I have a small amount of money ($20.00) in a savings account and would have liked to continue saving, but I can’t get any kind of decent customer service out of them.
My problem is that they have my previous bank as the bank that is being debited, but my account there was closed when I moved.
There’s no way to change the bank on the website and my phone calls/e-mails are going unanswered.
I just sent another e-mail asking the account be closed and a check sent, but after reading about them and their sloppy service on the 'net, I think I ought to just be glad it was only $20.00.
I have had $20 per pay period taken out of my paycheck since 2003 (Upon advice from someone on this board, actually), and I have always had great service. I now have multiple bank accounts tied to them- Mine, our joint account, and another bank account that I use for per diem from the company. I have opened and closed multiple accounts. Naturally I forgot that ING was set up on them, so I went through similar issues to yourself. They were always able to get me going rapidly.
I know since the new banking regulations came out, people I work with have been having a difficult time moving/managing money. It could be something related to that.
I’ve never had any problem with them, except that I must have failed to press the last button ona bill pay once. That was a pain.
On their Electric Orange account, you set up a relationship with another bank to transfer money back and forth. That seemed cumbersome to me but works well now. I think you can set up that relationship with more than one bank.
Anyway, says this on their site:
*How do I close my Electric Orange checking?
Please give us a call at 1-888-464-0727 if you’d like to close your Electric Orange checking. Associates are available from 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week. *
I guess if they refuse to answer the phone there isn’t a lot you can do.
Well, I finally DID get someone. They’ll send a check.
I have to say that I WOULD have stayed with them, but after them not answering numerous correctly-sent e-mails and no way to change from the old bank to my new one online, I’m a little wary now.
Admittedly, their 3.13% interest is more interest than a local savings account would pay, but communication is important to me whether it’s e-mail or land line.
I just signed into my ING Direct account. I found out how to link a new account in under a minute. It took four clicks to find this information. There is a “My Links” icon on the very first page you see after signing in. Click on that link and you can add link a new account online. Too late for you, I suppose, but it is easy to do and I would be very surprised to find that they couldn’t help you with such a simple question.
The rate hasn’t been above 3% for almost three years. I’m guessing that the OP didn’t notice that the rate had dropped since they only send a notification when it goes up. They are curiously mute when it goes down.
It occurred to me that I had not checked the account in a looooong time.
Wow. $20 per pay period seriously adds up! I’ve thrown in a hundred here and there when I had extra money, but I wasn’t expecting THAT much.
If you are in your early twenties, I highly suggest this savings account. I recall at the time I opened the account thinking"This is money for your future self". My future self is heartily thanking my past self ATM.
My ING account is a corporate savings account, and I’ve had no problems with it so far.
There is no way to associate with a new checking account online, but the instructions are easy to find and quite clear - I just had to mail them a check for at least $1.00 written from the new account. It was explained to me that this is a security precaution, and I certainly don’t see any problems with it.
And, for reference, I’m getting 0.95%. Doesn’t sound like much, but Chase’s “High Yield Savings” was giving me 0.05%. That was just insulting - I’d almost rather that they make it a non-interest-bearing account if they’re going to do that.
I have an ING Direct account, and never have had any problems with them.
My past self did not start saving, so I can’t go back and congratulate that wise young thing, alas. However, I do tell everyone under 30 to put their age away each month in a savings, no touching, account. Seriously, $26 a month, every month, then $27 a month, every month, $28… I only wish I’d done that… You won’t miss that money, and it will add up. With interest!
I’d recommend a DRIP (automatic dividend reinvestment program) for the long term. There are listings of companies that have never reduced dividends regardless of oil crisis, savings & loan debacles, dot.com/housings busts. Pick a company like Coke, Exxon, Johnson&Johnson, McDonalds, (and a lot of others). Initial investment varies but can be small. You can have your bank send (or have withdrawn) much smaller regular amounts, there is no sales commission, and your dividends are automatically reinvested and compound.
Only problem I’ve had with ING lately was their software update that somehow didn’t show confirmation boxes on the screens to accept/continue/submit/cancel options with certain browsers and versions.
Don’t feel too bad. My past self reminded me over drinks yesterday evening that I shouldn’t be congratulating him but so much- It was only because he completely forgot about the account most of the time that it did not get robbed during “tough times” (I.e; no beer in the fridge). I took his point into consideration, and my present self has taken steps to make sure that my future self still has that money available.
Wow. It’s like that scene from Scott Pilgrim. All of my selves are really cool guys though!
