Alliance & Leicester Reviews
Summary
Alliance and Leicester is now part of the Santander group and will soon be changing it's name to Santander. A&L offer current accounts, savings & ISA's, loans, mortgages, credit cards plus insurance, investments and offshore accounts.
How do you rate Alliance and Leicester? What do you think of the proposed name change? Let us know by writing a review. Your opinion helps others make their choice.
Media Gallery for Alliance & Leicester
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Useless bank. Ripping people off on overdraft charges. ”
Written on: 21/03/2011
Useless bank. Ripping people off on overdraft charges. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
“The Alliance & Leicester, now Santendair, must be the...”
Written on: 23/09/2010
The Alliance & Leicester, now Santendair, must be the worst possible bank that is available today. They charge to contact them by phone, leave you waiting for ages then connect you with the most ridiculous automatic answering system I have ever experienced. It is virtually impossible to speak to a real person and even when you do, the person who answers is a low intelligence operative who obviously reads from a computer screen with such moronic terms as '.. and how are you today..' and then... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“They do not reply to letters or to emails to their...”
Written on: 24/08/2010
They do not reply to letters or to emails to their Complaints Department.
We are still without internet access to some of my wife's accounts 4 weeks after the transfer to the Santander system. Several abortive attempts by Customer Services to fix the problem led to a request for us to to visit a branch. We met the Branch Manager for one hour who did not resolve the problem and failed to ring back back as she promised.
Customer Services refuse to pass one on to someone with greater...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“are ignoring my private secured messages sent to them...”
Written on: 12/08/2010 by 5h (2 reviews written)
are ignoring my private secured messages sent to them through online banking, since over two weeks. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Terrible experience. I am moving away for sure. ”
Written on: 30/07/2010 by Kreizde (2 reviews written)
Terrible experience. I am moving away for sure.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“If all you want to do is draw cash at a Post Office or...”
Written on: 26/07/2010
If all you want to do is draw cash at a Post Office or make simple Debit Card payments, all very well. However, one run-through with their truly dreadful call centre will be enough to set you looking for somewhere else to keep your money. Forget the days when you could deal with friendly Giro staff. The Alliance & Leicester call centre is designed with one end in mind - to keep people waiting for as long as possible so that Alliance & Leicester can milk their customers by means of their... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Simply the worst bank I have had the misfortune of...”
Written on: 13/05/2010
Simply the worst bank I have had the misfortune of dealing with. I used their "switch" service which failed to switch a number of my direct debits. I was given incorrect advice from a customer service adviser in the Branch about the time it takes for cheques to clear and the Manger of Cross Street Manchester branch does not believe the adviser gave that advice (therefore calling me a liar). BEWARE you cannot complain up the chain - the branch wields all the power. I wouldn't touch these... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“My e-bay and paypal details were hacked. Money went...”
Written on: 08/05/2010
My e-bay and paypal details were hacked. Money went missing from my AL internet account. I got 3 contradictory sets of advice over the 'phone and no helpful response. Beware these guys don't give a monkeys (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“i am astounded at the poor service. i am in customer...”
Written on: 30/04/2010
i am astounded at the poor service. i am in customer service and understand it from both sides.
issues;
agree to port a low rate mortagage, then back out on a technicallity because i paid them back 46hours before i should have done
unable to spaek to anyone in authority
spent the whole day on the phone to people who cant make decision
just the worst bank going.RBS and nat west were kicking the door down to do business. dont use them. i am now closing my saving account and the families...
(read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 36 Reviews
★★★★★
“had business account with a&l for over a year - opened...”
Written on: 14/12/2009
had business account with a&l for over a year - opened it very easily - never had any issues - staff always very helpful, anything ive needed they have sorted
wouldnt want to change my account apart from the fact i dont want to bank with santander
will change account when they get rid of the a&l name
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“i've just moved to a&l. i have nothing but bad things...”
Written on: 08/12/2009
i've just moved to a&l. i have nothing but bad things to say about them and deeply regret moving to them already. I'm writing this with my phone sat next to me on loudspeaker whilst i've been on hold for 15 minutes trying to get through to the switching 'service' they offer.
i wrote them a letter a few weeks ago applying to switch banks, as i'd used the online service and had been offered £100 for switching. as i'm travelling abroad i also wanted to take advantage of their santander zero...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I've operated a business account with Alliance &...”
Written on: 11/11/2009
I've operated a business account with Alliance & Leicester for only 3 months now. The whole account opening procedure was a real pain & took over a month to complete. Once open the Internet Banking facility did not operate & I was unable to make payments online, Great.
