Sybiosis, hi there.

Thanks for your advice.

Just to update you on my progress with getting my ex Icesave ISA into Halifax at their then current 12 months fixed rate of 5.75%.

I applied on line and got confirmation that the account was open (but empty) at 5.75% on 21/11/08.

Having been told that they would not accept the deposit without the ISA Certificate (this advice came from both my local branch and the central "Savings helpline") I delayed for a while with the FSCS funds parked up awaiting the Certificate. However, recognising that time was running out to fix at that rate. I decided to chance my arm with a transfer of the funds (over £30k) by CHAPs on 05/12/08. (I organised that by mobile phone from a train with my helpful Bank Manager at Lloyds TSB - full marks to them!)

The Certificate arrived in the Post the following day Saturday 06/12/08. So I immediately took it into the local Halifax branch to "legitamise" the deposit. To say thay had no idea what to do would be an understatement, although they did confirm that the funds were in the account but that the ISA was classified as "Void" (probably because the deposit was above the 2008/9 limit of £3600). I eventually asked them to hold on to the Certificate and contact Halifax's HQ on Monday morning to resolve the issue.

Come the next week, they advised me that, as the A/c was opened on line, the Certificate had to go to Liverpool, by Fax. Which the branch duly did.

Since then nothing much has happened!!

As far as I can tell the Certificate has been scanned into their system and it's "diarised" (their term) to be actioned on 22/12/08, whatever that means!

I therefore have been asked to wait until Monday 22/12/08 then call again for an update!

So basically, the money's in the account, the rate is fixed at 5.75% (I believe) and the ISA's still Void!!!!

WATCH THIS SPACE (I'll update next week)

How can an enormous savings organisation like Halifax, not have a streamlined process to allow them to "capture" a large slice of the Millions of Icesave ISA pounds that must be sloshing around somewhere? There must be tens of thousands of Icesave ISA savers looking for a good home for their funds but neither the Halifax branch network, nor their help desk knew what to do! Absolutely amazing!!

I'll let you know where I end up with this saga.

Cheers and thanks again for the advice

John