Woolwich? Not for the disabled!
My mother received a letter from her local Woolwich branch confirming that her Maxi ISA had matured. The letter suggested that she should call into her branch to arrange a further investment for the funds.
I should explain that my mother is eighty seven ... Read review
Advantages: Good return on ISA Disadvantages: Poor access to branch for disabled
...a letter from her local Woolwich branch confirming that her Maxi ISA had matured. The letter suggested that she should call into her branch to arrange a further investment for the funds.
I should explain that my mother is eighty seven years of age incredibly bright and cheerful, but due to arthritis, confined to a wheelchair for outings. She telephoned me and asked when I could take her to the Woolwich and subsequently made an appointment ... ...mother, having been with the Woolwich for some twenty years, would need some form of utility account proving her current address and identity. I regret that at this point I intervened suggesting that she had brought the letter that the Woolwich had written to her together with her bank card. Miss Whoeveritwas became quite insistent that monies could only be invested with proper identification and proof of address and suggested that my mother should ... more
Woolwich? Not for the disabled!
My mother received a letter from her local Woolwich branch confirming that her Maxi ISA had matured. The letter suggested that she should call into her branch to arrange a further investment for the funds.
I should explain that my mother is eighty seven years of age incredibly bright and cheerful, but due to arthritis, confined to a wheelchair for outings. She telephoned me and asked when I could take her to the Woolwich and subsequently made an appointment with the branch.
I collected my mother/wheelchair and drove to a car park near the branch and then wheeled her to the branch. Entrance to the branch is protected by two security doors, both operated by a push button control. To push a wheelchair operate the door controls whilst holding a door ajar with one foot can only be likened to a Laurel and Hardy comedy. To carry out this operation through two doors in and two doors out is quite exhausting, I can imagine the staff having bets to see who the doors hit first, the pusher or the pushed.
However, we made it into the branch almost an hour early for the appointment and asked to see Miss Whoeveritwas. We were directed to a glass screened enclosure, one of those enclosures that always seem to amplify your conversation to everyone in the branch.
Miss Whoeveritwas seemed unimpressed by our early arrival and insisted that she finish her tea before commencing business with my mother. We apologised profusely for being so early and waited patiently for the last gulp of tea. After the tea ceremony Miss Whoeveritwas suggested two or three options for investment and my mother opted for a middle road investment that allowed her frequent access to the funds.
Miss Whoeveritwas then stated that my mother, having been with the Woolwich for some twenty years, would need some form of utility account proving her current address and identity. I regret that at this point I intervened suggesting that she had brought the letter that the Woolwich had written to her together with her bank card. Miss Whoeveritwas became quite insistent that monies could only be invested with proper identification and proof of address and suggested that my mother should return with the necessary documentation. I pointed out that visiting the branch was rather like a major army manoeuvre for my mother and that “horses for courses” should apply. Miss Whoeveritwas remained insistent. I turned to my mother and suggested moving her funds to another bank and one much nearer to where she lived. At this juncture Miss Whoeveritwas said she would have a word with her manager and returned within seconds stating that her manager had kindly agreed to waive the formality of identification.
My mother has now kindly agreed for me to seek other banking arrangements more suitable for her needs.
Advantages: Numerous locations,range of products offered Disadvantages: Falling standards of service,change of direction
...been a customer of the Woolwich for around 10 years now.During that time I have watched as they have gone from one of the better buiding societies, through mutialisation, to where they are today, owned by Barclays and run as a profit driven franchise type outlet.
I chose Woolwich all those years ago as the local branch was well staffed by a group of ladies who always gave very good service, as well as being friendly and polite.
During my time as ... ...whole thing.
Barclays purchased Woolwich because of its large customer base.These customers will now be targeted(no doubt in the new booths) to buy a range of products ranging from Insurance,Investments,ISA,making wills, in fact anything that will bring a commission charge and thus increase profitability.
I know this is the way business operates but I would rather go into a branch where I am treated not just as a potential commission maker but ...
murky5 31.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Woolwich
Advantages: Possible Barclays takeover looming Disadvantages: Your money could go ANYWHERE
Having banked with The Woolwich for 14 l-o-n-g years, I have decided that enough is enough. Sure I received my free shares a few years ago, and who knows where the Barclays take over plans will lead. BUT having had the most slapdash, shoddy and downright incompetent service imaginable I'm off. Most problems seemed to start since the conversion from a Building Society. Within a week I had a £270 cheque paid INTO my account, which I knew nothing about. ... ...a VERY long story short, Woolwich staff were uninterested, WE got the police involved, who's advise was that no fraud had been committed, only incompetence on the banks behalf (still can't figure that one out).We eventually had the monies refunded,although snide remarks about me using the internet abounded. In her infinite wisdom the bank manager told us NEVER to use our cards in shops etc., she'd never dream of it, its just not safe!!!!
All this ...
pavarotti9817243 03.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Woolwich
Advantages: The best, simple, no-frills accounts around. Disadvantages: Charge you heavily if you want more complicated stuff.
