Monmouthshire Building Society Reviews 112

TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.0

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Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Many customers found the app to be problematic, frequently crashing or freezing, and offering limited functionality. The process of setting up accounts and making payments was often described as complicated and frustrating, with some experiencing significant delays in deposits and account activation. The overall user experience, particularly with online banking, was consistently reported as difficult and outdated. Conversely, some people were satisfied with the staff, describing them as friendly, helpful, and professional. A few customers also found the app to work properly for them, allowing for easy account opening and transactions.

What people talk about most

Application

Consumers find app experiences to be ambiguous. Many reviewers report significant frustration and... See more

Staff

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with staff. Many reviewers praise the branch staff for... See more

Website

Clients share negative opinions on the website, with many reporting significant frustration and... See more

Payment

Users describe ambiguous interactions with payment. Many customers report issues with bank verification, with... See more

User experience

Customers consistently express significant frustration and dissatisfaction with the user experience,... See more

Based on these reviews

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

FINALLY, after many months, the app appears to now work properly! I’ve got through multiple logins over 10 days without having to reregister each time. The Regular Saver is a decent account, so it’s... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

2nd September - App still does not work, despite raising this with them on several occasions. Only option is therefore to use online banking, but this has 2 day delay for showing deposits - 2 ** Upd... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Like many others, I was irritated by the online sign-up process for their Regular Saver Edition 8. I had installed their app beforehand from the Google Play Store. The issues occurred at the end: veri... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Building Society

Written by the company

We are a mutual building society run for the benefit of our members. We offer mortgages and savings products throughout Wales and England.


Contact info

3.0

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

112 reviews

5-star
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1-star

Replied to 100% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Needs very careful consideration

Applied for Premium Instant Access ac end Nov 22, paperwork only about 25% complete arrived mid Dec 22. Eventually received notification that it was cleared for investment on 10 Jan 23; online log in failed. As per previous occasions, no response on telephone help line, despite 30+ mins waiting times and for email enquiry. Have returned passbook, with covering letter, to close ac.
I think that a shaky corporate infrastructure has been completely overwhelmed by the level of public response. Very careful thought needed, pre investment.

January 10, 2023
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Thank you for your review and comments.

We are sorry that you have not had a good customer experience whilst opening your Premium Instant Access.

We are currently experiencing high levels of demand and we're sorry to hear you’re unable to get through to our customer service team.

We have taken your comments on board and will use them to improve our internal processes.

If you would like to talk to us about this, please contact us via membercontact@monbs.com.

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Problem solved

edit:the problem was solved and tbh was understandable due to the good interest rate on offer and the demand. MBS should have done some forward planning as the problem should have been anticipated, however thank you for your reply and I shall be staying with you as everything is fine now

December 5, 2022
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Update 26th January 2023

Thank you for taking the time to update your review.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and are pleased to hear everything has been resolved.

We've left our original response below.

Best wishes.

*****

Thank you for your review and feedback.

We are sorry that you have not had a good customer experience.

During December we experienced an unprecedented level of demand for our products and services. This was not helped by the industrial action taken by postal workers, which resulted in longer than expected delays.

We would like to understand your feedback in more detail so that we can help resolve your situation. Please contact membercontact@monbs.com, where a member of our team will help you.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Awful company

Went to open an account online and they’ve pulled all applications. Why advertise accounts at such a high rate if people can’t open them

December 7, 2022
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Thank you for your review of Monmouthshire Building Society.

We apologise that you were unable to open an account online due to the product being removed from online applications.

Certain products were removed from online availability due to an unprecedented number of applications received during December.

We have taken your comments on board and will use these to improve our internal processes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute amateurs!

Tried to apply for the Christmas saver product. Like other reviews, nothing from them and now they have changed the terms and conditions so the same issue product cannot be opened online. No acknowledgment email or anything in the post. Going to miss my first month deposit. Seedy company, should be reported to the FCA

December 4, 2022
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Thank you for taking the time to review
Monmouthshire Building Society.

We're sorry that you experienced a delay in receiving your documentation. This was due to an unprecedented demand for our products and services.

The Christmas Saver Bond was withdrawn from online and postal applications in response to the levels high demand.

