Cahoot Avis 456

Easy to open. I had to wait a few days for the two envelopes to arrive with login codes etc but not a big issue.

Once this was done, it was easy to register.

The account is an online only account with no app (this is made clear when applying for the account) and yes, it makes it a little more difficult on a mobile phone with scrolling but as it’s a savings account it mostly to check the balance.

I think a lot of the negative reviews are down to people not reading how the account functions and limitations, before applying.

It has the best rates because it doesn’t offer the extra bells and whistles, saving on app development and maintenance.

I wish I could say the other reviews are incorrect, sadly they’re not! I actually wished I’d done my research before I opened a savings account with them, my bad. They entice you in with good rates, but fail to mention they’re living in the dark ages!

I have experienced the same issues all others had pointed out. I had to wait a week to get two letters to access the online banking, only to have issues following registering to be told I need to send two proofs of identity BY POST! Until I get access to online banking, I cannot access my own money! If I’m lucky I’ll be able to access it some time in the new year!

I wouldn’t waste your time with Cahoot, unless you want to live like you’re in the 1960s!

I assumed an online bank (of which i already use several) had an app.. but no.
and until this week you could at least check your balance through the Santander one (though not make any transaction), but now even that has stopped.
and of course the ridiculous delay in getting access in the first place, waiting for letters in the post (i'm opening saving accounts, not something they can lose money on).
defeats the point of having an instant access account if you need to go through a poorly designed website every time.
as soon as they drop the rate, I'm gone..

And based on that experience, I am also staying well clear of Santander.

I tried to open a savings account and was told I'd need 3 pieces of information to log in; a user name, a temporary password and a temporary security number, all of which were supplied by cahoot. I succeeded in logging in but at no stage of the process was I asked for the temporary password. I was then sent an email saying that to login in future, part of the process was to check that that my "image and word/phrase appear". I was never asked to provide these so I rang the support team. Apparently they supply a password which I can't use (but which they send anyway, presumably just to add to the confusion) and was also told that text in the email is out of date. I explained that this was very sloppy for a financial website and didn't inspire confidence that their processes were being maintained. I was then told "that's the way it is and it's not going to change". This gives a good indication of what their levels of service would be going forward. Enough said, I closed my account on the spot. Stay away from these cowboys who are so arrogant that they fail to comprehend the basics of providing a credible service and that the customer has a choice.

I must say I was apprehensive about cahoot with these 1 star reviews.

But:
- I opened the high interest account online
- could fund it the same day
- the two letters arrived in a few days
- login details worked very easily
- set another account up as beneficiary and can easily transfer

Absolutely no problems yet. No app, but it's a savings account, not a current account.

I found this bank via the brilliant Money Facts Compare website.

I wanted an easy access savings account as I always chase the best rates and leave immediately that they reduce.

How this bank gets any new customers is beyond me.

I signed up online, waited 7 days for the first letter with a code, which I had to scrape off with my nail like I did when I got my first bank account 100 years ago, and the grey stuff sticks to the surface of your desk and gets under your nail......

I´m now on day 9 of waiting for the security code BY POST and I cannot access the account until I receive this.

I phoned Cahoot and spoke to a very helpful guy in Belfast and he wanted to help me but said his hands were tied as he couldn´t do anything until I receive the TWO letters!!!!

SO, in the meantime I´ve opened an account with SIDEKICK which was instant and with a higher rate as I REFUSE to wait any longer.

Unless this bank gets into this century it will not survive.

Don´t waste your valuable time with this set up.

Post is THE most insecure and unreliable way to keep details secure.

I recently opened a Simple Saver account with cahoot, and since the minimum deposit was £1, that is what I paid in. Since then, every time I login it displays my balance as £0.00. I've sent multiple "secure messages" complaining about this but received no reply. They don't seem to recognise that if 100% of the money I deposit goes missing, then that's a serious problem.

