Woolwich - they seem OK to me! (Woolwich Building Society)

Member Name: HelenHancox

Product:	Woolwich Building Society
Date:	08/07/02 (259 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: type of mortgage, Link network cash machines

Disadvantages: reputation for bad customer service

My sister in law says she wouldn't touch the Woolwich with a barge pole. Of course, she said this AFTER we had transferred our mortgage and bank accounts to them as part of the Open Plan Offset scheme. But so far, I wouldn't agree with her.

We were formerly with both First Direct and Barclays. Barclays were fine, First Direct were absolutely excellent. However, due to our financial situation an Offset mortgage (like the Virgin One) was obviously going to be hugely beneficial to us. I phoned First Direct (who had our mortgage at that time) to ask if they were doing one; they said "no" so we swapped to the Woolwich; two months later First Direct did an offset-type mortgage. Ho hum.

Anyway, the setting up of the new mortgage/bank accounts went OK, although there were some unexpected delays and their customer service call centre is about as good as any other - i.e. appalling. They also got the initial standing order wrong. But we've now been with them over a year and it all seems to go very well. Bank statements are detailed, the Internet banking works well, and overall we're very happy with them. Probably because we don't ever have to phone them up for customer service!

Summary: