thechelsea.co.uk Reviews 

Branch staff very helpful in Cheltenham
Took a while to transfer an ISA from another bank.
got there in the end but took a few weeks

I am writing this while still trying to sort out a ISA transfer in to YBS. I started the process of opening the new online account back at the start of the month, then took in ID (passport, driving licence and utility bill) to my local branch a few days later to complete the process. It is now over 3 weeks since this happened and the ISA transfer has not occurred, for reasons I am told are due to the postal strike (really, in this day and age are you guys still sending details across to each other by post!!). The most frustrating thing though is that the account remains restricted, preventing me seeing it online, putting money into it, or establishing that the transfer of previous tax years' savings has occurred. This despite 6 separate calls in the last 4 days to YBS (both central office and local branch) to try and resolve the problem. Individual staff have tried to help (hence they don't get 1 star) but YBS as an organisation is clearly dysfunctional. The problem so I am lead to believe is that there is a flag on my ID that they can't unblock. For the first 3 days I was being told the branch needed to input my ID into the system and all would be OK the next day and each day it wasn't. When I spoke to the branch rather than central office on day 3 they made it clear that they had done this 20 days ago when I went into them in person. They agreed to try again that same day to re-enter my ID but now we are coming to the end of day 4 of this epic phoneathon and I continue to have a restricted account.

in the branches i have found the staff helpful . At customer services it is another story. uninterested and very unhelpful. I would not recommend. complete lack of accountability.

Welcome to the analogue world (sadly with none of the good bits). Slow to act, serve and update each time. Today's wasted journey was updating an address in person, which they said they hadn't received the letter three weeks ago. Turns out they had but only updated the system two days ago. Can't really blame Royal Mail's strikes - they've had more than enough time. Just another sloth-like maneuver from the UK's most backward financial facility.

I had to set up an account with the Yorkshire Building Society in Inverness .It was a good experience .The staff were knowledgeable , helpful ,efficient and pleasant.I would highly recommend them.

My mortgage came up for renewal and I looked at the options available to me. I went on line and the options in the letter had been replaced by higher options. I was going to get a five year fixed but opted for two because of this. I had been away so didn’t receive my letter until a couple of weeks before my current mortgage had run out. I later thought that I would have an option of a 14 day cooling off period, only to be told I couldn’t and I was never informed of this. I’ve been with them for 14 years always paid and never missed. I will be looking to change after this two years whatever happens as I feel let down and not valued at all. Congratulations Chelsea another lost customer in 2 years time and I’m not the only one to leave by the looks of their service. My new product doesn’t start for three weeks but I can’t get out otherwise I would.

My wife tried to open a savings account. They didn't recognise her online, despite having lived at the same place for 23 years and all others did recognise her so they wanted a copy of her passport by post. This she sent, after 10 days nothing. She then sent them an email to chase and they responded that they did have her proof of identity. After another week nothing. Then an email saying that they had never received any proof of identity and would she send a copy of her passport! This she did, together with a copy of their email stating that they had already received it. After a few days finally a letter with a 'customer number' to log on. She tried to log on with the details they'd sent but the website rejected the log-on 'Not the details they hold'. Absolutely chaotic. Not only would I not recommend them but it's dangerous to deal with any financial institution which is so clearly totally out of control.

Opened an online within minutes, which was confirmed via post in 3 days. All very simple and efficient. Let's see if it is still 5* when I come to use the account.

So much for being a mutual! While other institutions have raised rates by a meaningful amount Chelsea have done so by a mere 0.1% and not at all for customers with £20k invested. Really poor show.

I opened an account on behalf of an elderly friend. At the end I was asked for ID which was sent two days later. After another week we got a no-reply email reminding us to send it. I went on-line to find an email address to send to and after another week got log in details for the account. They did not work, so I emailed again and got no help. By now the account was locked so we had to phone. No one answered of course and their system does not recognise the details they sent.
We have now given up and have gone elsewhere.
Should be no stars.

Question about withdrawal
How do I withdraw from my account?
There was an error whilst fetching the answer. It was error 157 (NO RESULTS)

This BS advertises a higher rate for existing customers - what they don't tell you is that the customer must be with them for at least a year!

Shame I can’t give a negative star count, they have the attitude that if they stick their heads in the sand problems go away. I’m still waiting for a response to a full subject access request, so far I have had about 15%. I still have 3 accounts with them after they bought my building society. It’s a shame they won’t let me have my funds, they are hoping that if I leave it they can pocket the money. The complaints proses treats disabled customer as if we are stupid, news flash were not!
Contact me before this goes to court

My mother set up a new ISA with this company and organised for her lifesavings to be moved across. Her old bank closed the old isa and confirmed the funds had been sent. She received notification from YSB that they had received her funds (even stating the exact amount correctly) and her account would be credited. Well 1 month later and 9 phone calls to their customer service department and her account has still not been credited. I cannot express the anxiety and upset this is causing! Customer service keep saying they will investigate and a manager will call back, which so far no one has followed up on. It is absolutely outrageous and appears their staff do not care to resolve this issue. We are at our wits end and there is still no end in sight and no one willing to help her.

Online system often doesn’t work and has the audacity to say “you have lost your way through the online system” despite it being their ever failing technology

Last time I visited my branch could not get my money out as their systems were down. Ordered me to go to a branch 6 miles away when on my lunch break and don’t drive

Can’t use my card to withdraw money now - Staff in branch advised it’s because “we are trying to get rid of accounts like yours”

Rude, ineffective and frankly not fit for purpose

Go elsewhere

Again, they have refused to transfer my cash isa money to another provider - pathetic - whose money is it?

1 star as 0 is not available. Given conflicting information. I wanted to move my ISA to a better rate with them. So I called them and asked how to do it. Go online and the money move is part of the application process. So I did and it is NOT. So called them and told the first information was not correct I have to download a form, fill it in and send it thro the post! Wow is this 1922 or 2022? So filled the form in and sent it off. A week later still waiting for the funds to be moved to the new ISA. Then saw a new account giving a better rate. Called them again to ask what was happening to be told - Yes we have your form but not actioned it yet. Then I asked if I could open the new account to be told they would sent me a form ha ha ha. Are they in the dark ages. I will move my 84k somewhere else.

A minor gripe but if you're going to invite customers to email you via your website, don't then email them back telling them that email isn't secure (when you've not asked to be sent anything worthy of stealing) and instruct them to call on that number you never answer.

The Yorkshire Building Society has run my ISA for many years. When I needed to cash it in the money they were very helpful on the phone and in the end I did it all online just before Christmas, expecting a long delay - but instead the funds were credited to me the next day! I can therefore recommend them even if their branches are not near you.

Yorkshire Building Society ---"We are simplifying our savings" --- "We're withdrawing your ability to use cash machines and any LINK cards. ----------------------------- on 15th DEC2021.------- Merry Xmas.!