“Santander’s core values of incompetence, inefficiency and unhelpfulness (current Santander Trust Pilot rating 1.4 out of 5) are followed to the letter by their Stratford branch.
In November 2021 I had to travel across London to the Stratford branch of Santander to meet with a bank representative in person (first available local in person appointment was three months wait, February 2022), allowing them to check in my presence, copy and then file all the documents for my Parent’s LPA. They then lost or mislaid half of the paperwork.
Caring for end of end-of-life parents while having to negotiate Santander’s incompetent bureaucracy was an unnecessary extra stress.”
“Shockingly bad service.
Waited in hold for over 1 hour and 17 minutes, and still in a queue.
Eventually hung up.
Waiting times was allegedly 20 mins!!!!”
“Waited over a hour to speak to a human. Still no resolution. An hour of my life I won't get back. !! This bank needs shutting down. High fees for a terrible service”
“I am beyond shocked ...beyond of understanding that’s what has just happened to my account ...it has been blocked for no reason apart from Santander‘s algorithm thinks my account looks suspicious ...I employ anybody & everybody do not open an account with Santander as they will block your account and not give you any warning not a call not a text not an email just block your account 24 hours before payday...Use any other bank other than Santander if you do not want your account to be blocked and Santander not to give you any explanation or reason ....apparently after calling the Call Center to which I’ve been on hold for over 25 minutes twice and got no answer for anyone to care or give a damn”
“Worst bank ever! Made me jump through hoops to deposit a check! Including providing a 33 year old marriage certificate and needing my employers information. I’ve had this account for 40 years and through acquisitions got stuck with them.”
“Hours on the phone, being passed around. Useless service. Internet banking has never worked, seem thoroughly unenthusiastic about letting me access my money. Will soon be a former customer”
“In December I lost £2k in a scam. I have been trying to get my money back ever since and the Santander customer support line is completely useless. Every time I call I get a different response, and in some instances total rudeness (someone told me to 'be quiet'). I thought I was making progress with one conversation, then the next time I called that conversation hadn't been logged. Another time in March I called and got told that my case had been 'declined' in December but I had received a letter that the claim was ongoing in January. Now my case is being passed onto complaints and I have to wait 3-5 days for a callback when it's not even complaints I need to speak to. 30-40 minutes wait time each time I call customer support as well. I'm beyond angry.”
“I’m not to happy with this bank at all. Just 2 business days away from a vehicle loan payment coming out of my account. I went into my checking to see how much money was in account and I recognized that I was going to be short on funds due to life insurance policy that I have took little more than $100.00 that I have did not let me know that they are taking that much money out. I was hurt because of this for I just make ends meet. Check by check. So I contacted Santander bank about this and told them the situation what happened and I was told the payment for the vehicle payment was locked in and they don’t think they can stop the payment on going through. I was told that they usually lock in a payment to come out of my account 3 to 4 business days before the payment is due. I was told there is a $80.00 service charge for a late payment and that I will make the vehicle payment in 4 days for I get payed. I was also told the person that I talked to that they will try to avoid the service charge and if I did get charged that I just phone back and they will refund the $80.00 service charge back to me. Guess what I was charged and I did phone back about it and spoke to the same lady from the beginning of this and she told me that the payment was late and that is why I was charged. You tell me that you will have the service charge removed and when I do get charged you tell me that the payment was late even though I contacted you 2 business days ahead before the payment was due. My other bank understood my situation why couldn’t you.
As soon as this loan is payed off I’m no longer going to bank with you.”
“Thought this was a retail bank. Been with them around 30 years (Abbey National) and is a main current account. Told them on Monday that I wanted to withdraw £10k cash. Returned on Wednesday and after a long wait and interrogation told they need to investigate and will phone me next day. They didn’t. Now Friday. Still not letting me have MY money. Been here around 2.5 hours and store closed with me in it. Unbelievable!! Suggest strongly: best avoided.”
“Blocked my account when trying to pay for a large purchase. Waited over an hour to get in contact with a human being. Absolutely awful over the phone customer service, do not listen to what you are saying and get important security questions wrong. Do not expect any alert from the security team if there is a possible security breach on your account.”
“Absolutely the worst Bank ever. They have virtually destroyed my health. When I tell them I have a breathing disease, they make a point of repeating questions over and over, not that they ever listen to what you say. They are evil and I loathe them.”
“Your customer contact centre is a joke.I have to update my mobile no to get the OTP.Been on the phone for 2 hours and you get of.If u2ou advertise a Saturday opening yoj should have staff to take the calls.I will be closing my account when I eventually get to speak to someone.Star rating less than 1.Appalling service comes to mind.”
“Terrible customer and FRAUD ALERT service. They are preying on people's good intentions. Please AVOID this bank .
Several years ago I took out a loan (X amount) in santander and at the same time I borrowed the same amount from another bank.
The paradox is that santander had a lower interest rate than another bank, but the FRAUD of santander is, that my loan amount with another bank is only 30% left to pay, with santander,
THE AMOUNT DOES NOT MISS.
I still have to repay 75% of my total loan amount!!!
HELP! SCAMMERS! AVOID this bank.
One star is toooooooooooooooooo much for santander.
Would give no stars if possible.”
“Absolutely shocking service at this bank and getting worse. I have tried to make a payment on my account today and immediately had my account blocked which has happened before. I have been on the phone now with Santander for 1 hour 41 mins waiting for an answer and been cut off 3 times. Santander texted me to say they had tried to call me but that is an absolute lie as they haven't. I understand security is an issue but don't block accounts on first attempt, mickey mouse bank that can perhaps deal with children's savings but not a serious bank in any way. If you are going to close accounts you have to be available immediately to unlock or ask questions first before you block. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ! GOING TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT NOW AND SUGGEST YOU ALL DO THE SAME. Now 1 hour 46 mins and still no answer !!!!!! Call wait went to 2 hours 5 mins yesterday, got through today after 20 mins and then cut off again.”
“This bank is worst when it comes to them giving you a loan for a car. If you ever get behind they leave you out in the cold with trying to get caught up. They say there nothing they can do for example to push the past due to end of the loan. There response the account is too new, but when a loan gets six months out. It's not considered new and other banks take care of there customers BUYERS BE AWARE”
