That Santander 2.75% savings account

BillTee

Curiously, Esaver confirmation email received immediately. Then opened a current account no problem. Wasn't 'til I read forumite comments about request for documents if recently moved that I checked emails: Savings asked for ID and address docs to be posted but not the current account email - presumably because I already had a savings a/c with them, even though opened 5 mins later and no docs not yet sent. Didn't stop them posting card and pin details or accepting Esaver deposit - weird. I sent the docs anyway to freepost address.

alibean121

I’m waiting for mine to be dealt with after posting document copies. Fully expecting now that the account will be superseded by something better before I get it open. I’ve previously been a Santander customer and they linked my application to my previous online access - which strangely enough I hadn’t kept up to date with my address after all the accounts were closed… so assuming that is why I needed ID.

They really didn’t help themselves not using one of the more modern ID check services. I found hard to believe initially they wanted me to photocopy and post them documents.

db3745

RobM99 said:

Never had a problem with them, just lucky?

I can't say "never" as I hadn't used them since Abbey days, but judging from much of the above I've been lucky. The ease of accessing and managing an account online is paramount to me. Among the providers I've left, never to return are Coventry (so complex), N S & I (won't recognise my iphone hash key) , and latterly Bank of India for any number of reasons.

I worried about missing the Santander offer as my 1st letter arrived in 48 hours, but the 2nd not till 10 days later. I was in the fulfillment business so know how easy that can happen, especially in ther middle of postal strikes, but so far all has been plain sailing. I was a new customer but the initial application was painless. Unlike many there was no delay while proving my identity with more letters and form-filling, and initial set-up and log-in used all the info in the two letters. In a few seconds I could manage the account. Moved a small amount to test and that appeared on my account within an hour. I've made further deposits and so far I'm impressed. Mind you I haven't tried to make a withdrawal yet!

EthicsGradient

Today I got letter 1 of 2 from them with most of the details needed for operating the account online - 3 weeks and 6 days after I sent them photocopies showing that my personal details had not changed in the more than 10 years since I last had a savings account with them. So maybe it'll be usable after 4 weeks! I hadn't followed up with them, because Cynergy increased the rate on my account with them, within a few days, to match Santander. But it looks like Santander are slowly working through the pile of work they caused themselves.

[Deleted User]

I got my first letter a week ago with my first two pieces of details I need. The third came today. I went online, set my account up, didn't need the third piece at all, did it all with the first two details. Such a strange carry-on.

NUFC_Fan87

NUFC_Fan87 said:

I'm also having issues.

I have an existing login as I have my mortgage with them.

17/10
Found the initial process easy. Got a confirmation email. This is when the issues began.

I got sent 6 emails after 5 minutes apart all identical, asking for ID documents, which according to the email could only be posted.

20/10
I went in to Branch and they said I could scan and upload them instead, but they could do that for Me as I was there, which they did.


Heard nothing...

31/10
Got a generic email saying "sorry for the delay", we'll have your account opened soon, if not we'll update you on the 4th November...

Currently the 7th November, still no account and no update. So have chased them again on their chatbot)
Atrocious really. I've been with several other banks and they've always been super quick.

So my "update" today, is they've re-sent the same email from the 31st, saying they'll let Me know by the 18th November... soooo a Month. A month to open a savings account. 

SuzzleBumpkin

I opened an Esaver the same week it came out. I had to fill in a form and send ID documents. Still haven’t heard back. No letters, Just an initial email asking for ID etc. Shocking.

KevinG

Well the account works on my phone using the 5-digit PIN I chose but exactly the same PIN doesn't work on the website!

jimroy

KevinG said:

Well the account works on my phone using the 5-digit PIN I chose but exactly the same PIN doesn't work on the website!

That was the other way round for me. And when I tried using my changed 5-digit pin on the app I was locked out after two attempts. It wouldn’t accept it. Same then online afterwards as a result. This was after successfully registering online in the first instance and changing my pin.

It said that I had  new details on the way when I tried to reset online. Raised a formal complaint which they ultimately rejected. Waited on the phone for an hour just to be mocked by some jobsworth in their Bradford call centre about not being able to access my account and to fund it. “Yeah and the rate only lasts for a year too hehe.”

Got home a fortnight later to read their response to my complaint saying I could reset my account online. Which I then did successfully and was able to log into the mobile app also.

Why didn’t they say that in the first place? I was led to believe by their online system that I was having new username/password/pin letters sent out. 

It took nearly a month to fund my account in the end. I very nearly didn’t and just put up with losing out on the 0.2% extra monthly interest on one of my other accounts instead.

First impressions last and I don’t like Santander.

KevinG

And today it does work, Santander remains a mystery!