I signed up to Ulster Bank’s market-leading 1.25% instant access savings account to deposit a large sum to pay for building work. Six weeks on and I still haven’t received the card reader – promised within two weeks – which I need to operate the account online.
After endless calls the bank said I should write in to request a withdrawal of cash manually. I took a letter to my local NatWest branch and it sent it to Ulster Bank. But there’s no record of it being received, and no sign of the card reader. Nobody can tell me how long it will be until I can get to my money.
I am two weeks late paying the builder and have a large credit card bill due for payment next week. TH, Hertford
It seems Ulster Bank was inundated by savers after offering one of the best savings rates around – so inundated it could not cope with demand. Happily, someone at head office quickly got on the case and you have now been sent your reader. The bank has apologised and paid you £200 compensation.
Ulster says that it has now cleared the backlog and all services should be back to normal.
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