Alliance & Leicester Current Account Reviews

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1.7 stars
Average rating for this product is: 1.7 out of 5

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LenderAccountDescriptionInterestAEROverdraft  
Overdraft RateOverdraft Limit
Alliance & LeicesterPremier Direct AccountEarn a great rate of 6% AER (fixed for one year) on balances up to £2,500.Monthly6.00%0.00%£2,000.00
Alliance & LeicesterPremier CurrentEnjoy benefits such as, free annual European travel insurance plus receive a share of £50 when you recommend a friend.Monthly0.50%0.00%£2,000.00
NatwestNatwest Advantage Gold AccountEnjoy benefits worth up to £704 for just £12.95 a month. Including Mobile phone cover, Travel Insurance and even tailored rates on other Natwest products.Monthly0.25%18.49%n/a

Average Ratings for Alliance & Leicester Current Account

  • Ease of use2.6 stars
  • Customer Service1.3 stars
  • Overall rating1.7 stars

20 Reviews For Alliance & Leicester Current Account

  • suliwoo 23rd Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    Bad Points: Loging into the online system was tricky at first as i got my log in details wrong, and then strugggled to talk to a person about it on the phone - again because the log in details for phone banking are the same as online (which wouldn't work!). But eventually sorted out and i am used to their online banking system.


    General comments: 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 (as they suggest). I had to ensure payments due were paid if they got missed during the switch, although they remind you to check this when you get their transfer instructions. I was very unhappy with the sudden lack of service from Halifax, and the rudness of their staff after being a customer of theirs for over 15 years. Overall a relatively painless move over to A&L.

  • aberoy 23rd Mar 2009

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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 ...

  • veganline 29th Oct 2008

    Reviewer rating: 2 stars


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    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 ...

  • sesterti 21st Oct 2008

    Reviewer rating: 0.5 stars


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    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 ...

  • sunshine jay 9th Jul 2008

    Reviewer rating: 0.5 stars


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    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 ...

  • east17 24th Jun 2008

    Reviewer rating: 2.5 stars


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    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?!

  • drb56 Rank: Corporal 17th Mar 2008

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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.

  • gumboyaya 12th Mar 2008

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    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 withdrawalsIncorrect Direct Debit failureOnce in three years wages went in late and they charged for several failed direct debits.

  • PROLIANT 28th Feb 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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 n ...

  • pilgrim1 Rank: Lance Corporal 20th Dec 2007

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    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 bett ...

  • pilgrim1 Rank: Lance Corporal 11th Dec 2007

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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 mont ...

  • anne banks 26th Oct 2007

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    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.

  • jmoger 5th Jun 2006

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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.

  • Bennybob 16th Sep 2005

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    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!

  • Bigkerno Rank: Sergeant 11th Aug 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    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.

  • TeresaD Rank: Corporal 10th May 2005

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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?

  • Moneyman 4th Dec 2004

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    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 th ...

  • Nationwide 7th Nov 2004

    Reviewer rating: 0.5 stars


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    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 thi ...

  • Mares 17th Jun 2004

    Reviewer rating: 2 stars


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    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 ...

  • j20jax Rank: Lance Corporal 16th Jan 2004

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    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.