Saffron BS - anyone here have a savings account or ISA with them? Good or bad?

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

I'm looking for a new ISA provider.  I only want to use banks/building societies with a high ethical rating.  Saffron are winning out with the highest interest rate.  But there seem to be a fair few horror stories on Trust Pilot, so I wondered if anyone here has anything good or bad to say about them?   

Many thanks  

Section62

Tunstallstoven said:

I'm looking for a new ISA provider.  I only want to use banks/building societies with a high ethical rating.  Saffron are winning out with the highest interest rate.  But there seem to be a fair few horror stories on Trust Pilot, so I wondered if anyone here has anything good or bad to say about them?  

Some aspects are a bit old fashioned, but their phone customer service is excellent and if you live in/near the area their branch services are good too.

Which of the horror stories concerned you the most?

Kim_13

Have a couple of savings accounts with them and have for the last two years had the Regular Saver ISA. They don’t offer electronic transfers but had they offered the same ISA for 25/26, I wouldn’t have hesitated to open it. Competitive rates (though the Small Saver is disappointing) and good service. 

Tunstallstoven

Thanks for the quick responses, both of which are encouraging to hear.  Nearest branch is 150+ miles away, but I'd be looking at fixed ISAs, so i guess once the money is in I won't have to do much with them until it matures and has to come back out again...  

Horror stories...  Firstly the score itself, with 59% of people giving them 1 star.  Other than that, people having difficulties opening and closing accounts.  And there are also some complaints about Saffron offering (or promoting?) services from other companies - will writers, trust corporations, estate planning, etc - which customers or their fiends/families have signed up to and then lost money.  All makes for quite grim reading.  One reviewer says:

"Dreadful society.

Emailed my details to another customer.

Referred to a phone call they never made

Never answer their phones

Have duplicated my account

Have not bothered to reply to.my urgent email

Took a month to open my account."

More here for some late Saturday reading   

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/saffronbs.co.uk?stars=1

Thanks again

lr1277

I have been a Saffron customer for a few years now. Not much money in there, but one of the reasons I chose them was they pay monthly interest into my nominated current account. Withdrawls are easy i.e. sending money back to your nominated account.

Website is bit clunky but is useable.

Haven't needed to contact them by phone or in branch.

I looked at their easy access ISA around 6th April and noted it is not a flexible ISA. Though I suppose that doesn't matter if you are looking at a fixed term product.

Edited to add: Overall I am pleased with them. If I were to give them a score, it would be in the range of 75 to 80 out of 100.

SonOfPearl

Trust Pilot itself is not trustworthy, so its reviews are best ignored. 

xylophone

I've had accounts with them for five or six years - quite happy and found service excellent when I needed to phone about a password reset.

Barkin

No complaints from me.

The app & web portal are basic but perfectly functional and usable.

Only had cause to call them once (ages ago - something to do with setting up app and/or online access IIRC) and my issue was resolved quickly and efficiently.

Kim_13

I looked at their TrustPilot reviews once and a lot of the low ratings seemed to be related to them trying to sell things in branch - as someone going nowhere near a branch and editing my preferences to not be contacted about third party services, I should be safe.

Chloe_G

I have used them for years and couldn't rate them more highly.  I do live near to a branch and the service there is fantastic.  I also use the website and it is basic but fine.

Digital_Payback

I have had a couple of accounts with Saffron, although not a lot of money with them for a couple of years.  

I found phone service good and agents very helpful and friendly. No complaints whatsoever.