Using the branch locator on this page: http://www.alliance-leicester.co.uk/home/index.aspx   will get you the branch geographic number  

It's contacting their Customer Services which is the problem  

Still no joy with Abbey though? Walked a mile to my local branch today a) out of principle and b) because it was sunny!

I would love a proper number for these guys because other than blocking calls to 01908, I have been reasonably happy with them.

Any joy anybody? I have made my feelings clear to the complaints team and even emailed the CEO but as yet it hasnt been taken seriously.

The CEO forwarded onto his Executive Support Team, and they replied with an 0845 number for the complaints dept.

I forwarded this back to the CEO, who again forwarded it to his Executive Support Team. This time he failed to remove his email header so it was quite clear to see that he was the initial recipient.

Amongst other things, I asked him if our Spanish counterparts have to call a premium rate number to discuss their money. (Anyone remember Rip Off Britain? Other couuntries must see us as mugs!)

However, my questions were not answered!

The gentleman's email address is Antonio.Osorio@santander.co.uk if you wish to raise any issues with him.

floella2 wrote on Apr 21^st, 2010 at 3:30pm:


I know this is late but I only just saw this thread due to the more recent last post.

However I can assure you that problems with the use of ripoff 902 contact centre numbers in Spain in general and in particular when calling them from Spanish mobiles and for Santander itself are every bit as bad as in the UK.

Spanish 902 numbers widely used for customer service lines (including those run by Santander in Spain) cost 58 cents or around 50p per minute to call from my Orange Spain mobile.  Also in Spain there is no ASA or other regulator who forces users of 902 numbers to disclose the vast additional call cost.  They are always presented as though they are a normal number.   As all other Spanish landline numbers also begin with a 9 it is very easy to become confused about this as a foreigner.

I did not know 902 numbers in Spain cost 58 cents per minute till I ran out of credit in only five minutes on my Orange Spain mobile when trying to call their English speaking 902 customer service line.  Their ordinary customer service line on 470 is free to call from an Orange Mobile but they refuse to deal with you if can only speak halting tourist Spanish like I can.  Instead they cut you off an text you telling you to call the 902 number but not telling you it costs 58 cents per minute plus connection fee of up to 30 cents.  900 numbers by contrast are Freephone numbers from a landline including a public pay phone but not from a mobile.

Coming back to Santander as you can see from the Spanish equivalent of saynoto0870.com at http://wiki.nmn900.net/Banco_Santander the use of 902 numbers by Santander in Spain is widespread as also confirmed at http://www.santander.com/csgs/Satellite/CFWCSancomQP01/es_ES/Corporativo/Contact... They do list a different geographic number to call them from overseas but what is the betting that is blocked if you call it from within Spain?

The current description of 902 numbers and their cost at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Spain is completely wrong and I will have to try and attempt to correct it.  This should be fairly easy to do given that it is in English.

Given the general Spanish tendency to ignore almost all forms of complaint and bury them I bet it takes even longer for Spanish companies to comply with the forthcoming EU directive than their counterparts here in the United Kingdom.