Tesco Personal Finance Internet Saver Review

Overall Rating

Good points - the helpline does answer calls quite quickly.
Did initially help.

After setting up your Tesco Personal Finance Internet Saver account you need to register before getting your money out. I thought I was all done with my account after setting it up and so didn't try to access it until I needed the money.
1. I then tried to register and found out the site is coded in a poor way and since I don't allow pop-ups, my web browser wouldn't let the pop-up appear and after I let Tesco's use pop ups it refreshed the screen and the site thought that was a problem and throw me out.
2. So I phone and they register me manually which means I wait 2 weeks for a registration letter to complete the process.
They give you a customer number - which they never send to you - you get one chance to write it down when you register. You also select a PIN. For whatever reason my usual PIN was not allowed - even though it met their criteria. So I had to create another.
3. 2 weeks and the letter arrives and I need to complete the registration process. However I have no idea what my PIN is since my usual one was not allowed. Registration fails and you start again.
4. I registered again, chose a new PIN. And waited.
5. The new registration code arrives 2 weeks later and I go to register - I nearly blow it again since I use my usual PIN having forgotten that it wouldn't allow it. I find the written down PIN and registration is complete.
6. I log on to the site and go to transfers. Oh no, I need to set up my bank details to transfer the savings into.
7. OK set up new payee - no you can't set up a new payee without a card reader. A CARD READER! They say I need a physical piece of equipment attached to my PC so that I can set up a new payee.

I ask you - what's the point in internet banking accessible from any internet connection in the world if you need to carry not just your tesco's savings card with you, but a card reading device like you have at the supermarket.
Now I'm all for security and I have another internet bank account that has very sophisticated security - even avoids keyloggers and mouse tracking programs. So it's not necessary to turn my PC into a Tesco's checkout till. First thing tomorrow, I'm pulling all my money out to somewhere I can get to it instantly, not after 6 weeks.