Is it just me or are the Banks specifically trying to delay ISA transfers. For the current year I have opened a Cash Isa with First Direct (3.1%) fixed with "instant access". I fill this with £3600 from my Saving held with First Direct. I also submitted transfer froms for two previous cash ISAs. Last years which was with HSBC and a now matured fixed rate cash ISA with Halifax.

The Hlaifax closed the account proptly on receiving the transfer forms and sent a nice standard letter saying they were sorry I was going elsewher and would I consider them in the future. The cheque for the transfer arrived prompty at First direct. I was told they had received it but basically the ISA team was "too busy" to credit it to my account. Oh and the ISA team were "too busy" to speak to me.

Well after shouting at them a bit my monwy was creditted to my account.

Last week there was no sign of the eISA transfer from HSBC (Shame on Money Supermarket this 1.75% paying account comed top of your list) so I rang them up. No its an internt account and I havd to e-mail them. I e-mailed them and got hte response they had 30 days to deal with this. I e-mailed them back and heard nothing.

SO I went into the

HSBC locally and after a bit of shouting at the bank manager this was actioned the same day. The check took 6 days to arrive at First Direct and no they don'r know when it will be paid into my account and they are "too busy " to speak to me.

Now I have not invested the maximum each year in Cash ISAs but those who have must have quite a lot of money in the stash. The investment has to be kept under £50k and because rates fall and the best rates are in new products the money has to be moved regularly to keep it working. Surely in the 10th year of the 2oth century it should not need a cheque to be sent but this should happen electronically and instantly?

Couldn't agree more!When I phoned HSBC a week ago they told me their eISA account was paying 3%,two days later somebody else told me they were only paying 2% until the end of June and that I shouldn't have been told it was 3%( that was the previous months interest rate).After this they sent me a transfer pack and I thought it would all happen in a few days.Now they are telling me it takes 30days to process!

What's the point,the interest rate will be down to 1.5% by then or less.

I think a One Year bond with Abbey would be a better bet.(pays 3%).

The rate on HSBC e-isa is 1.75% according to this site.

I see that overnight that First Direct have admitted defeat and the rate has been cut for new businss to 2% fixed until June next year.

I have been in touch with First Direct to find out why the cheque has not been creditted and received the "too busy" excuse again and again and again.

As this rate is fixed until May 2009 they may well have said that they will take the maximum possible time to transfer when the fixed rate runs out as they will only pay 0.1% following.

I was supposed to accept that they were being generous by giving me interest back to the day they received the cheque. I can't see why that is generous it is only what a customer should expect.

Anyway as this is an instant access I will be able to start the transfer going in April 2010 or as soon as a better offer comes up.

As for First Direct and their Legendary Customer Service the question is what service?