How bad/unreliable have Santander become?

[Deleted User]

To be fair, I don't think these transactions were intentionally blocked as such; just random flakiness. I can understand frustration if it's your main bank and expecting a semblance of robustness

I was never intending to make them my main bankers so random flakiness was/is a minor irritant and easily mitigated.

enthusiasticsaver

I did see a message from Santander a week or so ago saying there were some issues with card transactions but we never experienced any problems.  We have banked with Santander for years since Alliance  and Leicester were taken over by them and not had any issues. Always best to have two different banks though.  In the past I have had problems with Nat West and Barclays so think they all have issues from time to time.  

where_are_we

We have banked with Santander since it took over Alliance and Leicester and have had no problems with cards or for that matter anything else. We use the 123 Lite as a hub for umpteen standing orders to regular savers and paying in/out £1500 to current accounts to avoid monthly fees. The £2 fee is covered by almost £6 in cashback each month.

Lightning360

I've never had any issues with Santander. I'm very happy with them.

[Deleted User]

My personal reasons for leaving them:-

They dont show 'Pending Transactions' on the Online Portal (Browser-based). Only in the 'App' (Mobile Banking).

They only allow you to search through 6 months of transactions at a time (yes, in 2021!).

They are closing down branches (mine included) left right and centre (how do i deposit a cheque now?).

In fact , there are several useful features available on the 'App' but not on the Online portal. Unfortunately i don't own a Smartphone.

The only good thing i can think of, is I automatically 'earn' a fiver a month from cashback on bills, with absolutlely no intervention from me!

WillPS

DeletedUser said:

(how do i deposit a cheque now?)

For the benefit of anyone else the answer is:

At a Post Office or if you don't mind the cost of a stamp by post.

Or get a Starling or LBG account just for mobile cheque pay ins then transfer the money across, which is what I'd do if Santander was my main/only account.

I have no complaint regarding my Santander account but then the only times I've used the debit card are when I have an offer to use. The app has some nice features like the home screen widget.

Main use of the account is for utility/council tax DD payments; I make about £1.50/month now in cashback after the £2 fee. It wouldn't be enough to attract me as a new customer but it is enough for me to leave those direct debits where they are (until they nerf it again or something better comes along anyway).

Daliah

DeletedUser said:

They only allow you to search through 6 months of transactions at a time (yes, in 2021!).

I have just successfully searched my transactions from 08/05/2020 to 08/11/2021 - that's over 18 months. This is in online banking. No search facilities in the app that I could find but I seem to be able to view transactions a very long time back

Ed-1

WillPS said:

DeletedUser said:

(how do i deposit a cheque now?)

For the benefit of anyone else the answer is:

At a Post Office or if you don't mind the cost of a stamp by post.

Or at at ATM.

[Deleted User]

Daliah said:

DeletedUser said:

They only allow you to search through 6 months of transactions at a time (yes, in 2021!).

I have just successfully searched my transactions from 08/05/2020 to 08/11/2021 - that's over 18 months. This is in online banking. No search facilities in the app that I could find but I seem to be able to view transactions a very long time back

You're right, perhaps they've updated the software, i was sure you couldn't do it the last time i tried.

Ed-1 said:

WillPS said:

DeletedUser said:

(how do i deposit a cheque now?)

For the benefit of anyone else the answer is:

At a Post Office or if you don't mind the cost of a stamp by post.

Or at at ATM.

Which ATM's?

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

DeletedUser said:

(how do i deposit a cheque now?)

For the benefit of anyone else the answer is:

At a Post Office or if you don't mind the cost of a stamp by post.

Or get a Starling or LBG account just for mobile cheque pay ins then transfer the money across, which is what I'd do if Santander was my main/only account.

I have no complaint regarding my Santander account but then the only times I've used the debit card are when I have an offer to use. The app has some nice features like the home screen widget.

Main use of the account is for utility/council tax DD payments; I make about £1.50/month now in cashback after the £2 fee. It wouldn't be enough to attract me as a new customer but it is enough for me to leave those direct debits where they are (until they nerf it again or something better comes along anyway).

 A post office? The one near me closed last year. By post? As you say, the cost of a stamp, and the potential it goes astray.

Set up an account at another bank, just to pay in a cheque? Now you're being silly. Just what i expect from these forums tbh.