Alliance & Leicester Current Account Reviews
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 31/10/2010
“I have had my current account for 18 years,...”
I have had my current account for 18 years, (originally Girobank). Since Santandar have taken over, the service has really gone downhill. We changed an additional account into a joint account and my husband still doesn't have a card for that account (despite us asking several times). In branch the staff look about 12 years old on a Saturday which doesn't give you much confidence. I am seriously looking at switching, but am worried it might be 'better the devil you know'....
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 20/10/2010
“ Been with A&L for nearly ten years and was generally...”
Been with A&L for nearly ten years and was generally a happy bunny to the extent that my wife joined me in a Joint Account, we got our mortgage through A&L along with Savings Accounts and were very pleased with the 'perks', the interest rates and the general fussless, hassle-free laid-back style of the bank. However, post 1998 and Santander takeover, it has been nothing short of a disaster in terms of incompetence, fantastically bad customer service and ineptitude culminating in our decision to...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 14/08/2010
“since take over, total rubbish system, my saving...”
since take over, total rubbish system, my saving accounts seemed to have gone, money transfers take 2 weeks, and interest is being paid by CHEQUE! I thought cheques were on the way OUT, but no they are starting to pay interest by cheque now! Didn't like the service, system or attitude!...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 07/08/2010
“I have been with A&L for about five years (after...”
I have been with A&L for about five years (after leaving sandtander) and upto Sandtander taking control they were great. However, the back has gone down hill fast since, for instance last month I paid a significant amount of money into my account and they charged me a £5 underfunding fee claiming I only deposited £500, the did resolve the problem, but it took about twenty minutes or so on the phone! Please steer clear of this particular bank....
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 25/07/2010
“The switching service ia appalling. they find various...”
The switching service ia appalling. they find various reasons not to pay and on top of it challenge you to close the account if not satisfied. never seen a worser team before. ...
Read full reviewGuest's response to Guest's Review
Written on: 19/07/2011
couldn't agree more - Absolute rubbish since santander took over. What's more - if you take up the challenge and close your account, they dream up all sorts of charges and excuses. I had to get really aggressive in branch with the manager before anything was sorted out.
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 22/07/2010
“I moved from RSB to A&L for 100 pounds cash back....”
I moved from RSB to A&L for 100 pounds cash back. Switching service dint work for 2 occassion out of 12 direct debits and cost me 30 pounds penalty in one occasion. The main reason i wont recommend to any one because of its customer service. It take atlleat 15-20 minutes of wait to speak to a representative. The other very important reason is that, the money out transaction completion takes 1-2 day longer than what RBS use to take. It is rubbish. Please done move. Only one plus point, you earn 100...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 10/06/2010
“Please never think of changing to this bank. I did -...”
Please never think of changing to this bank. I did - in May of last year to take advantage of the £100 welcome package. Biggest mistake ever. The switching service is a joke - direct debits disappear into the ether, causing you to incur credit card charges. When questioned, it's not their fault and 'you must have the sort code wrong'. Send letters of complaint that are ignored. Customer service is pretty atrocious. Am about to close my account, but judging by others' experiences on that, I...
Read full reviewJonathan Kelly's response to Guest's Review
Written on: 16/06/2010
I found this review helpful because...It happened to me as well the switching service only switched one of my direct debits the others were all discontinued by my old bank.
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 29/05/2010
“We had been with Giro which became Alliance for 40...”
We had been with Giro which became Alliance for 40 years. Since Santander took over the service has gone from bad to almost non- existent. We have stopped getting statements and lost internet banking telephones -calls have not resolved this. Following some letters their attempts to rectify this have not worked. I still do not know my balance from Month to month. Come back Girobank. We also have a Halifax account. Works wonderfully....
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★★★☆☆
Written on: 25/02/2010
“The service received when opening this alliance...”
The service received when opening this alliance account was quick and efficient however since then the telephone service has been slow and highly irritating at times as you have to explain everything at least 3 times before you get anywhere and this is after you have been on hold for what seems like an age. Having said that most issues can beresolved on line yourself which makes it efficient for those of us who have limited time and prefer to manage things ourselves. I received the £100 payment...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 24/02/2010
“Been waiting over 3 weeks now for a replacement Visa...”
