Top Cash ISAs Discussion Area

10_66

Stressmonkey wrote: »

I popped into my local Santander branch last week to ask about the "in branch, existing customer only top rate Cash ISA" as I meet this criteria. The lady at the customer service desk hadn't heard of it, checked "online" and stated that they only had the Santander Direct ISA (Issue 6) at 2.75% AER variable. I asked if she were certain as I had just seen it flagged on MSE as the pick of the bunch at 3.2% or at least 2.7% above base rate guaranteed. She asked 2 separate colleagues who confirmed the Issue 6 was their only Cash ISA. Anyone know if the Santander/A&L "3.2% Cash ISA" has been dropped, or are they all mistaken? Either way the Nationwide 2.75% offer seems preferable given all the poor customer service stories in this thread!
Cheers

This is absolutely typical of the service from Santander. If you really want to trust your money with them, can you not ask the staff at the branch to ring their HO so they can enlighten them? Like you say, the safer alternative is to go elsewhere.

leaphaze

Heads up to those considering this: rate is dropping from 2.65% to 2.30% on 01/10/10.

EmehEm2005

Scampi wrote: »

Just wasted two lunchtimes at A&L, the first simply to make an appt, and the second to have the appt, to open their Flexible ISA which Martin recommends as the top no-transfer-in ISA on the market.

I do indeed have a current account with them as was advised as a requirement by Martin - however, upon my branch interview it was revealed that there are a whole host of other conditions - that you must have credited at least £1k a month into the account, that it must be your main current account, that you must have all your SOs and DDs (minimum 2) going from that account, that your account must have been open at least 3 months.

Unfortunately this has meant a waste of two hours of my time. I hope that Martin's team will ensure that the information on the site is as full as it can be - it is especially inconvenient when the offer is only available in branch and special provisions have to be made to visit the bank to obtain the offer - only to find that you wouldn't have been eligible in the first place.

I have to add that A&L were useless. I saw two members of staff, who both said different things - and the branch manager had to call the Customer ISA helpline number to clarify what and who was eligible.

Slightly cheesed off Scampi

With reference to your critiscism of Martin's team I suggest you read the green highlighted area at the bottom of this page -

quote: "This website is based on journalistic research. It does not constitute financial advice. Any information should be considered in regard to specific circumstances. All tips are followed at your own risk and should be followed up with your own research. See Full Terms & Conditions"

leaphaze

EmehEm2005 wrote: »

With reference to your critiscism of Martin's team I suggest you read the green highlighted area at the bottom of this page -

quote: "This website is based on journalistic research. It does not constitute financial advice. Any information should be considered in regard to specific circumstances. All tips are followed at your own risk and should be followed up with your own research. See Full Terms & Conditions"

The other thing to note is that alarms bells should start ringing as soon as you're told a branch appointment is required. Just ask yourself why this is required in an age where online applications reduce costs to the extect that some insurance companies will give you a discount for applying online.

There's plenty of reports in this forum of A/L staff not knowing what they're doing, but to be honest, lack of communication is just a consequence of the whole approach of A/L.

EmehEm2005

I've today invested in the 3.2% Santander Cash ISA after just popping in to my local branch to make enquiries. I didn't need an appointment, however I did have to wait for approximately half an hour to see an advisor. My monthly income is less than £1000 a month but that did not seem to be a problem as I satisfied the other criteria - main current account (Alliance & Leicester) DDs more than three months etc. Luckily I took along my chequebook because they are not yet able to process debit cards.
I will also be able to top up the ISA in April 2011.
I have had an online current account with Santander - or A&L as it used to be called - for a year now and have not really had any problems with them (touch wood!).

leaphaze

EmehEm2005 wrote: »

I've today invested in the 3.2% Santander Cash ISA after just popping in to my local branch to make enquiries. I didn't need an appointment, however I did have to wait for approximately half an hour to see an advisor. My monthly income is less than £1000 a month but that did not seem to be a problem as I satisfied the other criteria - main current account (Alliance & Leicester) DDs more than three months etc. Luckily I took along my chequebook because they are not yet able to process debit cards.
I will also be able to top up the ISA in April 2011.
I have had an online current account with Santander - or A&L as it used to be called - for a year now and have not really had any problems with them (touch wood!).

Experiences seem to be varied. I assume this is a branch in Sheffield; maybe everyone should apply through this branch.

KingL

luci wrote: »

I would suggest changing your username if you can or deleting your account and starting again. Not a good idea to have your email address as your log in unless you want bombarded with spam.

although by quoting him, you've left a record of his email address here !

luci

KingL wrote: »

although by quoting him, you've left a record of his email address here !

That was sort of deliberate as people might think I was going doolally if he changed his username.

Quote now edited with new username.

credit_crunch

hi everyone

i rang santander and quoted their 3.2% isa for existing customers and managed to set up the account within 10 mins or so. maybe that would help some ppl - they open quite late in the evenings as well - their call centres i mean! their customer service is a bit pants but at least over the phone i didnt waste my lunch hour.


i have a query about the birmingham midshire isa - i have applied for one for my dad. it says min opening balance is £500. he will be transferring £5000 from a previous isa so can this count as his opening balance?

thanks in advance

bleschu

Hi

I've just found a cash ISA at 3.75% which is much better than any of those that I've seen listed on any of the comparison sites (and this site!) Unless of course I am missing something!

To get that rate, you have to pay in between £25 and £425 a month (only one deposit per month) and you can only make one withdrawal per year (no notice required).

This sounds reasonable to me as it will be an emergency fund which I hope I wouldn't want to access more than once a year, and the minimum payment is quite small!

So, what's the catch? Why haven't any of the major comparison tables picked it up?

Sorry, I can't post links but its on the Stroud and Swindon website and its the Regular Saver ISA. Your feedback would be very welcome!

Kirsty