Top Cash ISAs Discussion Area

MoneySaverLog

I'm ok till February 2014, wish now I'd have gone for a 3 year fix with LTSB though not sure they offered that at the time.

scratch_eddie

opaque wrote: »

Postal only is a bit weird but hey ho.

I didn't really think about what "Postal Only" meant when I transfered my ISA to Cheshire BS, but it certainly is "a bit weird" to say the least!

Just tried to set up a standing order from my current account to the ISA, but was told I could only deposit into the account via physical deposit slips (presumably written with a quill pen, on vellum, and sent via horsedrawn carriage). Can't understand how such a system exists in this age of instant communication.

Reckon I'll probably spend everything I receive in terms of interest on postal costs... and there I was thinking a BS might appreciate a regular series of deposits!

Consumerist

scratch_eddie wrote: »

Just tried to set up a standing order from my current account to the ISA, but was told I could only deposit into the account via physical deposit slips . . .

Cheshire is one of Nationwide's brand names that are disappearing over the next year or two, to become Nationwide branding. Perhaps online access will then be available but I think we can probably expect savings rates to then tumble - even further than they are tumbling already. Cheshire has generally had slightly better rates than the Nationwide BS which own them.

Cheshire ISAs are probably best suited to those who are not likely, or don't want to be tempted, to make withdrawals or deposits.

BTW - Welcome to the forum

QualityLion

Hello
Never ever used any internet forums before and not sure if I'm in the right place (or breaching forum "etiquette"? - if so apologies but getting very confused and fed-up) but I would like to find the following and hope that someone can give independent advice:
I want to transfer my Brittania ISA to another ISA that can:
1 Accept transfers
2 Is in a high street branch (no internet / phone / postal bankng ever - I do money face-to-face only)
3 Will accept a monthly payment into it by direct debit
4 Will accept an occaisional payment in to it as well
5 Allows an annual withdrawal (30 days notice acceptable)

Is this too much to expect from a bank / building society?
I've been looking at account types on the web for 3 hours on a variety of sites and can't find an ISA that can do 1 - 5 above - can anyone help? Since spending the last 3 hours browsing I know the rules about annual saving limits and the direct debits and occaisional lump sum payments will not come anywhere near this limit.
Thanks

QualityLion

rb10

QualityLion wrote: »

Hello
Never ever used any internet forums before and not sure if I'm in the right place (or breaching forum "etiquette"? - if so apologies but getting very confused and fed-up) but I would like to find the following and hope that someone can give independent advice:
I want to transfer my Brittania ISA to another ISA that can:
1 Accept transfers
2 Is in a high street branch (no internet / phone / postal bankng ever - I do money face-to-face only)
3 Will accept a monthly payment into it by direct debit
4 Will accept an occaisional payment in to it as well
5 Allows an annual withdrawal (30 days notice acceptable)

Is this too much to expect from a bank / building society?
I've been looking at account types on the web for 3 hours on a variety of sites and can't find an ISA that can do 1 - 5 above - can anyone help? Since spending the last 3 hours browsing I know the rules about annual saving limits and the direct debits and occaisional lump sum payments will not come anywhere near this limit.
Thanks

QualityLion

You are really restricting your choice by only accepting a branch-based account.

This one meets your wishlist:

http://www.halifax.co.uk/savings/accounts/cash-isas/isa-saver-variable/

QualityLion

Thanks to rb10.

Halifax never appeared on any other searches. I know that branch-only restricts the choices but the litany of posts on this and other forums attests to the incompetence of financial staff in successfully transferring MY money that trust is diminished right from the start. It has to be branch-only so I know who to punch when (never if) they get it wrong!

innovate

See it this way: tens, may be hundreds, of thousands of people, transfer their ISAs every year, with no problems at all. They won't come on any internet forum to say "yayyy, my ISA transfer went without a hitch". You just get the occasional report of a disgruntled ISA holder when something went wrong, or took longer than they expected. No ISA transfer, if initiated properly by the account holder, will go wrong. Some might take longer to complete and might require a complaint to the ISA provider, but they all work out as designed.

Having the option to go into a Branch might suit you - - but do not be mistaken. Just about no ISA provider does the transfers in Branch. They all have central ISA transfer teams, and you won't ever have a chance meeting them face to face (not in the context of your ISA transfer, anyway).

You are depriving yourself of the better interest rate options by insisting you want to deal in Branch. You are also leaving yourself wide open to getting sold something in Branch that you actually don't want. Branches are sales offices, with highly trained, and financially motivated, sales people.

For best cash ISAs, check post 1 in this thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/401374

gocat

Hiya. I opened a halifax ISA on 5th May 2011 and it was a 2 years fixed rate one at 3.7%. Just checked it online and the interest rate still says 3.7%. I would of thought it would have gone back to basic rate or something after 2 years.
Should I just leave it and hope I am still getting 3.7% or what >

TIA

Consumerist

gocat wrote: »

Hiya. I opened a halifax ISA on 5th May 2011 and it was a 2 years fixed rate one at 3.7%. Just checked it online and the interest rate still says 3.7%. I would of thought it would have gone back to basic rate or something after 2 years.
Should I just leave it and hope I am still getting 3.7% or what >

I think your best bet is look at the Ts&Cs/features for the ISA when you opened it. It is usual for these to tell you what rate, or the basis of the rate, after maturity.

If you no longer have this info then I would suggest you call Halifax and ask. If you are told the rate is unchanged then it might be worth it to make a note of the date, time and the name of the person you spoke to.

I agree, it's unusual, these days, for the rate to remain the same after a fixed-rate has matured.

Perhaps you'll let us know how you get on.

opaque

Cheshire is only 1.7% now going on the link from MSE

http://www.thecheshire.co.uk/ISAs/ISA-Saver/