Been waiting over 3 weeks now for a replacement Visa debit card for my current account (ordered on the 5th Feb). Found out on the 21st that my neighbour had received it on the 20th because my address is wrong, shame the staff in the branches couldn't have picked this up from looking at my driving licence each time I was withdrawing cash in-between times. Was advised to cancel the replacement card on the 20th by customer services and that they could arrange special delivery to a branch for me...
Read full reviewF71728's response to F71728's Review
Written on: 26/02/2010
...and since then, they said they could send my card by special delivery, but I told them not to, they did anyway - also received a letter from them saying 'welcome to your new home'....I've been here 4 years. Went into the branch toady, they're CONSTANTLY changing their policies, probably because of Santander. Staff looked really, really chocked off.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 33 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 31/01/2010
“Terrible, appalling and extremely impersonal "customer...”
Terrible, appalling and extremely impersonal "customer service". If you request anything which is even slightly out of the ordinary and not available as an automated service expect to spend fruitless hours on the phone listening to rubbish music and then eventually to have to explain your problem over and over again to someone who couldn't care less. Then expect to send several letters that go completely unanswered and apparently unrecorded, because when you phone no-one there has any record of...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 25/01/2010
“I'm sorry Alliance and Leicester have the worst...”
I'm sorry Alliance and Leicester have the worst service I have come across. It took 4 months to transfer my ISA to them, despite multiple chasings. Which therefore made a mockery of their increased (temporary rate, note it went down to 0.88% after 1 year) You cannot close your account in branch You cannot close it online So you have to phone. Transferred from department to department to fax machine until you finally get the "unhelpful dept". Ask you every question under the known sun....
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 24/12/2009
“NEVER think of changing to this bank - NEVER!!!! I...”
NEVER think of changing to this bank - NEVER!!!! I decided to join Aliiance & Leicster after HBOS decided on their new current account charges - biggest mistake of my life!! After 3 months and 4 complaints later I am £50 better off thanks to their gratia payments fo their errors but frankly I just want a bank I can trust!! Summary - all my starting stuff sent to my neighbour, they say I input the wrong address, I say impossibile as with it being a new build block I checked and double...
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★★★★☆
Written on: 23/04/2009
“Alliance & Leicester Current Account have nice...”
Alliance & Leicester Current Account have nice friendly people on the phone, when I have managed to get through. £100 reward money paid promptly with no hassle, which I was expecting! Fast service opening account - with all documents, cards etc. coming through the post very quickly. Generally I am happy with the experience of using the switching service. I think there is an element of keeping on top of your debits, standing orders and transfers yourself and not simply leaving it to the bank...
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☆☆☆☆☆
Written on: 23/03/2009
“Having warned Alliance & Leicester that I could have...”
Having warned Alliance & Leicester that I could have problems with an incoming transfer to cover my credit card bill, (from an Icelandic bank when they were having problems), the resulting farce cost me over £200. (My transfer, in fact, only arrived 2 hours late). Their systems seem to be set up to avoid any attempt at customer service; they simply keep directing you to the banking ombudsman who does not have a remit to address customer service. What could, in my case, have been sorted out...
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★★☆☆☆
Written on: 29/10/2008
“There's usually a table-topping deposit account but it...”
There's usually a table-topping deposit account but it changes each year or two from Premier to Premier Direct to eSaver to whatever it will be next year. They didn't let me transfer from one to another until I had a socking great amount of money in the account by fluke one month; usually the computer just says no. There doesn't seem to be a review section for Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank, which simply doesn't work so maybe that's why. If you use a personal account for business and they...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 21/10/2008
“I would sooner stash my cash under my bed than let...”
I would sooner stash my cash under my bed than let Alliance and Leicester anywhere near it (maybe a wise policy in these bank run times anyway). For one, they seem to have endless penalties and fees. It is clear their policy is to manipulate timings to keep you in a state of perpetual extortionate debt. They won't actually take the money out when you've put in plenty to cover the overdraft and the fines; they'll wait a few weeks and hope you've forgotten about it and been busy drawing away at the...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 09/07/2008
“All the league tables recommend the Premier Direct...”