The account has operated in credit to the tune of oner £50,000.00 and has no borrowing, yet A&L wrote to me two weeks ago to advise me that as part of a business review they are to close my account!! Why??? No explanation,...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Started to struggle with repaying my overdraft so...”
Written on: 04/11/2009
Started to struggle with repaying my overdraft so arranged a payment plan with this lot. The amount I was paying meant the payment period was too long to be dealt with by one department, and as such would be passed on to another recovery team. What they didn't say was that I would be charged for this privilege - ended up being charged the equivalent of two months repayments. Still waiting for a representative to tell me where in the terms and conditions this is stipulated. Thanks for... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Appauling ”
Written on: 23/10/2009
Appauling
Account never went overdrawn.
A&L charged me £80 in fees regardless.
Customers services was a joke, no option to speak to anyone in authority, just the same old people who can't help you.
Will never ever use them (or santander) again.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Alliance & Leicester get 0/10. However, if what you're...”
Written on: 27/08/2009
Alliance & Leicester get 0/10. However, if what you're looking for is a bank that will screw you over by unfairly charging you and has a poor customer service then this is the one for you. Good luck! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“ I never really had any problems with Alliance &...”
Written on: 25/07/2009
I never really had any problems with Alliance & Leicester until I tried to close my account. Their terms and conditions said I was to be charged £5 per month if I didn't pay in a minimum of £500 every month so I decided, since I had no need to pay in that amount of money, that I would close it.
Maybe I've just been unlucky but whenever I've phoned up Alliance and Leicester I find their call centre staff quite patronising and rude and this time was no exception. Once I'd asked to close my...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I hate alliance and leicester. I must pay £100 in...”
Written on: 23/05/2009 by adamfairclough (1 review written)
I hate alliance and leicester. I must pay £100 in charges per month because payments in are not accepted instantly. If a payment is made out of the account and i then put money in out of my business account i still get charged! Everything takes an age and i have so many numbers to remember if might need to transfer some money in a few days. My girlfriend also has an alliance and leicester account and if i transfer anything over £250 to her it takes three days!!! you can only make one... (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“Wakefiel Branch West Yorkshire has to be the worst...”
Written on: 11/02/2009 by frankcawthron (1 review written)
Wakefiel Branch West Yorkshire has to be the worst bank on the planet for customer relations. We are treated like dog turds under youe feet!
The branch seems to be staffed by insolent 12 yr olds who do not care or cannot be arsed to help customers.
My blind 92 year old mother who has the misfortune to have a current account with A&L and has been in a care home for the last 12 months still has statements, replaement cards etc sent to her old address(now reoccupied) despite change of address...
(read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“We have been with Alliance And Leicester since 1974...”
Written on: 06/12/2008
We have been with Alliance And Leicester since 1974 when it was girobank, it used to be great could not fault it, but now it makes my blood boil. I get upset at the thought of phoning to even get a balance on the account having being locked out so many times after using pin numbers sent by them to me and then being told they are invalid. I wish they would get their act together. We never had any trouble till this latest takeover. I suppose its called progress! would have reccomended in... (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 11 - 20 of 36 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“This is my experience as attorney for my mother's...”
Written on: 22/11/2008 by carolem132
This is my experience as attorney for my mother's account. Setting up power of attorney with them was a challenge in itself and took me about 6 months. You would think that sending one copy of the power to their legal department would be enough to give power over all my mother's accounts, but they wanted a separate copy for each account.
If I had had to make a choice of bank, it would not have been this one
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I have been a customer of A & L since Girobank days...”
Written on: 29/04/2008
I have been a customer of A & L since Girobank days and too be honest, I have had enough! The staff are very rude, not very pleasant and their customer service is more like dis-service! How on earth they are managing to stay in business is beyond me?
You can use the Post Office to pay in & take out money which is handy if your miles from an A & L Branch, but with all the Post Office Closures even that could be tricky.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Online banking.... 3days behind! Transaction always...”
Written on: 11/02/2008
Online banking.... 3days behind! Transaction always anything between 24 to 72 hours + after they have been made, on your statement. Statements / Online banking you can never get an accurate up to date account balance, you always need a pen, paper and calculator, they have account balance, running balance and available balance!
Speaking to someone on the phone..... bit like on line banking haven't got a clue!
(read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“I would not recommend anyone opening an account with...”
Written on: 30/11/2007 by timbobonanza
I would not recommend anyone opening an account with A&L. If you have a problem its difficult to get help. It's a cheap and cheerful business with cheap and cheerful service quality. I am closing all the accounts I have with them when the interest on my savings matures. (read more)
★★★★☆
“Overall impressed with service and will continue to...”
Written on: 26/08/2007 by jamessturdy (3 reviews written)
Overall impressed with service and will continue to bank with them. (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“The Alliance & Leicester bank has to improve their...”
