The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.
Advantages:
A hard copy statement can be printed out .
Disadvantages:
No identification of who has been paid, or paid you, although this information is provided in the normal monthly statement sent by post .
I’ve had an Alliance & Leicester Giro A/C, or National Girobank as it was before the sell off, since 1973. When the World Wide Web came along, and brought with it the concept of accessing your Bank Account via a home computer, I thought “Great, soon I’ll be able to go online, switch funds at will quickly between my Current /Savings/ Budget A/Cs Etc, set up or cancel Direct Debits, make extra payments to Credit Cards if required, and generally control my finances easier and faster.” Well that’s what I thought any way! Unfortunately the Online Banking arm of A&L is, in my opinion a withered limb.
Here is a complaint I made after using the service in May 2000:
“I am very disappointed in your Internet Banking Site, quite frankly I think it's rubbish! · No facility to manage Standing Orders, or Direct Debits, · Mandates have to be set up by phone for each individual account, and then the account is pigeon holed into a "Group Saving" or some other Non-Descript name that you have to remember which is which. · No Payee names of Bills paid, · No running balance, · Frequent page Script errors, and pages are hit and miss, with the balances sometimes not displayed, · Time set to "logged off" too short. When I phoned to set up a Mandate to pay An Account online, I was reminded that I could still do this by Telephone, It may be that you are trying to discourage customers from using the internet banking, and stay with the telephone method, however other banks, TSB, CO-OP, BARCLAY etc offer far superior online banking and make it easier to switch accounts. I hope you are working on improvements to your system as I have been a customer of this bank from about 1973.”
The reply I received included these comments: · “We do not have the ability to increase the amount of detail shown on the transfer/bill payment screens at the moment”. · “However, we do have a request registered with the development team that runs the website to have these screens changed so that they show account details etc. when accessed on the website”. · “We have also requested the ability for the customer so that they can set up the payments online for as many payments as they require”. · “We are passing on to the development team that runs the website any suggestions for changes or improvements so they will be informed of your comments”.
This sounded good , but NINE Months later, and it is exactly the same as the day I complained, the only improvement is in the “logging off” time, it used to seem like if you dropped your pen, by the time you bent down to pick it up you were “logged off” and had to go through the sign in procedure again. I feel they are totally out of line with what today’s internet customer requires.
I am therefore in the market to switch banks, and this site will be very helpful as I can view the comments and experiences, of fellow users at Ciao.com I need a Bank with the facility to make deposits and withdrawals at Post Offices, which saves going into Town to use a High Street Bank or Cash machine, and as far as I know this narrows the field to two.
The CO-Ops SMILE Bank looks good, but they require a minimum funding of £1000 per month which rules out the lower paid, or those like myself on a small medical retirement pension. Lloyds TSB Online Banking, with Post Office facilities looks a lot superior (wouldn’t be hard) to Alliance & Leicester’s, and will probably be my final choice.
So the "Alliance & Leicester Online Banking Service" looks as if it will be getting voted by me, as they say, the “Weakest Link”……Goodbye!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Being in a rural area, I am looking for a bank where I can deposit my paychecks via the local post office. Alliance & Leicester were at the top of my list to have a look at. I didn't know Lloyds had post office services, so I will look into it. Thank you.
mikeydred 06.03.2001 10:03
Good op. I'm with the Nationwide who provide a totally brilliant service. Keep on writing.
earningstuff 23.02.2001 15:51
you hit the nail squarely on the head - vote with your feet and wallet! #only then will customers be listened to!
Advantages: Efficient service, reliable, good range of services available, easy to use online banking facility Disadvantages: There's nothing that really comes to mind. Apart from the occasional down-time online, the service is really good
Advantages: Efficient service, reliable, good range of services available, easy to use online banking facility Disadvantages: There's nothing that really comes to mind. Apart from the occasional down-time online, the service is really good
Advantages: Good interest if you keep on-top of their offers Disadvantages: churning: lowering interest & changing account names. Avoid Commercial Bank.
Feb 22nd, 2001
very helpful by (67%):
helpful by (25%):
somewhat helpful by (8%):