All the league tables recommend the Premier Direct account at Alliance & Leicester. This is very misleading, the charges are excessive and the customer service is appalling. I recently transferred my mortgage from one provider to another and had a little hiccup during the process, I requested an increase in the overdraft facility to cover the hiccup and was not allowed. The net result I went over the agreed overdraft facility and have incurred charges of £350 pounds in the last two months...
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★★★☆☆
Written on: 24/06/2008
“It seems to take days for anything to come off my...”
It seems to take days for anything to come off my account when using your visa debit card - my Halifax account it comes off instantly so you know your balance. There customer services is poor - although I did get a call from someone quite senior after a serious complaint. Bad customer services - huge waiting times in queues, to then be cut off or get no help - account balances not updated very fast - all from one of the longest running banks?!...
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☆☆☆☆☆
Written on: 17/03/2008
“I would never touch any Alliance and Leicester product...”
I would never touch any Alliance and Leicester product again. My son paid £100 in bank charges for a 50 pence overdraft, when he lost his job....
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Showing 11 - 20 of 33 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 12/03/2008
“Alliance & Leicester Current Account customer service...”
Alliance & Leicester Current Account customer service is extremely limited in the help they give. They have lost written correspondence from me. Their correspondence to me was very poor. Incorrect standing order withdrawals Incorrect Direct Debit failure Once in three years wages went in late and they charged for several failed direct debits....
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★★★★★
Written on: 28/02/2008
“Hi all, just opened an A&L Premier direct current...”
Hi all, just opened an A&L Premier direct current account and just got all my stuff through the post this week, very prompt in opening the account and it does what it says on the tin, depending on your credit score with the bank you will either get a 3 in 1 or a 2 in 1 VISA debit card...yes a VISA debit card and not an Electron Card, i have just recovered from ID theft and Experian have been working on my behalf for over a year now trying to clear my name, still got a very low credit score but no...
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★★★★☆
Written on: 20/12/2007
“Hi, I have complained about Alliance & Leicester's new...”
Hi, I have complained about Alliance & Leicester's new daily overdraft fee but cannot complain about their attitude to fraud. On Monday I had several amounts of cash taken from my account by a fraudster. I spoke to A&L today and not only did they flag the transactions as dubious they have also re-credited my account with all the money taken while they try to recover the money. It is possible I may end up losing it in the end but their actions could not have been more helpful and much better...
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☆☆☆☆☆
Written on: 11/12/2007
“I would not recommend this bank to anyone who has, or...”
I would not recommend this bank to anyone who has, or would want, a smaller overdraft which they only use sporadically. Why? They used to charge about 6% interest on authorized overdrafts which was very good. Now they have introduced a swinging 50p a day! There is no buffer and I have been charged 50p a day for just using £1 of my overdraft. Seven days of being between £1 and £130 overdrawn has cost me £3.50. My maximum overdraft is just £200. The previous six months...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 26/10/2007
“I really would not recommend the premier direct...”
I really would not recommend the premier direct account as the customer service is appalling and if you have a problem the chances of reaching a human being to discuss the problem is non-existent in my experience, I also have a business account and the difference there with the level of customer service is so different ie. free call back, ready to help etc....
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☆☆☆☆☆
Written on: 05/06/2006
“We had to go in to our Alliance & Leicester account to...”
We had to go in to our Alliance & Leicester account to pay money in, as we only used the account for bills. We paid money in, and on the same day the bills came out, and we were charged £34. My husband rang to try and complain twice, and they said there was nothing they could do about it. There was no manager he could talk to as they were busy. He offered to wait and they put the phone down on him!! We are closing the account straight away, and we will never be going near A & L again....
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 16/09/2005
“I was convinced, like many people that Alliance &...”
I was convinced, like many people that Alliance & Leicester offered a great service, and I switched banks from Lloyds, as A&L offered the best interest rate. Within 6 months I had moved banks again, as the customer service in A&L is poor to non-existent. I will not make that mistake again!...
