“Apalling customer service, complaints department are rude and unhelpful. Also make changes without any communication, though the say they do. If only I could give less than one star.”
“Had to transfer parent's funds into my account as BREXIT has meant UK citizens living abroad have had accounts shut with no notice. Put a large amount of funds into a student account, start paying mortgages and obviously note student-type expenses. Have two transfer of 15,000+ pounds into account from unlisted Chinese accounts, no problem. Go to transfer 5000 pounds back to my parents (the accounts have the same surnames and are both British) and everything is blocked. Been on hold for around nine hours over the last ten days speaking to unhelpful call-center worker after call center-worker. I am sick of having to give out my financial information an personal information to random people in call centers who judge you and make assumptions about you. I had one man ask me if I had another account I could use - when I replied that no, I haven't got a spare fifty grand sitting around in another account to use I was met with incredulity. Long story short, I have been lied to, strung along and poked fun at. I have a mortgage to pay, rent to pay, a downpayment for a flat, flights so I can get home to book and a family to look after. I have no way of paying any of this without this account. I also need to transfer more large sums out of this account and am scared to now because what if it gets blocked again and no one can tell me how long to unblock it? Why is there no emergency phone number? Absolutely ridiculous. I'll be putting my money under my floorboards once I can get off hold to shut this damned account. Bank literally anywhere else.”
“I have been a customer of Santander for years without issue but recently their service has been appalling and I am driven by sheer desperation to write this review. I am simply trying to carry out the wishes of a relative who died. I opened a new executor's account with Santander to deal with the assets of the estate. I need to make numerous payments to beneficiaries. Their 'computer' does not understand this and blocks the payments. This means I have to phone after each transaction and wait for up to 45 minutes each time (never less than 30 minutes is my guess) and see if they will unblock it. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not, but the last time I was told their 'back office' needs to contact me. 4 days later I am still waiting. The account is still blocked. Yesterday I was promised a call back in 4 hours but no call ensued. I have tried different methods of setting up these payments and eventually resorted to phoning them to ask that they set up the transactions while I was on the phone. (Well over an hour I think) One payment went through but the rest were blocked. Staff were powerless to help; one staff member was rude. It is so stressful, unnecessary and immensely time wasting. There seems to be a complete lack of understanding that customers' time is also important, especially at times of stress.”
“My debit card was frozen without any notification causing embarrassment, despite numerous calls and being put on hold on four occasions Saturday 4th July was spent trying to resolve my problem I must have spent at least three waiting disgraceful this is not customer service it's a joke”
“Santander bank, very rude staff name Suleman
My own money blocked My online and blocked card everything
No support no help and was told go to the branch after a 4 hours of hold and at 6pm go to the branch. No funds to use in an emergency”
“Worst bank ever. Please do not use this bank. Look for any other bank you can. Forget online banking as they block every payment and then dont answer the phone to help you”
“New car loan first payment due may 24th. Paid that at end of april. Then paid June’s payment mid May. They have me listed as a month behind on payments and the customer service rep was hateful and would not help me. Asked to speak to someone else he said call back. Destroying my credit and being punished for paying payments early!!! Horrible service.”
“After setting up a standing order, our business account was locked. I spent two and half hours among several calls waiting to be connected to the relevant team. The security team told me they would raise an internal ticket with their back office to unlock the account immediately. That didn't happen. We will now let down our customers who expect payment on time.”
“On line banking is absolutely terrible! Accounts are blocked on every payment transaction. Customer service or technical do not answer for hours! Don't use this bank!!”
“Very bad experience with this bank avoid at all costs closed my account and it’s been 4 weeks loads of phone calls and still not paying my money it’s a joke”
“Been waiting for you to contact me for last week as promised but still no contact, tried calling but despite waiting over an hour still no contact, broken promise’s, long waiting times, no call backs, blocked accounts unbelievably bad customer service with absolutely no interest in trying to resolve. My only recourse is the financial ombudsman.”
“Stay away from Santander! I applied for mortgage that was approved in principle. Half way trough house purchase they decided to land less. Eventually one week before exchange they withdrew offer. Very unprofessional and unreliable and slow. They will make your mortgage application nightmare! Stay away!”
“Absolutely incompetent.
Still waiting on uncontactable back office to get off their backsides and process a payment.
Worst bank I have ever dealt with”
