Recommended Alliance & Leicester Bank Account - Warning

emc

Grade_A_Reject wrote: »

I'm in the process of switching from A&L to First Direct, the difference in customer service is startling.

A&L's online banking is poor by today's standards, the running balance shown on my current account seldom reconciles to the account balance with no hint as to what constitutes the difference and I can't reconcile the available balance to either of the above figures. Their systems are painfully slow at moving funds around. A "quick" payment sent from my wife's A&L current account to mine wasn't available as cleared funds until after 48 hours. In contrast a transfer sent from my First Direct account to a Lloyds TSB savings account was showing as cleared in under 20 minutes.

I originally switched to A&L for the 12 month fee free overdraft and decent rates on credit balances but their poor systems frankly don't make up for the credit interest they pay.

A&L was good for me while it lasted but I'll be glad to see the back of them.

I also dumped Alliance & Leicester recently, for much the same reasons - their dreadful customer service, particularly in-branch, the poor online banking system which does not show the correct balance and which reorders the transactions, and the extra long clearance period for incoming funds.

username

Putting aside the £5 I have already incurred in error, I am now facing £40 in charges for maybe 10 pieces of A4, sent 2nd class and produced automatically. Outrageous. I will be closing my 3 A&L accounts but will simply have to stomach the charge for the copies or I will never get them.

Perhaps a request for all the information they hold on you under the Data protection act will glean that and a lot more info for just £10 will suit you? They will take their time over it though (they have 40 days to respond).

Mrs_Ryan

Im waiting now for my Co-Op account to be finalised, with their switch to Visa Debit on the Cashminder I absolutely cannot wait to tell Alliance and Leicester just exactly where they can shove their so-called 'Current Account' with 'Visa Debit' (read - VISA ELECTRON!) card.... ok, I know the card I get from the Co-Op is likely to be an all auth card like the A&L one but at least the Co-Op havent tried to pass this one off as a full Visa Debit as A&L have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hazzanet

mapleblack wrote: »

I think it's worth mentioning that most of these banks have their faults (some pretty serious when it comes to customer service) but they are nearly all unhelpful when the customer is of little value to them, hence the wide range of good and bad comments about A&L.

Indeed. I found that A&L's internet banking interface was poor and that the level of support via the telephone was limited. I'm not sure whether it's where the call centre is based (Bootle I believe) but the staff appear to immediately get on the defensive when you say there is a problem that stems from the banks side. I also found that I wasn't confident that their answers were correct, and this was the case twice after querying something with them.

I recently looked to move to LTSB. I asked for a Classic account, I found that they opened a Classic Plus account. I gave them my mobile number, asked them not to call it unless it was an emergency and definitely never to text. Within three days I'm texted by them. I call to complain and ask them to remove the mobile number from their system. They call me back an our later to discuss - on the mobile. And the card they sent me is awful, with that nasty 2012 logo all over it.

I feel that banks are pretty much of a muchness. To get a decent 'service' you either need to go to a bank where you pay fees or they have hoops for you to jump through (i.e. First Direct or some kind of premier banking), or with one of the niche/small players (i.e. Co-op, Smile or Norwich and Peterborough) but forgo the bells and whistles of the bigger banks.

WTFUK

A&L Are simply the worst bank I've had the misfortune to deal with. The customer services is simply terrible and on the occasions that I've had to call them they have spoken to me like I'm scum. I am now with Lloyds and I find them much better in terms of customer service.

Mightyowl

mapleblack wrote: »

I'm sure some of the bigger banks are a lot quicker at this.


.

Barclays online balance is always a few days behind!

johncolescarr

I've had a number of accounts and (bar first direct, and even they're not perfect) banking experiences can be vary variable, regardless of bank.

I've phoned A&L and its been fine, then another time its awful!! Its the same for the others, there really is no telling.

I choose to bank with the account with the highest reward/benefit because its the only thing you'll get out of it.

mongoose11

Yes - Customer support is diabolical.

I need to use my savings card but every 30 days they hold/block/freeze the card for security protection and each month I have to ring them so i can use it again.

The crazy thing is I've been trying for 2 days straight now and all i get is an engaged tone.

I've emailed them but no response so i'm at a loss.

How the hel_l can i get through to these people!

The numbers I keep calling are:

00448709096060
00448709001199
or there uk no':
0044 844 8009000

Ideally i'd like to use a freephone number as I'm phoning from Thailand.

Any help would be much appreciated - thank you,

rob.

withnell

mongoose11 wrote: »

Yes - Customer support is diabolical.

You'd be saying the same if your card was skimmed and all your money was taken, and they didn't want to refund you. It's always a good idea to take more than one card abroad with you to avoid issues like this

Most banks respond to emails in a couple of working days, so expect a reply on Tuesday

You could well be getting an engaged tone because of ringing a non-geographical number from Thailand - I'm sure someone else will post here who knows the geographical number

hotspur84

http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php