Decided to open a savings account online but Cahoot will send login details via the post but two weeks later, still nothing. What a ridiculous and unsafe system. Gave up and went elsewhere

Completed on line application for a savings account today. Received an email from Cahoot giving me an application reference number. It asked me to click on the link to load document (photo of driving licence in my case). Link asked me to provide the reference number, my surname, date of birth and postcode. All completed correctly. On pressing continue I got the message the details do not agree, check and try again. Checked and all correct. I rang the number it advised I should ring if having difficulty. After explaining my issue I was put on hold while a call to Cahoot was made. Then I was transferred to Cahoot who I had to explain my issue again. The advisor put me on hold to make some enquiries. He came back to apologise for keeping me waiting, put me on hold again. After a further wait I heard a few beeps and the line went dead. Not impressed though both advisors were professional and friendly, especially the Cahoot advisor (name given but not included here).
My experience raises two points for Cahoot. If my application is for Cahoot why include a helpline telephone number 0800 389 7000 which appears to go to Santander only for the advisor having to make a call to Cahoot, then transfer me to Cahoot. Why not show the Cahoot helpline number in the first place. Secondly I advised the first advisor I was a customer of Santander which made me think as Santander has proof of my address etc why do I have to provide proof for Cahoot which is part of Santander. Anyway unless I get another email from Cahoot confirming the account is open or another attempt to load my driving licence photo works later on I will not be following up my savings account application.

It was a pleasant surprise to find really helpfu customer service support, today. I had problems setting up the login account (due to my ignorance). Spoken to someone called Kal, in the Belfast centre, I must say Kal was unbelievably patient and helpful. Thank you Cahoot. Wish, all the companies had customer service like yours. Thanks

Great interest rate. Could do with an app though.

Experience has been all positive. Set up account in September. No problems logginng in or transferring money in to account or out. Once you have set up a withdrawal, the details are kept so it's quicker the next time. Only withdrew a star because of lack of app.

For an online-only bank, it's very old-fashioned. No app (surely a requirement for an online bank in the 2020s?), website not designed for use by mobile phones (again, this is the 2020s!), and security details have to be sent by post (mine took 12 days to arrive). So headline: don't put any money in until the security details come through; I didn't realise how long this was going to take, and so lost access to my money for a time. Also, the cahoot system will re-use details from any previous account, so if you had a cahoot account upto 15 years ago, be prepared for them to assume you can remember your login details and so not send new security details - the first indication being 2 weeks later when the security details don't arrive by post; there will then be a further 2 weeks for the new security details to be generated and sent.

Absolutely abysmal. Have had to reset my login details four times now and wait for ne logon to arrive by post. Based on there 'within five working days' thats a total of 20 days plus non working days. Why you cannot reset them on line like other accounts I have, is beyond me. All my other accounts, I can do it all on line, with my phone to confirm its me. I will finish by emphasising that my log in details each time were not wrong. I dont get this problem with Santander. Re the date of experience its been the full six weeks that I have had this account,

The archaic account opening was annoying but soon over. But then I found the account has no facility to set up a standing order for regular withdrawals. And setting up monthly payments requires a lot more work than any other bank. So I will move my money elsewhere.

I always check reviews here, but this time trusting Santander name I just went ahead and opened a saver account.
Been offer to transfer without having access to the account, I was like no thank you. Waited for the letters, changed the log in details, sent my savings on the account, now like others can’t access my account as the security code not right which I never been prompted to change.
Now waiting for 4-6 working days for new letters with new log in details, no matter I have confirmed every single detail they asked for. Asked to speak with a manager, but they are on holiday, so I guess I shall wait????

The online banking feels very dated and is awkward to use on a mobile phone since the web pages (there's no app) are designed for a bigger screen. The authentication is clumsy and old fashioned too (no biometrics here). Even closing the account requires a secure message to Cahoot to do this manually. Compared to modern banking apps, this is a joyless experience. Shame, because the interest rate was competitive, but not worth the hassle.

I opened an online savings account, but they wouldn't let me access it because they did not have my correct address, so I have to send documentation to link accounts together - as if I am EVER going to go through the stress of doing this! Then, you cannot send them an email to tell them to close it - absolutely ridiculous!

Applied for the basic instant access saver account, they sent me account details but asked for me to post 2 forms of ID. Absolutely no way I am doing that, but there is also no online way to get the account deleted. What a farce.

After seeing very attractive savings rates and a recommend from Which?, I attempted to open an account. After several days of submitting, and resubmitting documents, then getting an email saying I needed to mail a black and white copy of my passport, I gave up. They obviously don't want me to move my account from Lloyds.