Monmouthshire Building Society Reviews 112

We recently registered a death of an account holder . He holds an account with only £27,000 in it . Because of the ridiculously low probate threshold at monbs , we now have to spend thousands on Solicitors to get it . This is the only reason we have to apply for probate. I would advise older savers to be careful how much they
hold here , as their family will get stung in the future .

This is a follow-up review to my previous negative one. The fact that a manager contacted me within days to discuss that review and my experience in general is a huge positive aspect in itself. In addition, she really took the time to listen and explore different scenarios with me. This means that my taking out a mortgage with them is again a possibility. Two slightly negative restrictions are to do with matters of policy and their impact is not decisive: they do not lend on studio flats outside London, and they look at their own calculations rather actual repayments for credit card commitments, which actually penalises savvy balance shifters. On the whole, I would now recommend Monmouth BS to those looking for a mortgage up to the age of 85.

Never open an account with this building society if you are using Lasting Power of Attorney. They will NOT allow you to withdraw any money even on an easy access account. I have been trying for a month to gain access to withdraw money and have been stopped time and again. I have my mothers care home to pay and am unable to do it. Absolutely disgraceful. They have the LPA. They have my details yet they block me from accessing any money. The next step is to try to close the account but I don't suppose I'll be able to do that either.
Update after formally complaining to MBS: have updated my review from 1 to 2 stars after the formal complaint eventually allowed a money transfer to go through and I am able to close the account. This is still by far my worst experience of dealing with a building society via LPA but the complaints procedure was quick and effective.

Non existent customer service
I arranged for a transfer out of my maturing ISA and after approx 2 weeks the funds have not been sent. On questioning Monmouthshire's helpdesk they tell me that they never received the request, despite the fact that the receiving bank say they received electronic confirmation from them and have an ISA URN.
Mommouthshire said that they'd call me me back, but the call never materialised. My receiving bank called on my behalf and was placed on hold for over an hour before being cut off.
The 'send an email' option on the website doesn't appear to work and the address look up is also broken.
Totally pathetic. This may well be one for the ombudsman unless I start getting some service.

Maybe I should have read the reviews before trying to open and transfer into a cash ISA online! As any other reviewers have commented - in branch dealings seem good but online if awful. I recently completed the same online task for my wife but into the Yorkshire Building Society and everything went smoothly. However, I am still waiting for confirmation on mine! Happy days!

Been in to try & close my account today as it is not practical for our requirements, only to be told that our account had been placed on a block. After further investigation by the very helpful lady in the branch, I was advised that a change of name that was sent in in 2018 had not been actioned & the paperwork that I submitted in December 2022 had only been partially actioned (address had been updated but not the signatories!). Account had apparently been blocked in September but no notification of this! I now have to fill in further forms in order to get access to our money & close the bloody account! HOW ARE YOU STILL A VIABLE BUSINESS?? Oh I know, by holding onto our money & "blocking" it so we cant get access to it!

Please can you tell me how activate you website to look at my accounts always have trouble every time i try to get online Getting quite frustrated dont want to have to email you and keep registering waiting for letter from you or telephone conversation Never came across a website like it I understand you need to have rules Website needs improving

This is my second one star review. Once again our Charity has been locked out of our account so we cannot access our funds nor retrieve on line messages. I was given an email address the last time this occurred and was called back fairly quickly and the problem was resolved. Now I’m back to square one, no reply to my two emails and can only leave a message on their customer services phone number! I don’t feel I could recommend this company and we may well remove our savings to another when we can get into the account!

Visited Swansea Branch 15th Nov.2023 found the staff very helpful, friendly and answered all our questions in a professional way

I found this Building Society through Money Saving Expert. They had a good rate for a Cash ISA and I could apply on-line. What I have since found out is that everything apart from the initial application involves sending letters....it feels like the process is going on forever!. I'm reminded of banking in the 1980's. I rang their helpdesk once as one of their instructions seemed a bit ambiguous, the person I spoke to was helpful, friendly and efficient.

Went back into the Risca Branch to top up the bonds I had opened last month. They were all really helpful again and dealt efficiently with another query I had regarding another account I had successfully opened online. So glad I decided to open the accounts with The Monmouthshire.

I can quite easily say that I’ve never been more impressed with the help and commitment I’ve received from a company, in this case MONBS. I don’t think I’ve ever gone out of my way to write a review but this deserves it. Having been in a few unlucky circumstances over the last few years and having certain things that has impacted my credit score negatively, MONBS went above and beyond to help me get my remortgage, even though I may have fell outside of the usual criteria for a obtaining a mortgage. Where I was certain I wasn’t going to be able to get a new mortgage and a new house they made it happen for me. In particular OLIVER TAKI (mortgage advisor) this gentleman needs this praise and thanks passed on by whoever reads these reviews from Monmouthshire. His patience and hard work on my case has really humbled me and I couldn’t be thankful enough. Please whoever reads this pass this information on to Oliver of the Cardiff branch. For people seeking a mortgage, if you are lucky enough to be assigned to Oliver, you’re in the right hands.

Dreadful . What can I say. Tried so many times to see online how much money online was in my account it just doesn't work. I've tried changing passwords it's such a hopeless website..doesn't work they send you a activation code through the post even that doesn't work. I went to the cardiff branch . They tried very hard but couldn't make it work. They said it always does this. Dreadful website.

Terrible experience applying for a remortgage. mortgage offer was accepted and despite providing all the information asked in a timely manner, they keep coming back with multiple questions and ask for more and more proof and delaying the whole process.
Can't even get in touch with them properly.
Would not recommend and I am now withdrawing my application because of it.

i have done everything they want,BUT
they are still not letting me withdraw, my savings. in a easy access account.?

It took weeks to open an account. Nobody answering the phone. Giving me a pitiful rate of 0.05% instead of the advertised 3% although adequate funds in there. Having opened the account at last, as I do not trust them, I tried withdrawing just £1 to see if it worked. So they're penalizing me. Tried raising a formal complaint but was ignored.

Applied for an account beginning of December, still not complete end of January. Can't phone them at the moment as calls not being taken. Won't answer my emails. Now trying to close my account as set up a bank account elsewhere in the space of 30 mins!!!!

I tried to open an online account but ended up visiting my local branch in Newport. The team were happy to talk to me about some gaps in their online options and their plans to improve the online service. Their service was fantastic and I would recommend the company on that basis. If their online improvements match my in branch experience, they'll get 5 stars from me!

I sent an application plus cheque for a Christmas Saver Bond Iss on 28 Nov 2022. The cheque was debited 13 Dec, followed by a long delay, Even after several secure messages the account was not opened, with the only response/excuse given was that the bond was very popular. A few days ago, I received a passbook, backdated to 02 Dec 2022, but no info re banking sort code or account number for future monthly deposits. The second monthly deposit of 02 Jan is overdue and I am losing interest, Further secure messages and a letter to the CEO, Mr W Carroll has elicited no response to my request to close the account. I am considering informing the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) but the waiting time there stretches into months.
MomBS has recently replied to this review, quoting the excuse of Royal Mail/Railway industrial action during Dec-Jan. If they had researched earlier reviews re MomBS customer service, (which in itself an oxymoron) they would be aware of numerous adverse comments outwth industrial action.

Impossible to contact by phone - they don't seem to answer it - just continuous recorded messages..!!