Alliance & Leicester

Advantages: Competitive interest rate
Disadvantages: Unfriendly literature, unhelpful staff, website difficult to use

...I was attracted to the Alliance and Leicester's 'Online Saver' account because of the relatively high interest rate offered. Today when I checked, the interest rate is 5.35% which is higher than most of the mainstream competition. I applied for this account online via their website. I find their home page almost assaults the eye; it's as though they want to shout about every link on there and ultimately it's just too much and in my opinion it looks 'cheap'. It didn't take too long to complete the application form and about seven days later the account was set up. To notify me that my new account was ready, I received two letters through the post, one letter had a pin number and the other letter a username so that I could login. There was a minimal amount of detail in the letter, just barely enough instructions to get you logged in... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Interest every month
Disadvantages: Bad service

...I have only been with Alliance and leicester for a couple of weeks now and i have found their service is very unreliable. I have a Visa Electron account. I payed a cheque in on thurday last week and it still has not cleared. They said on their leaflet it would take 2-4 working days. But it has now been 5 working day excluding the weekend. The interest rate is very competitive and you get it every month. People who are already with Alliance and leicester should shut down their account. I should have stuck with HSBC and Natwest. Their customer service is better than Alliance and leicester's. If anyone would like further infomation on this please e-mail me on quickd18@hotmail.com. Or you can leave a comment. Don't just go for the best deal like i did research the company in full.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Can with draw money from rural post offices
Disadvantages: If you live in a rural area and don't have an account you stuck!

...I come from a rural area where post offices are literally the only way to bank, since selling my car its either walk to the nearest town or use the post office. Yet dispite this fact the Alliance and Leicester have refused to let me open a bank account with them on two occasions. I even explained to them the only way I can get cash in an emergency is at my local post office, yet they did not want to know. The only debts I have are student loans, I have a full time job, I didn't even apply for an overdraft or cheque book facilities. Is there some thing else I don't know about. The first time I applied to them fair enough I was straight out of university and only had a temporary job, but two years later with a full time job, what is wrong with these people? I is hard enough surviving in rural areas if you don't have easy access... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful