Abbey eSaver Direct - How Long?

Paul_N_4

I applied for one of these online Monday and still haven't had any notice about being approved, let alone the account being setup.

Can anyone tell me how long this should take to open? I'm already an Abbey customer with one of their ISA accounts, so assume they don't need identity stuff.

In comparison, opened an eSaver with A&L (of which I'm also a customer) at the same time. Approved within 5 mintues and account setup within 2 days. Great service. Why is Abbey taking so long? Have sent off an email, but as yet, no reply.

Flynn_2

Well, given that Abbey are a total shambles it's hard to tell.

I opened an eSaver with them a good while ago and took all the ID into the local branch as they required. According to their website then the account would be up and running withing 7 days so on that basis I arranged for a large sum of money to arrive in my current account a short while after that. After 7 days I'd heard nothing so phoned. Was patched to helpdesks in England, Ireland, Scotland and India without learning much until someone told me that despite what the website said it took at least 2 weeks+.

After 2 weeks still had nothing so opened a branch-based Flexible Saver at a lower interest rate so I could move money from my current account into that then across to the new account when they eventually got it running. It was more than a month before the new account was up. Then I found I still couldn't do internet transfers, they treated the two accounts as having different owners and no-one could rectify it. After a lot of shouting they sorted it out after 2 months.

Some months later I opened a 50+ saver account. I was surprised that as I already had two accounts they wanted the ID docs all over again but, hey no problem, they were sent the ID stuff which was then returned to me.

A couple of weeks later I found they'd frozen the account. Phoned all round the world without getting any sense from anyone until I was eventually told it was because they were waiting for ID. Lots of letters and phone calls later they unfroze the account.

After having more than enough of their chaos I decided to close all the accounts. Phoned and was told yes, I could do a CHAPS from the internet accounts for £25 fee if I went into the branch. Into the branch and told no I couldn't. Tranferred money into the branch account, went back to branch and arranged CHAPS which took over a hour. Checked the next morning to find money hadn't reached destination. Abbey hadn't done the CHAPS I'd paid for.

This week have been going through the nightmare of closing the accounts. Was told of different requirements by 3 different people until I asked for a manager. I'm now hoping I'll the accounts closed within 7 to 10 days as promised. Who knows.

Personally, I'd rather chew off my own leg than ever use them again, they're really something else, but don't let me put you off.:rolleyes:

Willowx

I applied for my abbey eSaver a few years back when they first started them, I already had a current account with them but I still had to provide them with two proof of addresses. I opened it by post and I was able to access it online about ten days after I sent the stuff off.

avantra

with abbey... ya gada take your time... spanish bank .. maniana all will be bueno just take yar time...

Seriously now, they are slow on most things just wait, from our experience the more you press them with questions like when and where? they just make more mistakes (the infamous debit card fiasco of last year remember?) so just let it happen and it will eventually . They are just on a different mindset ever since they moved to Spanish hands.:rotfl:

gocat

Ugh, this fills me with dread.
I enquired on another thread as to whether it is possible for me to transfer some money online, from abbey esaver to my nat west account as want to pay off my mortgage.
Anyone know if this is possible?

gocat

Ok dunnit. Arranged transfer Friday on abbey national website. In my nat west esaver today. So not too slow this time :T

dollywops

Abbey are a total shambles - I have to agree. However, each time they mess up, which they do regularly, I go straight to the Chairman's office, or DS does or DD does, and it costs them money. Collectively, we have had over £500 in compensation in the last year.

I was charged £3.88 in overdraft charges, erroneously. When I queried this, I was told it might be something to do with an uncleared cheque. This was not the case. I explained that black is black and red is red. I was either overdrawn or I wasn't, not might be. I wasn't and one telephone coversation later, £30 was paid into my account.

Last year, we had major communication problems in linking my daughter's existing esaver to her new current account. A few conversations later, and my daughter received £100 in compensation.

Currently, my 16 year old DD has been charged £34 odd in overdraft charges. She does not have an overdraft facility, because she is 16 and again she was not overdrawn. She was beside herself when she got her bank statement and thought she had something wrong. I know exactly what the Abbey did. A large sum of money was transferred from her esaver into her current a/c and then subsequently said sum of money was transferred out to the Nationwide, in that order. A systems problem, I presume, meant that, somehow, the transfer out was applied before the transfer in. How, I don't know, but we are awaiting the outcome of their investigations.

The Abbey's mistakes are irritating, but always soluble. Equally, their errors cost them money, every time. I suppose I should move all of us, but is anywere any better.

LittleVoice

dollywops wrote: »

. I suppose I should move all of us, but is anywere any better.

I don't think I would be a lone voice in saying that almost anywhere else would be better.