Alliance & Leicester eSaver

I had a similar problem when I opened an eSaver account online with Alliance & Leicester offshore over a year ago.

The first email was supposed to have contained some reference number which I would need to confirm the account opening when my application was approved. A second email arrived asking me to log on to the web site and use that number to complete the process. I too had to phone the helpline to get the information I needed.

The person I spoke to was absolutely insistent that I was provided with the information in the original email. Interesting that they still haven't sorted this out after so long.

Chris

Indeed. Watch our for that bunch of cut-throat profit-makers.

If you're joining to take advantage of a relatively high interest rate, make sure you regularly check the interest rate, which myteriously falls from being near to, if not the top of the best rates tables at first, to very shortly afterwards being side-lined in favour of some other account to grab the headlines, which you probably will be prevented from opening.

After a year or so (or perhaps sooner), you will notice that the interest rate for the account you joined for will be slashed to roughly 1% below the then current BoE base rate. In order to find this out, they will thoughtfully send you a letter which typically arrives at the very end of the term they are required to inform you of by law).

If you choose to find out this information yourself online prior to them seemingly trying to avoid telling you until they really have to, then you will need the experience of a police detective in order to track down from their website which one of the multitude of historical rates and issue numbers is applicable to your particular account.

And there is another reason to beware. No interest any month you make a withdrawal.

Jim A

How long did they keep you hanging on? Apparently all their advisors are busy right now... Of course, Robobint had to spend 3 minutes telling me stuff I don't need to know before dropping that nugget.

Don't all banks do this?

This info was made available up front. Unlike the fact that they would deliberately blah blah.

Quite!

A&L possibly top the table though!

I supposedly have internet banking with them, including an existing cash ISA. Recently tried to open one online for current year and just transfer money from my linked account. Logged-on but couldn't find any way of doing it. Tried it from their site, but it wanted me to specify name/adress/NI number etc - info they already have. Phoned them, and was told I couldn't just open one and transfer money, I'd need to submit all my details online and they'd write to me, but were busy, so might not make deadline for this year - they suggested and appointment at my local branch!!!!!. Meantime, my wife opened an internet cash ISA with Icesave and transferred money from a linked account - they asked for NI number, confirmation she hadn't opened one this year, and amount - took all of about one minute.

Toom

I had exactly the same thing but with a regular current account. The letter stated: Customer ID: similarly the online service told me it was when I said I'd forgotten it.

I did call them and try to explain that their computer was playing tricks but I'm not sure there message got through. On an unrelated note their computer seemingly decided to correct my address to someone down the street - I had to change it back again.

Not exactly confidence inspiring.

Same here, though I assumed I was missing a separate letter, which hadn't turned up.

But I think cockup rather than conspiracy - I very much doubt they're rubbing their hands at the thought of getting 0.4p or whatever their cut of the call charge us. 0844 are "national rate" calls, so not especially expensive.

David

I had a similar situation when I opened an Premier Direct Current Account the other week; or so it seemed. But the real problem was that the info was in letters which were not sent in the logical sequence, but I got all the info in the end - a few days. Cancelling the account after the 8.5% runs out may be more problematic; I worry that they make this as tricky as possible.

GPG

I had a similar situation when I opened an Premier Direct Current Account the other week; or so it seemed. But the real problem was that the info was in letters which were not sent in the logical sequence, but I got all the info in the end - a few days. Cancelling the account after the 8.5% runs out may be more problematic; I worry that they make this as tricky as possible.

GPG