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★★★★☆
Written on: 11/08/2005
“I have had an Alliance & Leicester Premium current for...”
I have had an Alliance & Leicester Premium current for about 6 months now, and am nothing but satisfied with the service I have received. With a 5% rate of interest on this current account, I now get more out of this than my savings account. The online account system is easy to use and includes a running balance and an available balance which my old a/c didn't....
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☆☆☆☆☆
Written on: 10/05/2005
“I was recently turned down for the Alliance &...”
I was recently turned down for the Alliance & Leicester Premier account, despite meeting all their criteria. Apparently the reason being that they couldn't locate me on the electoral register for a full 10 years (I don't know the reason for this). They did however offer me the Electron account. They could not explain to me why they were prepared to offer one but not the other!! ?? Any ideas?...
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★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 04/12/2004
“The attractive interest rate of this account from the...”
The attractive interest rate of this account from the Alliance and Leicesteris paid for by high charges. The charges cut in even when only tiny amounts of excess spend are involved AND when credit cheques to cover the offending amount are already in the system. If my experience is anything to go by, expect the Alliance and Leicester to stop cheques, dishonour direct debits and apply high charges at the drop of a hat. Customer complaints receive computer generated responses that do not address the...
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Showing 21 - 30 of 33 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Written on: 07/11/2004
“I was offered a Premier current account but I wanted...”
I was offered a Premier current account but I wanted to increase the overfdraft offer. I spoke to the A&L customer rep who gave me a 'wrong' fax number to forward the necessary details. I call up again and advised them of their mistake and yet again they gaave me a wrong fax number. Eventually I found out a had faxed my personnal details to a 'random' fax number given by, yes - A&L! Eventually, I managed to contact someone in the 'Under Writers' department who where very rude. Since this incident...
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★★☆☆☆
Written on: 17/06/2004
“The bad points were what prompted me to close my...”
The bad points were what prompted me to close my account with Alliance and Leicester. It does say in the small print that money must be in your account 24 hours before any transaction is due so I suppose it was my fault. However to return a standing order for £4.10 when you are only 44p over your overdraft limit seems extreme, especially when your are charged £29.50 for the service!
The internet banking balances were a little confusing with different balances appearing on different...
Ianjohnson67's response to Mares's Review
Written on: 19/06/2004
I agree with what is said above and would like to add my own experience. Setting direct debits up is not always the smooth experience you have become used to with other banks and also going in to a branch of A&L is just about a waste of time as they can do little more than pay in and withdraw to the account. Any direct debits, etc., need to be done by phone (long call queues, at peak time can be over an hour!). Also worth mentioning if you are thinking of moving all your finances to the A&L is that the credit card side of the business was sold off to MBNA just over a year ago and this is only one area where A&L seem like an amalgamation of different businesses that can only pass you to another call queue when you ask can I do.... err... NO! I am so glad I didn't see through my transfer of banking from Barclays to A&L as I have returned much wiser and grateful of the competent service that Barclays offer, then again it was A&L's failures in the first month of banking with them that caused me to have second thoughts.
Janus823's response to Mares's Review
Written on: 28/04/2005
I moved to the Alliance and Leicester a few months ago having had months of problems with the Halifax. So far I've found their service to be excellent, but then I've never used their telephone banking. Using their online service I've found setting up standing orders and money transfers to be quick and easy. Paying bills online, such as my A&L credit card, is also straighforward. I do know what you mean though about the way they display your balance in two columns. It can be confusing. Personally, I've no complaints with the Alliance and Leicester and am really glad I'm no longer an account holder with the Halifax.
★★★★★
Written on: 16/01/2004
“The Alliance & Leicester current account offer a good...”
The Alliance & Leicester current account offer a good overdraft facility and very few charges. You get interest when in credit. Very pleased overall. Regular and up to date statements, easy to understand. Telephone banking, recently introduced internet banking but I haven't tried that....
Read full reviewTony8555's response to j20jax's Review
Written on: 21/04/2005
Don't try Internet Banking as you'll be tearing your hair out in no time and has to be the worst Internet Banking site on the web.
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