to wonder why the Halifax is so fucking incompetent!!!!!

[WetAugust]

Tried to open an ISA by phone this morning.

They took all the details, told me the account was oipen but that I needed to take ID to my local branch.

I was told that at my local branch they would tell me the new ISA account number and I could pay a cheque into the account.

I took ID to my local branch. They couldn't update my new account to say they'd seen the ID as the new account had been opened but suspended.

They could'nt accept my cheque.

They couldn't tell me the account number of the new account.

The next appointment they could offer me to sort it out was in 23 days time.

So I rang the online savings team that had opened the account this morning.

There was a ten minute queue!!

They asked for an account no - I don't have it as the local branch couldn't give it to me

They asked for any other account number I had with the Halifax. I gave it to them. Then they said I hasd failed the security check and they terminated the call!!!!!!

So I rang Halifax Custmer Services.

Another 10 minute queue!!!!!!

Customer services took the same details as before - this time I passed the security check and they would speak to me.

Told me that as an existing customer I shouldn't have been asked to visit local branch to prove my ID.

Said they would contact the online ISA savings team that I'd spoken to this morning to try to clear the matter up.

I've now been on hold for the past 7 minutes!

Every time I have to deal with the Halifax their incompetence sends my blood pressure sky high.

Yes I know I could go elsewhere - but their interest rates for ISAs are the highest on offer - if you survive the application process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are a nightmare. They refuse to speak to me about my mortgage because I cannot pass security as I have got my date of birth wrong. I'm pretty confident it is them who have my date of birth wrong.

Still on hold and waiting........

Customer services are back!!

They're putting me through directly to the ISA opening team.

Oh dear.... all I'm hearing is bleep, bleep

I have my mortgage and current account with and can view both online, but if I want to overpay my mortgage my husband has to do it from a non Halifax bank account. Some of their systems are terrible!

I would write a letter to the Chief Executive outlining everything that has gone wrong. Call the company head office and ask to be put through to the Chief Executive's office. Ask them if they have an fax number as you wish to send a fax. Don't tell them what it's about, just fax the letter.

I did this to our building society. We were about to lose the house we wanted to buy due to their incompetence. They moved so swiftly that my solicitor called me at work and said "bloody hell, what have you done to them?". He said if I ever wanted to work as a conveyancer to call him.

You've tried dealing with the minions, time to deal with the big boys.

If it was me I'd also fax a proposal for me to overview their business processes from a customer perspective, complete with costings. Believe it or not I have actually got clients this way.

I cancelled our Halifax accounts after experiencing diabolical service from them. They are rubbish.

Spoke to 2nd ISA-opening lady.

Sh e said the account hadn't been opened - so we needed to start again.

Got almost to the end when she informed me that this year's ISA allowance has to already be in one of the ISAs I'm transferring to the Halifax - which it isn't. So we can't go any further.

I now have to rush to the bank - stick this year's ISA allowance into an old ISA and then call the Haifax back on Thursday.

Trouble is that the cheque will take days to clear - so the funds won't be there in time for Thursday!!!!

But.... they're sending me £35 for the hassle they've caused me.

Join another bank? In with First Direct and I have never ever had a customer service problem. They are remarkably helpful and seem to be human aswell.

19 years ago they gave details of my new mortgage to a third party! Not debts or anything else, just an interested party! Disgusting company.