Anyone having trouble with post office savings?

JustAnotherSaver

Called PO today. They said they're aware of their technical issues and these will be resolved in the next couple weeks.


I'm sure if i called a couple weeks ago i'd have been fed the same line.



I'm not holding my breath. Have made moves to have BM for my direct debits.

Brilley

..PO "bank" has always had crap service and this sort of problem has been going on for years, and I am at a complete loss to understand why?

We have several internet bank accounts and (touching wood), never had any problems with any of them so I simply can't understand why the PO seems to have so many problems with their IT that seem to get reported on this website on a fairly regular basis..

JustAnotherSaver

Brilley wrote: »

..PO "bank" has always had crap service and this sort of problem has been going on for years, and I am at a complete loss to understand why?

We have several internet bank accounts and (touching wood), never had any problems with any of them so I simply can't understand why the PO seems to have so many problems with their IT that seem to get reported on this website on a fairly regular basis..

It seems to be quite random.


I manage the (PO) accounts of 4 different people including myself. I was able to open accounts for 3 people while another person seemed to be unable to open a further account. In time nobody was able to add additional accounts.

Likewise this editing direct debits - i started having issue with one persons account & in time i couldn't do anything with anyones account.

All with different browsers also. They're hopeless.

movingon

Poor_Leno wrote: »

if you're still stuck for other DD sources, check out the Ecology Building Society. They've got two accounts which you can have a DD (Easy Access and Regular Saver). Additionally Co-Op Bank is advertising a 'Select Access Saver' which is provided by Britannia. That one also gives you a DD - though you do have top open it with £500. HOWEVER, the minimum balance is £1, so you could take the £500 out of it once you got the DD setup for £2 a month or whatever you wanted to do. Another option off the top of my head was Scottish Widows Instant Saver 2, though you do have to maintain a £100 balance at all times to keep it open.

Thank you Poor Leno I will explore these options.

I am in the same boat as JustAnotherSaver as I am totally unable to sort out DDs with the Post Office Saver. I called and was told it is a "known issue", and that I should set up a one-off DD and then edit it to make a regular payment. I tried this twice whilst the 'lovely lady' was on the phone and each time I was kicked out of the account with the "technical error " message. When I logged back in I was unable to edit or cancel the one-off DDs so I had more money going in than I wanted. Now, I am unable to transfer it back again, due to the same errors. I have complained and have been told that they cannot help at their end as it is an Internet self managed account only.
But they are planning to fix it..............
:wall:

badger09

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Called PO today. They said they're aware of their technical issues and these will be resolved in the next couple weeks.

I'm sure if i called a couple weeks ago i'd have been fed the same line.

I'm not holding my breath. Have made moves to have BM for my direct debits.

They've been saying that for years.

If you ask again in a couple of weeks/months/years, I predict you'll be told the same.

Just keep an eye on BM DDs if you ever switch the current account they're servicing;)

Brilley wrote: »

..PO "bank" has always had crap service and this sort of problem has been going on for years, and I am at a complete loss to understand why?

Because most people don't know about the issues experienced by some, until its too late? Basically, its not affecting their business model.

movingon wrote: »

Thank you Poor Leno I will explore these options.

...................

But they are planning to fix it..............
:wall:

If you're one of the many affected, you'd be wise to look elsewhere.

I'm planning to learn Greek. Bought some books and audio stuff in 2006. Still planning it though:rotfl:

movingon

Yep, If I can ever get my money out, I am off.Right now though, i have an error message saying I can't withdraw the money because I dont have enough in.
:mad:

Poor_Leno

Like many others, I gave up on Post Office, its terribly unreliable and they are absolutely hopeless at doing anything to help when you phone up. Everything others are saying is correct that they basically throw out the same comment to everyone "we're aware of the technical issues and are in the process of resolving the issue". Its been like this for YEARS. Reason nothing gets done is cos(mostly) the only people bothered with the specific issue of the direct debit are those trying to service their current account(s) with additional DDs. To the general public, the issues we face probably go un-noticed, and thus, as someone else said, its not effecting their business model which fits largely around an OAP population that by majority prefers to visit their PO branch to manage their account.

Anyway, I opened both those Ecology accounts btw (Easy Access and Reg. Saver),

Last Wednesday I posted the easy access application. On Tuesday this week I received my welcome letter inviting me to register online. Yesterday evening I did that, and this afternoon they have sent me an email to say my activiation key has been posted and will be with me within 3 working days.

So, by all accounts, hats off to Ecology for what has been a rapid process and tonight I decided to also open the regular saver aswell. Overall, a straight forward process. The application form talks about ID that you need to send - however you don't need to send anything with your initial application. They do a soft search and unless there's issues there then you shouldn't need to send them any follow up ID paperwork (I didn't need to).

I do think that Birmingham Midshire should be the next option after (giving up on!) PO accounts for additional DDs cos you do have the option there to make weekly payments of as little as £1, which is a big plus point. Do keep in mind though that it is a very slow turn around. Expect it to take a month to get an account open with them. Also, expect to get frequent mail whenever you make a change - whether its changing the linked account or payment amount. Their online interface is very old fashioned in appearance without question, however it is surprisingly reliable...unlike the post office. I guess its a case of if it ain't broke don't fix it, cos for sure they could do with updating it! Last point of note about BM, its been reported from other MSE'ers that you can have at least 6 accounts. So, in that regard, its useful if you'd prefer to not have so many accounts with so many different societies / providers !

Ecology, the minimum DD into the easy access each month is £10. But you can withdraw as and when you like once funds are cleared. Minimum with the Reg. Saver is £25. I am very happy with the accounts I have with both BM and Ecology, which are basically just servicing current account requirements (like many others around here, I presume).

Sorry about the lengthy post....

crumpetman

I am having the same problems with my PO account, cannot edit DD and cannot withdraw money.

Any idea what sort of questions they ask when you phone up? Do I need to make a note of all my linked accounts and various transactions?

movingon

When I called, the "nice lady" asked me my account no and for various characters of my passcode.
Dont bother though, they cant help you

quirkydeptless

I have 7 Post Office Savers (Issues 33-39) for the purpose of supplying DDs, a job which they do well, especially with being able to pull weekly ones (which suited Tesco and Co-op), single ones (which suited M&S) and monthly ones for the others.

All attempts to open an 8th run into "Technical Difficultues"

I am also only able to withdraw and transfer to the other accounts from the first one I opened. The others say "account blocked for withdrawal" At one point, I was blocked from the first one too, but this was sorted by a 15min support call. The reason given was they needed to query my linked account, and asked me to confirm the details.

I have a theory that the Bank of Ireland system that this runs this only partially copes with having multiple savers pointing to different linked accounts. It seems OK to pull in the DD, but has issue with withrawal.

I've also heard mentioned that you are only meant to have one, but the system clearly allows more, possibly up to 7.

So some questions for the MSE audiance :think:

1. Does any one just have one PO saver, and does it work fine?
2. Does anyone have more than 7?
3. Is anyone with multiple savers blocked from withdrawals/transfers, and what is the pattern?
4. Does anyone have any more success stories from resolving any of this?