Santander free forever bank account changes

transcendental

I am in the same predicament and have been researching which banks offer free business bank accounts. The co-op looks like a good bet.

transcendental

They have branches and have been around a long time

Section62

transcendental said:

I am in the same predicament and have been researching which banks offer free business bank accounts. The co-op looks like a good bet.

transcendental said:

They have branches and have been around a long time

They've also recently been purchased by Coventry Building Society and it remains unclear what Coventry intend to do moving forward, beyond the brands being operated separately "for the time being".

Assuming Co-op will continue providing free business banking 'forever' would be a bit risky, but then the same applies to any bank offering 'free' services.

frittendenme

🚨 Santander 'Free For Life' Business Account Fees – What You Can Do 🚨
If you've received a letter saying Santander is introducing a £9.99 monthly fee to your "free forever" business account, you're not alone — and you don't have to just accept it.

JOIN US
facebook.com/groups/434991753218662/
FACEBOOK GROUP
SANTANDER | Free banking forever, means forever.....



Here’s a list of things you can do right now:

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✅ 1. Check your account type

• Look for the original name of your account (e.g., Abbey Business Account, Santander Free Forever Account, etc.)

• Find any old documents/emails showing “free for life” promises. Screenshot or scan them if needed.

✅ 2. DON’T agree to new terms without a fight

• Don't accept or opt in to anything without challenging it first.

• Changing terms on a "forever free" promise may be legally questionable.

✅ 3. Submit a formal complaint to Santander

• Do this via their website, by phone, or in writing.

• Mention “free for life”, unfair contract changes, and reference past backtracking in 2012.

✅ 4. Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

• If Santander doesn't resolve it in 8 weeks — or refuses outright — take your complaint to the FOS: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

• It’s free, and they often rule in favour of consumers.

✅ 5. Spread the word

• Share your experience on social media, review sites, and in this group.

• The more people push back, the more likely Santander will U-turn (again!).

✅ 6. Consider switching banks

• Look into business accounts from providers like Starling, Monzo, Revolut, or Metro Bank that still offer fee-free or low-cost options.

• Some even offer switching bonuses.

✅ 7. Contact your MP or consumer rights orgs

• If you’re a small business being hit by unfair charges, it’s worth raising this with your MP or bodies like Which?

• Collective pressure makes headlines.

✅ 8. Save all communications

• Keep every letter, email, or notice you receive from Santander about this.

• It could be key evidence if this turns into a legal issue.

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📢 The more noise we make, the more likely Santander will back down. They did it before — they can do it again. Let’s make sure they know we’re watching.

💬 Comment below if you’ve had a letter, or need help drafting a complaint.

#SantanderFees #FreeForLifeMeansFree #SmallBusinessRights #BankFairly

Hoenir

frittendenme said:

✅ 4. Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

• If Santander doesn't resolve it in 8 weeks — or refuses outright — take your complaint to the FOS: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

• It’s free, and they often rule in favour of consumers.

Worth pointing put that this is a business account. Does not fall under consumer regulation.  Always worth properly reading what gets cut and pasted on social media before spreading misinformation

mjm3346

The charge is good news for all their other customers who will no longer be subsiding the "freeloaders 
" - so this change will benefit the vast majority of customers - don't know why they haven't just given notice that the account is being discontinued and customers can switch to a fee paying account if they wish.

Section62

Hoenir said:

frittendenme said:

• 
  

✅ 4. Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

• If Santander doesn't resolve it in 8 weeks — or refuses outright — take your complaint to the FOS: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

• It’s free, and they often rule in favour of consumers.

Worth pointing put that this is a business account. Does not fall under consumer regulation.  Always worth properly reading what gets cut and pasted on social media before spreading misinformation

Somewhat misleading.

Whilst some consumer regulation (for example Consumer Rights Act 2015) applies only to individuals and not businesses, it isn't universally true that 'consumer regulation' doesn't apply to certain business types as well.  And in particular, financial regulation often does treat small businesses in a very similar way to individual consumers.

As you've quoted frittendenme's reference to FOS it is worth pointing out that the regulation and the activities of FOS also apply for certain types of business 'consumer' as well, details are given here on the FOS website -

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/expect/who-we-can-help

I'd also agree that caution needs to be applied to 'misinformation' often posted on social media.

OrangeBlueGreen

I saw the post with the answer on the live chat saying "We will not open complaints relating to this" - page 7 of this thread, very first post. Genuine questions: can banks really do that? I thought they had to log them even if they then have template responses sent out to say they don't believe they've done anything wrong and refer to the Ombudsman if customers want to take it further.

I'm not surprised Santander are doing this but it's about the principle so I hope they do another U-turn as this is not fair on customers who signed up for this. "Free forever" was beyond risky and stupid to advertise from a business point of view, but this is of the bank's own doing. The anger should be directed at the product and marketing teams of the time, not towards customers who took this out in good faith.

Santander really are the Ryanair of banks from a customer service point of view. This is the same Santander who are taking over TSB and in their communication say "having successfully acquired and integrated Abbey in 2004 and both Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley in 2008. It has a proven track record in successful banking platform migrations." I am sure many of us remember how their systems were continuously down during the A&L and B&B integrations, how they were always bottom of customer service leagues and how awful their reputation was at the time with accounts being charged even though they'd never gone over the overdraft limit or interest when overdrafts were never used.

Section62

mjm3346 said:

The charge is good news for all their other customers who will no longer be subsiding the "freeloaders 
" - so this change will benefit the vast majority of customers - don't know why they haven't just given notice that the account is being discontinued and customers can switch to a fee paying account if they wish.

You mean the "vast majority of customers" many of whom will be benefitting from a free personal current account and therefore in your terms would be "freeloaders" in their own right?

Or do you want all personal current account customers to be charged a fee as well?  (seems not, as that wouldn't "benefit the vast majority of customers")

subjecttocontract

I would imagine Santander shareholders would support the change.