Nice problem to have - but does anyone else get annoyed by this....

Wednesdayman

I recently won £10,000. I knew for a couple of days this was coming so I opened a Cahoots savings account to get ready to receive the cash. I put £100 in to set it up. You have to wait between four and six working days to get your two letters with a username and a 5 digit security number. I received these and tried to log on. It said I had succeeded in changing my password and number and that I should logon. When I did this it didn't work. I waited five days and tried again - I pressed 'forgot password' and ordered two more letters which takes another four to six working days. After this time I got another two letters. I tried once more and once more it told me I had succeeded in changing them and I should logon. I tried and it didn't work. It said I should ring them so I did - the minimum waiting time I have waited is 45 minutes and I hung up in disgust this is in the nine times I have attempted to ring them and never got through. They can now keep my hundred quid and stuff them for the 10K that was going in there - there is no email address on their site.

slinger2

Got to say, I didn't have any problem getting started with Cahoot and I've never had any problem logging in since then, as long as I get the 8 character passcode right.

masonic

I had no issues when setting my account up, but did have to wait about a week for the letters. Cahoot uses Santander's online banking system, so presumably follows the same account setup processes.

It seems like you are having problems either setting or entering the security information. The logon requires your username and the 5-digit security number, then a code sent by SMS.

It's worth pointing out that the maximum balance for Cahoot's 5% Sunny Day Saver account is £3,000. I'm not sure why you'd opt for Cahoot over other providers for a lesser paying account.

friolento

It's over 3 years since I opened my Cahoot account and I can't remember the details of the account opening process but I don't recall any particular issues. The online system isn't the most modern but it seems to be working fine.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6684138/nice-problem-to-have-but-does-anyone-else-get-annoyed-by-this

You have to wait between four and six working days to get your two letters with a username and a 5 digit security number.

Cahoot allow you to pick your own username, so was one of the letters really telling you what your username is, or did you pick your own? If you picked your own but try logging in using a different Cahoot generated one then it probably won't work. You'd need to clarify with Cahoot which username to use.

When I set my Cahoot accounts up around a year ago everything worked well, and other forum members have mentioned Cahoot's processes, although a bit dated, generally work Ok.

They can now keep my hundred quid

Too late now, but for easy access accounts it is generally better to open with the minimum balance only. Adding £100 to an account you've not yet got full access to is a bit risky.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82144789#Comment_82144789

I'm not sure why you'd opt for Cahoot over other providers for a lesser paying account.

The Cahoot Simple Saver Iss18 offered 4.52% which for the brief time it was available was one of the best (if not the best?) EA rates around at the time. Combining a SDS at 5% plus a SS issue 18 at 4.52% may have looked a good option for a £10k balance?

masonic

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82144846#Comment_82144846

Yes, the 4.52% was good, but there is 5% on £5k at Spring, 5% for the whole £10k at Lemfi (ClearBank). These are still available so might be worth the OP exploring.

Both the above are more technologically advanced, so may be a better fit if letters and phone calls are undesirable.

flaneurs_lobster

It's that £100 that's the issue. If you hadn't made that deposit before you had online access then like any sensible person you would have just given up after a reasonable length of time.

I'll add Chase to the mix of other options for your money, 4.5% for a year for new customers, instant access, decent cashback on debit card spend.

gravel_2

I opened one a week ago and (perhaps foolishly) paid in full when I received the account details following CoP. This thread had me worried but letters arrived today, and all seems to work fine.

User error?

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82144968#Comment_82144968

Maybe, that alphanumeric 2FA code really seems to spook some people in a quite irrational way.

Ms_Chocaholic

Oooooh £10k, was it a competition?