...and I have to say, Woolwich have coped admirably with this. The cashiers now know me almost personally, and are always friendly and helpful. They'll always do what I tell 'em, and they'll do it with a smile. This is a lot better than I've seen with other banks. For example, today I went into HSBC in Merry Hill to withdraw some money over-the-counter, I asked the cashier, "Is it possible to withdraw from my Woolwich account in here?"
Male Cashier: ... ...of your account, not your Woolwich part"
***TALKING BOLLOCKS ALERT***
Me: "This is not a Visa Card..."
Male Cashier: "Yes we know, but we can't withdraw money from your Woolwich account, it will have to be from the visa part because..."
Me: "No, this is NOT a Visa Card.. look, Visa ELECTRON, not Visa"
Male Cashier: "Oh.. well, what do you think Shirley? (name changed)"
Female Cashier Shrugs Shoulders.
I frown at them both, to tell them off, ...
JackW 20.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Woolwich
Advantages: Unhelpful information from Local branch Disadvantages: Everything
...have been acustomer with the Woolwich for about 5 years changing my current account into the all new open plan about a year ago.
I then heard about the merger between Barclays and The Woolwich and I thought time to move having never been a fan of Barclays. I opened an account with Nationwide but before I could get the account up and running I found myself in Hospital following an RTA.
In November I made a stupid mistake a wrote acheque from the ... ...I transfered funds to the Woolwich open plan account only to receive two letters, at £27 each, telling me of the obvious, one letter dated on the day of the transaction to credit my account and the other after I had credited the account.
I rang the Woolwich and explained that I had made an error, and that I was happy to pay for the first letter but surely the second letter should not stand as I had credited the account in cash. Sorry was the reply ...
sadcrab 23.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Woolwich
Advantages: Lots of branches usually local Disadvantages: Have you got all day?
I have had several Woolwich accounts dating back about 20yrs. Back then, they were my nearest branch and they were reasonably competitive on all fronts.
My main gripe with them is this: They started subtracting £23.80 a month for 'insurance' from my account 5yrs ago. I noticed immediately but was told in the branch it was tied up with a loan I had. I was not entirely convinced that I ever agreed to this, but I had to go abroad to work and so it ... ...down all ties with the Woolwich and hopefully (ha!) recoup some of this money they've collected from me.
Amongst other fun I've had with the Woolwich was my car loan which they took weeks to give to me, after losing several copies, whilst the Alliance & Leicester ok'd it immediately even though I wasn't a customer back then. From A+L, I had the money in 2 days even though I rang them on a Sunday. From the Woolwich it took weeks, lots of undue stress ...
DordogneAnglais 07.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Woolwich
Advantages: Payoff chunks of mortgage whenever you want. Offsetting saving accounts, interest calaculated daily Disadvantages: Can be tempted to borrow to the max
We've had a Woolwich Open Plan mortgage for just over seven years. On the whole we have been very satisfied.
The mortgage work by allowing you to set up a number of accounts and under Woolwich a number of saving pots, ie mini accounts that cannot be overdrawn, which can be offset agai9nst the mortgage. In simple terms this means all of these funds are taken off the mortgage total and interest is then calculated on the result.
We set up pots for a new car, holiday and for a small inheritance, which was to be used by our daughter to help her through university.
We also had a reserve that is an extra amount of money that we could borrow at the mortgage rate. In our case this was around £20,000. As you npay off the mortgage this amount increases. We now have an overdraft facility of around £70,000.
While the acount ...
Advantages: High lending amount without extorsionate interest rates, Were allocated a personal morgage advisor. Disadvantages: High charges for returned payments (on top of the charges your bank will charge)
nearly a year and other than one incident where my bank made a mistake with a transfer which meant my mortgage payment was returned The Woolwich charged me £27.50 even though this wasn't my fault and refused to refund it. Saying that if we know there will be a problem they have no problems delaying direct debits ( which is good to know just in case) however the notice period is about 10 days before due date. which in most cases if you're going to have a problem paying you may not know that early. My bank charged me £35 but agreed fault and did refund it. So as long as you make all your payments on time does go smoothly.
Our interest was by all means not the lowest there is but certainly the lowest we found who also lend higher amounts I think at the time we were searching Halifax had the lowest interest rate but only lend 3x annual income ...
Advantages: Portable mortgage with excellent customer service Disadvantages: APR not the most competitive
I'd like to pass on my positive comments to all with regards to the Woolwich Buy to Let mortgage scheme.
Whilst most buy to let lenders just want to look at multiples of income:expenditure ratios and base the lending decision simply on maths, the Woolwich will actually work with you to safeguard your interests (and ultimately theirs!) in a logical step by step approach. I have found that they also provide the best customer service and their staff are very knowledgable about the product range.
There are a number of schemes available, fixed, capped and discounted tracker and each option can be discussed in depth at time of application.
Lending muliples can also be flexed by varying the rates by those under different schemes.
The ultimate bonus is that the mortgage is portable - spmething that a lot of lenders do not offer ...
