Rachel S's reviews - Smart Money People

Fair price

4

I appreciated that they were willing to match a renewal quote I had seen elsewhere. However it was disappointing that when they tried to add on Breakdown Cover they couldn't give a definitive answer to the question of whether our dog would be permitted to ride with us in the rescue vehicle if we needed roadside assistance. I learned recently that some recovery services make the dog stay in the car, which is towed separately - we would consider this totally unacceptable and don't want to sign up to a service that would treat our beloved pet this way. Reviewed on: 10th October 2023

Bonus coupons unreliable, otherwise ok

3

They send mailouts 4x per year with additional coupons for bonus reward points offers but they often don't track properly so you have to chase them up, which is a pain. They often don't scan properly instore either, both at staffed and self checkouts. Reviewed on: 28th June 2023

Worth the investment

5

Great level of return, am always pleased when I check it, plus they claim the government bonuses for you and there's an option to switch to ethical investing. 100% paper free too. Reviewed on: 28th June 2023

Check the small print

3

Our pet insurance included a clause where they refund the purchase price if your dog dies before they reach 9 years of age. Sadly this was the case for our rescue dog, but it wasn't applied when we claimed for his final vet visit and other end of life fees. They did pay it when I later claimed separately, but I feel it should have been addressed by the insurers at the time, it's not the easiest thing to pick through small print when you're grieving. Reviewed on: 21st June 2021

Straightforward for LISA

4

Good returns, easy to manage and understand, and I particularly like that there is a Social Responsibility option Reviewed on: 3rd February 2021

good benefits but no overdraft for first 6 months

3

I switched during a bonus promotion they had running, went reasonably well but was disappointed that my overdraft didn't transfer (no warning about this at switching point) and there was no way to order a cheque book online so I had to go into the branch. The reward perks are well worth it though. Reviewed on: 3rd January 2018

Not great

2

They advised me to claim regarding a particular health condition, rejected the claim then put the premium up. Shan't fall for that again! Reviewed on: 18th July 2017

Excellent earner

5

I have managed to notch up just over £700 in cashback with Quidco since I joined in 2009, and I am far from a big spender! If you get into the habit of using it to click through for every online shop (including insurance, checking credit scores, tickets etc as well as physical goods) and checking the associated Clicksnap app for discounted and even free (after cashback) products in the supermarket, it quickly starts to add up . Customer service is great and on rare occasions where problems occur they're resolved quickly. #MaxYourMoney Reviewed on: 20th March 2017

Good extras but make sure you get them!

2

Appealing joining incentive but I had to chase them to get it, and have had to make several customer complaints since regarding the reward incentive vouchers not tracking properly. Be warned, they take the "customer is always wrong" approach and it takes several emails back and forth before they accept you are right! If you're prepared to do that though there are some good bonuses to be had, especially if you shop in M&S regularly. Reviewed on: 7th February 2017

Nearly lost me a home

1

First they increased the monthly fee from £2 to £5...then they cut the interest rate from 3% to 1.5%...well ok that's market forces at work, I guess I understand...but what really got my goat? When we moved house earlier this year, I needed to transfer a lump sum for a rental deposit...Santander blocked it because it "didn't fit my regular spending pattern". Well of course not, moving house is not a regular occurrence! There was easily enough money in the account to cover it, but despite having received certified proof that I'm a grown up when I opened the account Santander seem to think they have the right to stop me spending my own money! When I asked what I could have done to prevent this, they said "nothing, as it's automated" - how comforting! I got £30 compensation, but that's nowhere near enough for the stress of nearly losing the home we wanted (&needed) and the embarrassment of the letting agents and landlord treating me like a wanted criminal. Am looking to switch in the very near future. Reviewed on: 21st November 2016

First they dropped the rate, then they nearly lost me a home

1

First they increased the monthly fee from £2 to £5...then they cut the interest rate from 3% to 1.5%...well ok that's market forces at work, I guess I understand...but what really got my goat? When we moved house earlier this year, I needed to transfer a lump sum for a rental deposit...Santander blocked it because it "didn't fit my regular spending pattern". Well of course not, moving house is not a regular occurrence! There was easily enough money in the account to cover it, but despite having received certified proof that I'm a grown up when I opened the account Santander seem to think they have the right to stop me spending my own money! When I asked what I could have done to prevent this, they said "nothing, as it's automated" - how comforting! I got £30 compensation, but that's nowhere near enough for the stress of nearly losing the home we wanted (&needed) and the embarrassment of the letting agents and landlord treating me like a wanted criminal. Am looking to switch in the very near future. Reviewed on: 21st November 2016

Glad I got it when I did

4

Was very quick and easy to set up online, and was a market beating rate at the time (4%) for a Help to Buy ISA. Only pays out annually though, so can't say for certain will get that rate, although they have said that existing customers will get the rate they signed up with rather than the new customer rate (which has fallen twice and now stands at 2%) I won't believe it for certain until I see it in December. This is not because I have a reason to distrust this bank in particular, I'm just not a very trusting person! Reviewed on: 30th August 2016

Farce

1

We were drawn to the account by the generous switching bonus so moved our joint account, but had we known how hard we'd have to work to get it we'd have thought twice. Pretty much everything that could go wrong did: they couldn't find me through credit search (other banks have with no probs) so we had to make a 50 mile round trip to the nearest branch to prove my identity...where they kept us waiting over an hour, because the address was slightly different on my two identifying letters...not different relevant details mind you, just one said 'Durham' and one said 'Durham, County Durham'. When I tried to explain that given the house number and postcode were the same the rest was irrelevant they talked over me, patronised me then left me unattended for ages while they went to phone someone about it..meanwhile due to the partitioned cubicle set up I could hear them greeting other customers (no privacy!) and offering them hot drinks - I wasn't offered so much as a cup of water despite being kept there much longer, which hardly seemed fair. Eventually everything was sorted and we went home, thinking our troubles were over. If only! The joining incentive wasn't paid correctly so I had to chase it up (took several phonecalls), my husband's bank card didn't work, the M&S reward scheme points didn't track properly on at least two occasions, the online banking page was often out of action...had high hopes for this account, but sadly not impressed and will be switching again soon. Reviewed on: 18th February 2016