I was doing a google for Abbey and found quite a few negative experiences of them posted online. I also came across a dire article in the Daily Mail today where a woman kept getting statements, cheques, pin numbers and cards for someone else and even though she tried to get Abbey to stop this only the intervention of the Mail sorted it out.

Does anyone here have any experience with Abbey and, if so, what do you think of them?

I opened one two or three years ago, but transferred nearly everything out of it after the one year bonus rate was over. I still keep it open with a couple of hundred quid in case I need an alternative home for some cash at short notice, as accounts take ages to open these days with seemingly endless questions and requests for identification . I had no problems with them though.

Abbey got a roasting on Watchdog the other day:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio..._20080211.shtml

Wooly anecdotal: seem to recall a family member having some trouble with them not too long ago too.

I found counter staff were so so. Conflicting information/advice between branches.
Some branches stupidly busy for that all important chaps out.
Their online E-service security is worryingly simple compared to most other online accounts.
but no online hassle (or checks) if your transferring out large amounts.
Better interest rate elswhere for easy access accounts.

Thanks all - I think I will give them a miss.

Out of interest, trying to spread my STR fund around with numerous banks, I went online today and began the process of opening an Abbey eSaver - more out of worry about having more than 35K in any given bank than a real desire to be with the Abbey - and the opening page of their sign-up online banking was so painfully slow that I decided they are a definite no go.

Errr theres branches everywhere. Go in and do the biz.
Personally depending on your fundz if your a str and on the net.. Id just go with NR THe lot.

Idiots like me cant keep tracjk of all the poxy banks and tbh there just aint enough of em if you belive the 35k mantra.
Bite the bullet and forex the lot into euro and slink it into singaapore.

I've seen their name come up time and time again in letters columns of financial sections, invariably about inefficiency and ****-ups. I avoid them for that reason.

I've seen their name come up time and time again in letters columns of financial sections, invariably about inefficiency and ****-ups. I avoid them for that reason.