We have taken your comments on board and will use these to improve our account opening process.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Applied for their Premium Instant…

Applied for their Premium Instant Access account online several days ago.
No email acknowledgement, nothing in the post.
I've just been to their website and it now says this product is only available through their branches or agents.

Don't waste people's time if you're not up to the job

December 3, 2022
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Thank you for your review and comments.

We're sorry that you experienced a delay in receiving your documentation. This was due to unprecedented demand for our products and services.

The Premium Instant account was withdrawn from online and postal applications, due to the impact this level of demand was having on our member experience.

We value your feedback as this helps us identify opportunities to improve our member experience.


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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Communicate with your members!

Opened an account online and it took two weeks to actually open. The amount of paper I received in the post was appalling. I ended up closing the account because they don’t communicate with you about changes to your interest rate just get in touch when they want your vote at the AGM. So out of date!

November 17, 2022
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

Thank you for your review and feedback.

We are currently working to improve our account opening processes and ways in which we communicate to our members.

We value your feedback as this helps us identify opportunities to improve our member experience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I'm looking for a savings account

I'm looking for a savings account. Mon BS has a branch in my town - big plus. BUT their website is useless. I couldn't look at interest rates as everything I clicked on gave me "Error 403 - you are forbidden to access this"

October 27, 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor service

Your call is important to us--- but we are not going to answer it any time soon because we have not employed enough staff to take your call. This is not acceptable and the CEO should hold his/her head in shame.
Very poor service
Just look at the high percentage of negative reviews

April 11, 2022
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid if you actually want to get a mortgage

For a standard couple who are both employed it took 13 weeks to get to a mortgage offer and then our seller pulled out because of the time delay, meaning we've lost over £2,000 in valuation fees, conveyancing work, moving vans and application fees. It seems like you pick up a case once a week and then just keep requesting documents, don't review it for a week and then just request more documents constantly. It also took your underwriters 10 days to look at one document, only when I chased constantly and my solicitor chased for a third time did you look at it. I feel that if you hadn't taken so long and made all the documents requests at the start, we wouldn't have lost our dream home. It's also nearly impossible to contact you when needed. The stress of everything has just been so much, a mortgage application shouldn't cause you yo nearly have a mental breakdown.

November 13, 2021
Unprompted review
Monmouthshire Building Society logo

Reply from Monmouthshire Building Society

hank you for your feedback.

We would like to understand your feedback in more detail. Please contact membercontact@monbs.com, where a member of our team will help you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great Customer Service

We have had our mortgage with the Monmouthshire since 2017 and I have phoned a few times. Lovely to get through to somebody straight away without various options and hold music even during Covid. Each time the person I spoke to was very helpful and very personable.

September 7, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor customer service at the Newport Depot

I called to get an activation code resent to me so that I can gain access to my accounts as I stupidly put it through the shredder but I was completely shut down and fobbed off when I called number 01633 844345 stating I have to do it all again and click forgotten password, change your memorable information etc etc. Waited 5 minutes.....called again & spoke to somebody else who was fantastic, passed the security questions which are in place for this reason and now it has been resent with no issue. I work in customer service myself and would never shut somebody down the way I was. Hopefully this gets passed on and the next person who calls gets a better service from the first employee I spoke with. Perhaps they have a people skills course available that can be offered.

Thank-you

January 5, 2021
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

These guys are sharks

These guys are sharks, they made me first pay them to conduct their valuation which found value, then after they took my money they declined my application based on the fact that I have not been with my current employer for at least two years. They knew from the onset that I only came into the country just over a year ago, so why not decline me there and then? Why steal my money? If I could give them a zero rating, I would. UNETHICAL

October 28, 2020
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful and no matter how urgent…

Very helpful and no matter how urgent or repetitive my calls, I get friendly advice from a great team to see me through; even through Covid19. Well done. My feedback to prevent anyone else failing to log-in to their account for the first time is to explain that it is the "memorable" information (i.e. not the password) that is shown when requested to fill in the missing two digits to log-in.

July 2, 2020
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I've been a customer of Monmouthshire…

I've been a customer of Monmouthshire for 9 years now, always easy to deal with, staff always helpful with time to spend with you. Always easy to get hold of relevant people and the rates have always been competitive.

Satisfied Customer!!

November 17, 2019
Unprompted review

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