Help with a Santander Account

Alfie2020

My father is elderly and sometimes forgets when he has used his card to draw out cash from the local post office.  He receives a paper statement from Santander once a month but we could do with checking between statements just as a fail safe.  That's where we hit a problem.  He is hard of hearing and therefore phone calls are difficult.  He does not have a mobile phone therefore we cannot use online banking (not that he could anyway, but I could do it on his behalf) and he cannot get to a branch as the wonderful local authority that we have has closed the centre to cars and although he has a blue badge we can't get close enough. I have tried time after time on the phone to customer services with him next to me to answer the questions, but we continually get cut off and then have to go through the same thing over and over again.  I have tried phoning again this evening to find that their call centre now closes at 6pm. All we want is to be able to view transactions online.  Is it really too much to ask?  Anyone got any ideas as I am getting to the end of my tether with it all

Rob5342

Have you looked at getting third party access?

That's what my dad did with my grandmother, and just took his iPad with him when he went to see her so she could look at her transactions.

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/supported-banking/third-party-access

TheBanker

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/supported-banking/third-party-access

Alfie2020

That's all we want to do to be honest.  They will only accept a power of attorney but that takes ages to get sorted, and really he doesn't need it.  I would be the same if I didn't write down what I'd spent and would forget.  They have to be the most unhelpful bank around.  I do despair of them.

baser999

Can you not just register his account on line? Perhaps set it up with him. Not being able to access the online account himself might also prevent him falling foul of scammers

MikeJXE

Get him a cheap mobile phone, set up mobile banking on his account and keep it with you. I'm 82 and find the app simple to use 

Rob5342

baser999 said:

Can you not just register his account on line? Perhaps set it up with him. Not being able to access the online account himself might also prevent him falling foul of scammers

This might be the simplest if you set it up with him and remember the logon details. He might need a mobile for the one time codes but you can get a basic for for £10 and a SIM from somewhere like 1p mobile that will last for ages.

Shakin_Steve

I haven't used an atm for ages, but I used to be able to get a mini statement with something like the last six transactions. Is that no longer possible?

TheBanker

Alfie2020 said:

That's all we want to do to be honest.  They will only accept a power of attorney but that takes ages to get sorted, and really he doesn't need it.  I would be the same if I didn't write down what I'd spent and would forget.  They have to be the most unhelpful bank around.  I do despair of them.

The page I linked to says you can set up Third Party access by visiting a branch (you will both need to go). I know you said this is difficult due to parking, but can you find a way to make a one-off branch visit? I'd suggest ringing to make an appointment in advance so you don't get turned away. 

They don't need a Power of Attorney, they just need your father's consent to add you, and ID for you. 

Depending on your father's overall health, PoA may be a conversation that's worth having, but it's not necessary for what you wish to do. 

TheBanker

Shakin_Steve said:

I haven't used an atm for ages, but I used to be able to get a mini statement with something like the last six transactions. Is that no longer possible?

Only from Santander's own ATMs I think - presumably this would cause the same problems as trying to use the Santander branch. 

Rob5342

They let you set text alerts for transactions over a certain amount. Could you get him something like a Doro phone to see those on? They are only £35.