Delays in opening Abbey Online Accounts

passau91

Has anyone else had any problems with a long delay in opening Abbey's online accounts?

I applied for their current account and their e-Saver online on Friday, 8 November 2007 and have been approved with the paperwork allegedly being sent to me within five days. I went into an Abbey branch yesterday as I had not heard anything. They were unable to help me, but called someone on the phone for me to speak to. I was told that there had been some kind of problem and no applications had been processed for four weeks, so there would be at a four week delay at least before they would even be looking at my account. I was advised to open the account in branch today. Not an ideal situation.

As for the e-Saver, the website did say that there may be a two-week delay in opening the account, but with the problems with the current account opening, I'm not wildly optimistic that it'll be open before the New Year.

Is this a general problem with Abbey? Anyone have a suggestion as to how to make it happen any quicker? Probably serves me right for being a rate tart...

PBA

Have you sent back the application forms or are you waiting for them to get to you? There's no backlog on Esaver apps, but there is a delay on credit cards which may be affecting your bank account. The branch staff should have been able to get the account bank opened straight away for you though, and it is possible for them to open an Esaver in branch as well in cases where something's gone wrong.

passau91

Thanks for that. I was waiting for the application forms to come out to me, but as they'd suggested opening the current account in branch, I did that last Friday and so the current account was open immediately and I was able to deposit money straight away. Then on Monday the e-Saver forms came through, so I think I'm more or less OK now - it was just a panic when they said there would be a long delay. All in all, a good outcome.

aeuerby

We opened an account on-line on Sunday but have had no paperwork through. Having read this I'm not optimistic we'll get it in a hurry!
We're not in a rush though as we are also just going through remortgaging which could get complicated if we suddenly change the bank details we have given to take the payments!

-Ad-

Got my e-saver confirmation letter exactly 3 weeks ago, the one with teh account number and not much else apart from saying the rest will be out in 2 weeks.

Rung them yesterday and she said 2 weeks, i said its already been 3, then she advised me to ring back middle of next week if nothing has arrived. im ringing back on monday :rolleyes:

aeuerby

We've finally got the paper work to open our account but the sheet that tells you what id they want from list 1 and 2 is unreadable. It doesn't bode well for the future does it?!

Anyone know what ID Abbey require? I think a passport/driving licence is in one list but do they want the original or copies?

Thanks!

frivolous_fay

Anyone know off the top of their head if you qualify for the 8% rate if you have existing accounts with abbey... say.. a mortage + ISA?

KDH_2

Applied for a Children's Fixed Rate Bond in August - account is apparently up and running but despite two requests no certificate has arrived..........

Waiting for 5 weeks now for online ID etc for using my new Abbey credit card...........

Fed up with (Sh)Abbey ! and have now moved current accounts which I have had since the mid 80's when they first launched them .

They're just not the same since the "Spanish Aquisition"!

PBA

aeuerby wrote: »

Anyone know what ID Abbey require? I think a passport/driving licence is in one list but do they want the original or copies?

Passport + driving licence is fine, or either one of those + utility bill, bank statement, tax statement. Photocopies are fine.

PBA

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Anyone know off the top of their head if you qualify for the 8% rate if you have existing accounts with abbey... say.. a mortage + ISA?

Assuming you mean the 8% current account? Yes, you just need to open a new current account and fund it with £1000 per month.

passau91

Update - unfortunately, opening the current account in branch did not solve my problem. They would not recognise it as a "switcher account" which would make it qualify for the 8% rate. After being sent backwards and forwards between the telephone service and the branch I have given up - talk about left and right hands not knowing what they are doing!

I'm opening FirstDirect's account to get the £100 and I am more optimistic about them as talking to their phone service filled me with confidence rather than dread!! Good bye Abbey, it has not been fun...