I recently closed an account with Alliance & Leicester and even that was a painfully process. I originally opened an account Alliance & Leicester when they were offering a £100 incentive if you switched to them. Even though I met all the criteria I never received the £100 although disappointing I thought never mind live and learn, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. I prefer to do my banking online but the Alliance & Leicester website wasn't great for user friendliness and very chunky and old fashioned and this just became worse as they merged with Santander. There were times when I couldn't log on for days at a time and other times ...  Read the complete review

I also had an Alliance & Leicester account (for 20 years) and am saddened by what has now happened to them since the takeover. Santander has the rudest, most arrogant customer service phone staff I have ever come across. They are apt to block your internet account for spurious "security" reasons, then you have to fight like the devil to get your account back. And all the while they act like THEY'RE doing YOU a favour by allowing you to bank with them. Advice: AVOID.

One of my key business objectives is to spend as little time as possible maintaining accounts and tax returns. I want to focus on developing software and my business. Running my business requires I be able to download clear, unambiguous records of my activity for VAT and other purposes. Alliance & Leicester at every turn utterly fails. I made three payments for VAT, PAYE and salary. This is the very best that could be coaxed out of there system with the help of their web team. Can you tell which is which? 08/01/2009,-3882.60,INTERCONNECT BACS 12JAN,3664341 ELECTRONIC BANKING INTERCONNECT BACS 12JAN,960 - BALANCE ADJUSTMENT - ...  Read the complete review

One of my key business objectives is to spend as little time as possible maintaining accounts and tax returns. I want to focus on developing software and my business. Running my business requires I be able to download clear, unambiguous records of my activity for VAT and other purposes. Alliance & Leicester at every turn utterly fails. I made three payments for VAT, PAYE and salary. This is the very best that could be coaxed out of there system with the help of their web team. Can you tell which is which? 08/01/2009,-3882.60,INTERCONNECT BACS 12JAN,3664341 ELECTRONIC BANKING INTERCONNECT BACS 12JAN,960 - BALANCE ADJUSTMENT - ...  Read the complete review

I can honestly say that although I was dismayed at the thought of Alliance and Leicester changing into one of the worst banks in history, so far, I have not had a problem. When I had to cancel a couple of direct debits, they did so. When my debit card got eaten by a faulty cash machine, I got a replacement within 2 weeks. When my weekly statements stopped coming, a phone call sorted it and I was refunded 3 months charge for weekly statements. My only gripe is that now when my wages go in my account I have to speak to an adviser to see how much has gone in ( I dont get my wage slip on pay day as it is posted to me) because the automated service does not cover transactions  Read the complete review