Hanley Economic Building Society BRANCH SAVER

PloughmansLunch

refluxer said:

PloughmansLunch said:

It seems like a faff, but if I opened one of their easy access-type accounts would that be an option to get a back-door way to at least show the balance of the Branch Saver?

When you say you've asked for a user ID twice, was that via the official form here ? If so, it's obviously disappointing to hear that hasn't worked - or is this just a time thing ? I would imagine you'll still have to go through that same online banking application process, no matter what account you open.

I've just emailed them for an update on my online banking application so I'll update here when I hear back.

It was via that form, yes, and not all that recently either. The instant access looks like £100 opening deposit so I can't be bothered with faffing around, and like you say, will probably have to wait for another posted ID too.

ForumUser7

PloughmansLunch said:

refluxer said:

PloughmansLunch said:

It seems like a faff, but if I opened one of their easy access-type accounts would that be an option to get a back-door way to at least show the balance of the Branch Saver?

When you say you've asked for a user ID twice, was that via the official form here ? If so, it's obviously disappointing to hear that hasn't worked - or is this just a time thing ? I would imagine you'll still have to go through that same online banking application process, no matter what account you open.

I've just emailed them for an update on my online banking application so I'll update here when I hear back.

It was via that form, yes, and not all that recently either. The instant access looks like £100 opening deposit so I can't be bothered with faffing around, and like you say, will probably have to wait for another posted ID too.

But you can then withdraw £99 after (I think) 14 days

refluxer

Naturally, I received my online user ID letter through the post the day after I emailed to chase this up ! It was sent second-class, which explains why it took a while to get here. Thankfully, I've been able to log in and change my ID and password without any issues (so that password reset email wasn't as sinister as it looked) and can now view the branch saver account balance as expected.

One thing I have noticed in my 'documents' section is a welcome text and a few emails and letters that I never received, the most notable of which was a letter containing my online banking ID that would (should ?) have been sent out on the day the account was opened. So either that letter was never sent or it was sent (3 weeks ago) and got lost in the post. Judging by the current state of our beloved postal service, I think I can guess which is the more likely explanation.

I wouldn't normally open a branch-based account but, as I've got a reasonably local branch, this account seemed too good an offer to miss and I just intend to use it to stash some cash at a decent interest rate for a while. When the money is needed, I'll be using the branch to make a withdrawal because, based on this experience, I definitely won't risk doing that by post !

Bemr

refluxer said:

Naturally, I received my online user ID letter through the post the day after I emailed to chase this up ! It was sent second-class, which explains why it took a while to get here. Thankfully, I've been able to log in and change my ID and password without any issues (so that password reset email wasn't as sinister as it looked) and can now view the branch saver account balance as expected.

One thing I have noticed in my 'documents' section is a welcome text and a few emails and letters that I never received, the most notable of which was a letter containing my online banking ID that would (should ?) have been sent out on the day the account was opened. So either that letter was never sent or it was sent (3 weeks ago) and got lost in the post. Judging by the current state of our beloved postal service, I think I can guess which is the more likely explanation.

I wouldn't normally open a branch-based account but, as I've got a reasonably local branch, this account seemed too good an offer to miss and I just intend to use it to stash some cash at a decent interest rate for a while. When the money is needed, I'll be using the branch to make a withdrawal because, based on this experience, I definitely won't risk doing that by post !

I noticed the same thing.  I never received the first User ID letter (though I did receive the "temporary password" email).  I was told by phone that the user ID isn't sent out by default (you have to register for online banking on the website to get it), so there seems to be an issue with their processes rather than the postal service.

refluxer

Bemr said:

refluxer said:

Naturally, I received my online user ID letter through the post the day after I emailed to chase this up ! It was sent second-class, which explains why it took a while to get here. Thankfully, I've been able to log in and change my ID and password without any issues (so that password reset email wasn't as sinister as it looked) and can now view the branch saver account balance as expected.

One thing I have noticed in my 'documents' section is a welcome text and a few emails and letters that I never received, the most notable of which was a letter containing my online banking ID that would (should ?) have been sent out on the day the account was opened. So either that letter was never sent or it was sent (3 weeks ago) and got lost in the post. Judging by the current state of our beloved postal service, I think I can guess which is the more likely explanation.

I wouldn't normally open a branch-based account but, as I've got a reasonably local branch, this account seemed too good an offer to miss and I just intend to use it to stash some cash at a decent interest rate for a while. When the money is needed, I'll be using the branch to make a withdrawal because, based on this experience, I definitely won't risk doing that by post !

