Alliance & Leicester Current Account

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'.

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 hastily jump ship to First Direct (purely on the strength of reported customer satisfaction). Blocked/Cancelled cards, refused transactions, ridiculously over-zealous & mis-applied security, mislaid funds, blocked internet banking necessitating constant 'helpline' phone calls necessitating repeated wasted visits to Branch with seemingly clueless staff, supposedly 'reactivated'/unblocked cards that are still blocked, cancelled transactions, utterly useless telephone, security & branch banking (all with contradicting and ultimately futile advice- if any advice offered at all). I currently have no access to my funds as I still have no card and haven't had for some time. If it wasn't for the fact that my wife still has her old current account that we can dip into I'm not sure how we'd manage for day-to-day money.

It really has just been an increasingly ridiculous farce and - still with no solution apparent - we have decided to abandon ship.

It is a shame as the products offered are excellent ( for example, the interest paid in the current account is excellent) but it really isn't enough to justify the utterly dreadful customer service. It was only when I started to explore the money/banking websites that it wasn't just us that had the problem. As things stand, I wouldn't touch a Santander product with a bargepole.

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!

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.

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.

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 quid, worth for 1 star only.

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 am not very hopeful.

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.

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 for transfering without any problem at all which greatly surprised me as we had no end of hassle with my partners account which was opened at the same time as mine.

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 to collect, but would still take 7-10 days, chased today for an update (24th) and that apparently isn't possible, the card has to go to your address.

No consistent information from anyone at this place. Two friends have lost their card in the last week (they use different banks) and both have had replacements in less than 4 days. Wouldn't recommend anyone to the A&L, am switching banks. Toy town service from a bank that is getting too big, too quick. Oh, and some bank staff AND customer services staff could be a bit more convincing that they can actually can be bothered...