Written on: 05/08/2007 by chanscent (6 reviews written)
The Alliance & Leicester bank has to improve their service facility to its customers. They have an internet banking but customers couldn't email then because they don't use an email facility. (read more)
★★★★☆
“Overall Alliance & Leicester Bank are OK. Where I...”
Written on: 13/07/2007 by DOLPHIN69 (1 review written)
Overall Alliance & Leicester Bank are OK. Where I live I have to visit the town and pay to park to go to the bank. (read more)
★★★★☆
“I've got a Premier Account with Alliance & Leicester...”
Written on: 09/07/2007 by bradgirl (13 reviews written)
I've got a Premier Account with Alliance & Leicester which I opened due to the benefits on offer for anyone paying in more than a certain amount each month. I get free travel insurance for me and my partner, a free overdraft facility (up to £1500) for 1 year followed by the lowest overdraft rate on the high street now and an excellent rate for savings. I was very pleased with the service I received from them when I swapped my account from another supplier, as they moved all my direct debits... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“They lose or "do not receive" letters with frightening...”
Written on: 13/06/2007 by workerbee (1 review written)
They lose or "do not receive" letters with frightening regularity. Be extremely cautious when dealing with Alliance & Leicester Bank. (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“I transferred my cash ISA to an Alliance & Leicester...”
Written on: 25/08/2006 by XX (39 reviews written)
I transferred my cash ISA to an Alliance & Leicester branch when I found them on the highest rate table, but their interest rate dropped, even before the fund was actually transferred. I have stayed with them (with more than one account) for over a year now, and nothing has got better, but it is in fact getting worse. Their on-line website is the worst of all, and their customer services is a complete nightmare. (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 21 - 30 of 36 Reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
“I have been an Alliance & Leicester customer for five...”
Written on: 08/08/2006 by Combe
I have been an Alliance & Leicester customer for five years with all my earnings paid into my account. They would give me a loan for up to £10,000, but when it came to asking for an overdraft for a couple of days - no deal. Pathetic! And the so-called customer service line is hopeless.
The staff at my local branch in Dumfries are friendly, but they have no powers to do anything.
(read more)
Chat's Response to 254520_Combe's Review
Written on: 05/11/2008
I agree with this review because...same experiences
Reply to this comment
☆☆☆☆☆
“I had a £25 charge for a £10 standing order which was...”
Written on: 29/06/2006 by charmainec (1 review written)
I had a £25 charge for a £10 standing order which was coming from my Alliance & Leicester current account into my savings account. I paid money in at 9:30am, but they have told me it should have been in the day before. I am not entitled to a refund they said. (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“If you ever get into difficulty with the running of...”
Written on: 10/03/2006 by terr1 (1 review written)
If you ever get into difficulty with the running of your Alliance & Leicester account they don't want to know. The credit control centre is rubbish, and they have no facilities set up to help in that area. (read more)
★★★★★
“I have found A & L a brilliant bank. I have had the...”
Written on: 30/06/2005 by Valed (1 review written)
I have found A & L a brilliant bank. I have had the Premier account in the past which also gives you travel insurance for a year every year until your 65. I have upgraded to premier plus which gives an excellent rate of interst on your c/a, there are conditions to be met to qaulify for this account and that is £1000 must be put into the account ever month otherwise there is a charge of £5 and if you have more than £2500 then the rate of interest goes down so it is worth keeping an eye on... (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“I took out a loan with the Alliance & Leicester back...”
Written on: 15/06/2005 by stuels
I took out a loan with the Alliance & Leicester back in November 2004 and needed to have a settlement total to pay the loan off in full in June. I have taken a consolidation loan with another bank to pay off outstanding loans and credit cards. Simple you might think, well yes for the other 2 loans and 3 credit cards, but, unfortunately the Alliance & Leicester have decided to take a step back into the dark ages and will only issue a settlement total by post. This so far has not arrived... (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“Want a bank? Keep on looking. The A&L have in the 8...”
Written on: 14/06/2005 by PaulaT318 (5 reviews written)
Want a bank? Keep on looking. The A&L have in the 8 years I've been a customer with them - overcharged on bank charges, taken money from my account without authorisation or advance notice, lost a £10,000.00 cheque I presented them for special clearance and despite accepting it and making the appropriate charge for special clearance, I was then told that they can't guarantee a quick service - special clearance eventually took 11 working days. I used to have a car loan, a mortgage 3 savings... (read more)
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Nosskibird's Response to 328205_timbobonanza's Review
Written on: 07/01/2008
I totally agree. The customer service I've had recently has been appalling. 5 different staff told me 5 different things! No records of the call appear to have been kept!