The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

huw01

Ecology

Opened on their website using my desktop, account active straight away and deposit instantly received from Santander. I've also downloaded the app. Really impressive stuff from them technology wise. The website feels like Manchester / Newcastle BS with a different skin on

x44

If its like the Manchester/Newcastle one then it will be Newcastle's subsidiary Newcastle Strategic Solutions which runs the front end consumer facing banking web-portals for many organisations.

I recall they even ran the front end for the infamous Icelandic bank Icesave -which collapsed in ?2007? and they would probably rather forget about that one!

SJMALBA

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094966#Comment_82094966

Ecology BS - no COP

Indeed, but, I had a 'nightmare' over 3 months late last year with being locked out of my online banking (and once locked out of one, all 3 LBG logins were blocked) on many occasions, during my normal (for a number of years now) routine of making payments to multiple RSs at the start of the month, resulting in many phone calls to Bank of Scotland’s fraud department for the ‘third degree’ – they won’t tell you what the problem is, of course, but I wondered about no COP match payees, so deleted all that I had, redid them, and since them, touch wood, I haven’t had a problem.

May all be coincidence, as I hadn’t had a problem up till then, but I have been ‘nervous’ about making deposits until COP match had been obtained ever since, and it’s only since the ongoing lack of Dudley BS COP match that I have ‘strayed from the path’ once again…

gt94sss2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094986#Comment_82094986

Ecology use Monument Technology

allegro120

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094799#Comment_82094799

Ecology

Yes, it has to be from nominated account. I've sent a deposit from other account and it has been returned.

adindaspantai

Just want to share my personal experience opening BoS Monthly saver.

I already have BoS Monthly saver for five month paying 5.5%. This is what I did to close the existing one and open the new one paying 8%.

1. Empty the Existing RS or the balance will need to be lower than £5.
2. Ask CS (via online chat) to close your RS. Typically, you will speak to the bot and then they will direct you to Human CS. But expect that the answer could be around 30min. And in the meanwhile your online banking use for chat will automagically disconnected, so you will need to login again to wait for their response and continue chatting..An the end they confirm the account has been closed and you could immediately see the BOS RS will disappear from the account list.
3. Wait for around 24 business hours (?). Even the BoS MS has disappears you will need to wait, I think 24h business hours (?). In my case the existing MS is closed around 16:30 the day before and the following day during lunch time, I checked it, I still can not open it. In the evening I try it again and I managed to open a new one which opens immediately This is the most annoying thing, IMO. I wonder why they do not just make it easier to save time for both the customer and themselves by allowing people to close it online by themselves, keep in mind closing account earlier is not against their T&C ?
4. Apply for the new 8% one, and the account will open immediately ready to be funded via internal transfer

bioboybill

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094964#Comment_82094964

Yes, just got an email to say mine is open now.

adindaspantai

If you are an existing customer of Ecology BS, you already have Ecology Account and want to open a new Regular saver paying 6% do not waste your time like what I did yesterday, trying to open it by myself. I spent around 30m tried to re-register, to get access to my existing online Banking, 😁😁. lt iwas going into a circle, keep coming back to square one the same webpage.even after email verification.

The best thing to do is to Call their Customer Services, 01535 650 770 during the office hours. You will also get this phone number when you tried to re-register.

In my case the waiting time is very short less than 5m

When you call 01535 650 770 choose 'online banking' rather than saving. The CS at the other end will guide you to register and access your existing online banking

Once you get your online banking access, the process is very simple and straight forward to apply and to fund the account.

What_time_is_it

Does the Ecology regular saver mature 12 months from the date you open it, or 12 months from the date you first fund it?

adindaspantai

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82095156#Comment_82095156

You will need to fund it within 14 days or they will close. Typically the opening date, that will count, not the date you fund the account. But imo, for Ecology BS, it does not really matter as the difference is just 14 days for the amount of £200. It is insignificant.