I noticed the same thing.  I never received the first User ID letter (though I did receive the "temporary password" email).  I was told by phone that the user ID isn't sent out by default (you have to register for online banking on the website to get it), so there seems to be an issue with their processes rather than the postal service.

Thanks for that - that's useful to know. Ironically, the user ID sent out initially is the same as the one I received when I subsequently applied for online banking access, so it does look like it is automatically generated when you open an account - even a branch-based one.

I might chase up why the welcome text never arrived though, as that could be useful for deposit or security notifications (if that's an option they use). I've just changed my 'marketing preferences' settings to allow them to contact me by text, in case that makes a difference.  

ForumUser7

refluxer said:

Bemr said:

refluxer said:

Naturally, I received my online user ID letter through the post the day after I emailed to chase this up ! It was sent second-class, which explains why it took a while to get here. Thankfully, I've been able to log in and change my ID and password without any issues (so that password reset email wasn't as sinister as it looked) and can now view the branch saver account balance as expected.

One thing I have noticed in my 'documents' section is a welcome text and a few emails and letters that I never received, the most notable of which was a letter containing my online banking ID that would (should ?) have been sent out on the day the account was opened. So either that letter was never sent or it was sent (3 weeks ago) and got lost in the post. Judging by the current state of our beloved postal service, I think I can guess which is the more likely explanation.

I wouldn't normally open a branch-based account but, as I've got a reasonably local branch, this account seemed too good an offer to miss and I just intend to use it to stash some cash at a decent interest rate for a while. When the money is needed, I'll be using the branch to make a withdrawal because, based on this experience, I definitely won't risk doing that by post !

I noticed the same thing.  I never received the first User ID letter (though I did receive the "temporary password" email).  I was told by phone that the user ID isn't sent out by default (you have to register for online banking on the website to get it), so there seems to be an issue with their processes rather than the postal service.

Thanks for that - that's useful to know. Ironically, the user ID sent out initially is the same as the one I received when I subsequently applied for online banking access, so it does look like it is automatically generated when you open an account - even a branch-based one.

I might chase up why the welcome text never arrived though, as that could be useful for deposit or security notifications (if that's an option they use). I've just changed my 'marketing preferences' settings to allow them to contact me by text, in case that makes a difference.  

I asked because I had the same thing - apparently they don’t send texts. In other words, the system generates them but never sends them… You would’ve thought they could stop the system generating them but apparently not

refluxer

How long are people finding that (external) faster payments in to the Branch Saver take to get credited in the account, out of interest ? I sent a modest test payment this morning and, considering the time now, I'm thinking it might be a 'next working day' type of arrangement ?

Edit - I should have checked their general T&Cs document...

7.10 The date that payments will be to be credited to your account will be the date that we receive the cleared funds. Cut-off times apply for receipt of an Electronic Payment:

􀁸 Payments received by us before 3pm on a Working Day, will be credited to your account and will be available to withdraw immediately, as soon as we receive it;

􀁸 Payments received after 3pm on a Working Day or on a non-Working Day, will be credited to your account and will be available to withdraw at the start of the next Working Day (subject to our Normal Business Hours).

10_66

refluxer said:

How long are people finding that (external) faster payments in to the Branch Saver take to get credited in the account, out of interest ? I sent a modest test payment this morning and, considering the time now, I'm thinking it might be a 'next working day' type of arrangement ?

Edit - I should have checked their general T&Cs document...

7.10 The date that payments will be to be credited to your account will be the date that we receive the cleared funds. Cut-off times apply for receipt of an Electronic Payment:

􀁸 Payments received by us before 3pm on a Working Day, will be credited to your account and will be available to withdraw immediately, as soon as we receive it;

􀁸 Payments received after 3pm on a Working Day or on a non-Working Day, will be credited to your account and will be available to withdraw at the start of the next Working Day (subject to our Normal Business Hours).

I emailed them in May to try to get some clarification, and they said that payments into the account normally arrive on the next working day, they said because they aren't part of the FP scheme.  Certainly my standing order in not received on the day it is sent, only on next working day.  I have no idea how long withdrawals take, as I haven't tested that yet, and mine would have to be via postal instruction 🙄

P3

What is the interest rate ? NLA

10_66

P3 said:

What is the interest rate ? NLA

If you mean Hanley, it's 5%, but NLA.