke to someone and it then took nearly an hour of invasive security checks and being on hold for them to unlock my account. I'm frightened to try any more withdrawals today in case the same nightmare occurs again.

Their rate is good (albeit there are now better rates), but the customer service and ease of use of the account is horrific and makes a mockery of the term "easy access". I wouldn't recommend the Santander eSaver account to anyone.

Yep.

Blocked my account access by both app and website.

Issue compounded by:

The telephone number they give being limited hours.

The account supposedly being easy access.

The external account (in my name) already being one that my Santander current account has been linked to for years and has many payments each way.  Why more institutions don't allow you to choose an external account already used by another of your accounts with them is poor.  Or, at least, reflect it in any fraud algorithm.

Upon unlocking the accounts the four figure sum was then transferred twice.

Poor, very poor.

I've now moved a not insignificant sum to Cynergy as I don't trust the very poor Santander algorithm to hit me again.

Cynergy doesn't fix the problem as there's only one nominated account linked to it isn't there?