Vernon Building Society Reviews 17

My wife and I opened an E Saver account over 6mths. At the end of the period the monies are automatically placed into an "Easy Access" account.

I went into mine and clicked on "Transfer" (back to original source (NatWest)), not a problem.

Then I went into my wife's account and guess "Easy Access" had no "Transfer" button and you could not access the funds. I sent them a message "Easy Access ...It's a Joke right"!

To cut short we had a telephone conversation.

Why was my wife's account blocked? It wasn't blocked. Where was the transfer button. We have to do COPs checks. COPs checks was mentioned several times so guess what my next question was...

What does "COPs" stand for? (I have a background in laundering / criminal activity) I'll just have to look that one up!

The point is that each account is a separate legal entity, my account should not be linked to my wife's account and not put on "Hold" because I've decided to move my monies.

I believe there was no "Transfer" button because either their programming is faulty or a human didn't tick a box when setting up the Easy Access account. They wouldn't admit to anything so I closed the accounts a) as a protest and b) the rate was rubbish (now getting 4.85% on identical terms).

The other issue that I find "Old Fashioned" is the 24hrs wait before you get your money back. I have / had similar accounts with other organisations where easy access means a wait of 5/10 seconds! Atom, Plumb, NatWest, Monument, Money Box the list goes on.

So I won't be going back even if the rates were much better, I have no confidence in them that they know what they are doing.

Certainly! Could you please provide the original review text you'd like me to work with?

I had a little old-fashioned passbook account here since the '80s. Last week I closed it. Here's why.

The interest paid on the passbook account was nominal, but I never kept that much in it or used it very much. I usually dealt with the Reddish branch, but on one occasion recently, when they were closed, I had cause to make a deposit at Bramhall. A very helpful lady in Bramhall told me the account hasn't paid interest in several years, and the last transaction I made, the teller should have told me - she didn't. I was upgraded to a new version of the same account. The last teller on the transaction record who should have done that several years ago was "Sarah" at Reddish. So I lost money because of her, but I was to meet her again.

It seems when they withdraw interest on a product, they don't write and tell you. Sneaky eh?

A few weeks ago, I called in Reddish to pay in £2k in cash. Not a King's ransom, and well under any UK reporting requirements. The woman there started grilling me as to the source of funds. Remember this is just £2k, not £20k. I straightened her out, and the deposit was made. But it bugged me. Guess who the teller was who decided to give me the Spanish Inquisition about my own money? Yes, the same Sarah.

Back when I opened this account, I was a young, struggling bloke with a small business. I used it to tuck a few bob away, and I bought my first house with money saved there. Nowadays, I'm regarded as a HNWI, I use private banking now, and I only really kept it for nostalgia, as none of their products paid a decent enough rate of interest anyway. However, I still tossed a few quid in it now and again. Just money to forget about. Maybe I'll be de-banked one day, who knows?

I am fully conversant with KYC rules, and I know the unnecessary suspicious grilling I was given by the Sarah woman, the same woman who lost me some interest while the account was dormant, by not telling me the interest on the account had been revoked, was unnecessary. What was also unnecessary was her supercilious attitude.

A week or two later, it still didn't sit well with me. So next time I was passing, I decided to close the account. I went into Reddish to do this. A customer for some 37 years. They closed it without a murmur or question. At the very least, I'd have expected someone to ask if there was a problem, could they help, or offer a more suitable product, etc. No attempt at customer retention shows me they are all asleep at the wheel.

In-laws had accounts with the Vernon. Both have passed away so we’ve been into the Marple branch a few times over the last couple of years. The staff are just wonderful. All the advice and help we needed, delivered sensitively and with such a personal touch. Would recommend The Vernon to anyone needing the financial services they provide, 100%.

The stockport branch today were welcoming and very helpful. I would recommend them very highly.

Amazing customer service, quick replies on both email and phone. Helped sort issue I had with opening an online account.

Jeanette in particular was very throughout and patience with me.

Appriciate all the help from her and the team. Great job.

As an older person and not too good with online banking as was surprised at how patient and helpful the staff at my Reddish branch were and also the staff at the St Petersgate office were. I was not made to feel that i was a nuisance and was very happy with the outcome of what i thought would be an uncomfortable experience. Thank you Vernon Team.

Called into our local branch in Stockport Petersgate I’ve never experienced a branch like it. The staff were amazing polite and very considerate I took my friend with a disability who is totally blind lots of space in the branch and was spoken to in a way that she mattered not talking through me as this is normally the case in shops and professional units I was greeted with the most amazing lady named Geraldine softly spoken helpfully and offered us a nice chair and couldn’t be more kind and considerate she is a true credit to Vernon well done to all the staff I will truly recommend this branch to anyone regards zoe

Used VBS for a number of years and used to recommend them to close friends and family. But now dissolutioned with them. Willing to take your money but difficult getting it out. Watch out for the fix rate roll over date. They will tie up your money for as long as they can.

My mortgage application is taking ages. Seems like the underwriters do not know what they are doing. This has been progressing for 4 months.

Instead of asking for information and evidence in a drip style format; ask for everything up front you know what you need. Beyond a joke!!

Just managed to get a 35 days notice passbook joint (am literally just in 25 mile radius). Excellent service from Reddish (sent me forms) St Petersgate (advised) and Hazel Grove (completed the a/c opening). Better interest than anywhere near to us. Had accounts early 1980s last :)

Sally in the Reddish branch & Katherine in the Hazel Grove branch have both been very very helpful. I am a young person and all is therefore new to me, they’ve both been very patient & helpful providing me with lots of detail. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them to anyone

Excellent advice over mortgage review and new product agreed after discussing all options. Very Professional staff who are always available to answer questions and followed up final decision with confirmation in writing.
Excellent service

Extremely poor. Extended lengths of time wasted getting replies and constant reasking of the same questions.
Will not use again

Brilliant service throughout the whole process of arranging our mortgage. Always returned calls and responded to emails without delay. Service from everyone, especially Alison in 'completions', was above and beyond expectations. Thank you

Poor customer service. I made an appointment to open an account, the person was off that day and I was told I had to come another day. After a few words with the manager, I managed to open the account on the day. It’s been several months since that happened, now I want to close the account and use the money towards a house. I phoned them and I was told I only needed my passport. Apparently I need the account book too which means I need to come back another day. They don’t value your time. Appalling!

Excellent service; adaptable and forward thinking company, thinking "outside the box". Mortgage process took a while from initial enquiry through broker to completion, but we were quite an unique case with individual circumstances. Staff are helpful, friendly and thorough. The hamper on completion was a nice token. Would highly recommend.