santander blocking SO payments to NS&I

mighty_hammers

hi opened a saga savings account only for rate to half within days. so followed  Martins advice and tried to set up standing order through Santander to NS&I,  but the Computer says NO. 
even phoned as stated unsecured etc etc, bit worrying. Its a system problem, they stated that they can't fix.  Anyone else with this problem? I'm with Halifax, no problem at all.

eskbanker

It's not clear from your post exactly what the problem actually is.  "Computer says NO" may be a catchphrase used for comic effect but isn't particularly descriptive here - do you mean that there was a problem with passing the (advisory) Confirmation of Payee check when setting up a new payee, or perhaps that Santander held a payment for checks, or that a payment was bounced back by NS&I, or something else altogether?

colsten

Exactly what is the problem you encountered? Is it to do with the confirmation of payee? If so, you can just ignore the warning messages. There is no problem with making SO deposits to NS&I accounts from a Santander current account, and there is no system problem that needs fixing.

Details about making deposits with SOs are here: https://www.nsandi.com/can-i-buy-bank-transfer-or-regular-standing-order

mighty_hammers

Yes it used the technical term OOPS something went wrong, tried again after entering the code to authorise and it was refused. Phoned and customer service said " it being refused by the computer " they know who I went to set it up with the computer system will not allow it and they can not override it. They have it down as a priority technical investigation with their more advanced team , so yes the computer did say no.

colsten

mighty_hammers said:

Yes it used the technical term OOPS something went wrong, tried again after entering the code to authorise and it was refused. Phoned and customer service said " it being refused by the computer " they know who I went to set it up with the computer system will not allow it and they can not override it. They have it down as a priority technical investigation with their more advanced team , so yes the computer did say no.

That still does not make any sense, I am afraid.

I can categorically state that there is no problem with SOs from Santander to the NS&I Direct Saver, or to the NS&I Income Bond because I have just set up SOs to both of them. 


Can you answer the following questions:

1. Which one of the NS&I accounts are you trying to pay into?
2. What sort code and account number are you paying into? These are generic NS&I accounts, see the link I posted above
3. Did you specify the correct Reference (your NS&I account number)?

mighty_hammers

Well i can say there is, I had no problem from Halifax so I know everything I did was correct, and the customer service chap couldn't do it either nor could whoever helped him. I can assure you it was an hour of my life I will never get back. It was their direct saver 1 %.  He even said there was a team looking into it.

Thrugelmir

Unlikely a standing order will be allowed directly from a savings account. 

RG2015

Thrugelmir said:

Unlikely a standing order will be allowed directly from a savings account. 

I do not believe the OP mentioned making the SO from a savings account.

colsten

mighty_hammers said:

Well i can say there is, I had no problem from Halifax so I know everything I did was correct, and the customer service chap couldn't do it either nor could whoever helped him. I can assure you it was an hour of my life I will never get back. It was their direct saver 1 %.  He even said there was a team looking into it.

So what sort code and account number did you use?

When did you last try it? As I set up my SOs this afternoon, and there was not a hint of a problem.

You say you are "with the Halifax". Does this mean you don't use your Santander current account regularly? Could there be a block on your Santander account?

mighty_hammers

It my husband's account, I used the sort code and account number given. It recognises it as NS&I, but states it cannot confirm this is safe and you can continue if you wish.( to do with savings accounts and investments) Both numbers are correct as stated I've done mine through Halifax.  You use your account in the reference section. Both attempts it was refused.  This was between 4pm and 5pm. It was a standing order from his bank account to them. Customer services tried and they couldn't do it. I have no idea why you all can do it and we've been told they are aware of the problem, and he was under the impression it would be sorted in August. Either its just happened or were being misinformed by them. He opened the account a few days ago with £1.00 so we know those details are correct. It's annoying.
OH just told me customer service guy said his back room team said, lots of people were having problems, hence the technical team being put on it.

molerat

Is this maybe purely a feature of using the "new" method of setting up SOs (horrible big white boxy screens) which is fraught with problems such as upper case confirmation codes only and not allowing non working day dates and often rejects payment set ups for no apparent reason which can be overcome by using the "old" system ?