Frequently Asked Questions
All you need to know about Internet Savings Accounts
Opening an AA Internet Saver
How do I open an AA Internet Saver?
Just go to the AA Internet Saver home page and then choose 'Apply online'. All you need to do now is follow the on-screen instructions.
If you need any further help please contact the AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203. Lines are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm.
Can I apply using my company PC?
It depends. If your network is protected by a firewall it may cause a problem when you try to apply. A firewall is a security system designed to protect your company's computer network. You'll need to speak to your network administrator within your company to check if this is the case.
Can I apply from outside the UK?
No, to apply online you must be a UK resident.
If you complete the online application process while residing in the UK, you may be able to use our online service from abroad to view your account details – subject to local banking laws – providing no transactions are made.
However, we do not endorse the use of our services from abroad.
Can I use my AA Internet Saver as a business account?
No, the AA Internet Saver is strictly a savings account. You can only transfer money to and from one linked bank account.
Does the account have to be in a sole name?
Yes, an AA Internet Saver can only be opened in a sole name.
We do however offer a range of non-Internet savings accounts for joint account holders. Please contact our AA Savings Team on 0845 603 6302 for further information.
Can I hold more than one AA Internet Saver?
Yes, you can hold as many AA Internet Saver accounts as you wish.
How do I activate my account and how long will it take?
When your AA Internet Saver is opened, and satisfactory documents have been received, you will receive an access token by email and a user name by post within five banking days. Once you have both of these pieces of information you'll be able to activate your account and set up security online.
How secure is your system?
This site uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and supports 128-bit encryption. It means your data is encrypted while it's being sent between your browser and our web server.
This high level of security is usually only allowed in the US, but as a UK financial organisation, we're permitted to use it. You can find out more from Verisign (link opens in a new window), the external security organisation who provides our encryption key.
Tip: The UK version of Microsoft Internet Explorer supports 128-bit encryption without the need to install extra features. To make use of the highest level of security you should consider using a browser that supports such encryption – such as Internet Explorer 5.5 or above.
I've applied online but I haven't received an access token or user name. Why?
You will need to contact our AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203 for assistance. Lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
When I set up a linked account, I get shown the wrong address for my bank.
We show the bank address for your clearing bank. This may not be your local bank address, it may be your bank's regional or head office address. Providing you entered the sort code and account number correctly, your linked account will be set up correctly.
Why do I have to produce identification documents to open an account?
All financial institutions are required by law to confirm the identity and address of customers when a new account is opened. This means we need to see some form of identification and proof of address. We're usually able to use electronic verification but in some cases you may be asked to provide paper-based identification.
Is there a minimum or maximum I can invest?
The minimum opening balance is £1 and the maximum balance is £5 million.
Can I open my account by transferring from another AA savings account?
No, you will need to apply for a new AA Internet Saver and arrange for the deposit to be paid from your linked account.
If you do wish to transfer from an existing AA savings account at a later stage, please phone the AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203. Lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
Managing your account
How do I make payments to and from my account?
First you'll need to ensure you have set up security and details of your chosen linked bank account. Once you've logged into your account you have a number of options.
- Choose make a withdrawal if you wish to withdraw funds from your AA Internet Saver. You'll be prevented from transacting if insufficient funds are available.
- Choose make a deposit to move funds into your AA Internet Saver.
- If you wish to make regular monthly or weekly payments to your AA Internet Saver from a bank account, choose make a deposit. Next select regular monthly or weekly deposit and follow the on-screen instructions.
How can I see what transactions I have pending?
Once you've logged into your account, choose list pending transactions. The list will show all pending transactions due to take place on your account.
I requested a transaction and it did not happen. Why?
1. If you requested to make a withdrawal, it may not have happened because:
- Your account did not have sufficient cleared funds at the time the request was made.
- You requested your transaction after 3pm, in which case this will not be shown on your account until after 3pm on the next banking day.
If neither of the above scenarios apply, please call the AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203 for assistance. Lines are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm.
2. If you requested to make a deposit, it may not have happened because:
- It is not yet the date you requested the deposit to take place.
- The bank details are incorrect. If so, you will need to amend details on your linked account (follow guidelines marked your linked account) and make a new request for the transfer, ensuring you first allow the set-up period of 10 banking days to elapse.
- The bank you have nominated as your linked account does not accept direct debits.
- There are insufficient funds available in your linked account.
If none of the above scenarios apply, you'll need to contact your bank that the linked bank account is with directly to resolve this matter.
What if your service is temporarily unavailable and I need to make an urgent transfer – can I do so by phone?
Yes, as long as you can satisfy security questions by phone. Please call the AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203 for assistance. Lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
What is your sort code and account number?
If your bank allows you to make an electronic transfer from your bank's Internet account, or arrange a standing order, you may be able to send money to your AA Internet Saver account by using the following details:
Account name The AA
Sort code 20-97-78
Account number 70372609
Reference Your AA Internet Saver account number
Please note that this type of payment will reach your account within four banking days. We will not charge you for using this service.
Please note that if you are not given the opportunity to enter a reference number, you should not use this method to send us money, as it will not be applied to your account.
Can I have cheques drawn from my AA Internet Saver?
No, we do not offer this facility on this account.
How many transactions can I view online?
A mini-statement will show your last 10 transactions. A full statement will show you all the transactions on your account.
I have transferred an amount to my linked account, but wish to reverse it. What shall I do?
You cannot reverse the payment once confirmed. However, once the funds have arrived at your linked account you can follow the procedure to make a deposit to deposit the funds back to your AA Internet Saver. This process is subject to the usual timescales of four banking days per transaction.
Is there a minimum/maximum amount I can transfer to and from my account?
The minimum amount you can transfer is £1.
What is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme?
Bank of Scotland plc is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Where a customer has made deposits in a savings or bank account, payments under the scheme are limited to 100% of the first £50,000, subject to a maximum payment to any one depositor of £50,000. This limit applies provided the insolvency or other default of the bank or firm concerned takes place after 7 October 2008.
Please note that accounts with Bank of Scotland include accounts in its divisions and trading names, for example, Halifax, Intelligent Finance and Birmingham Midshires.
Most deposits denominated in Sterling and other European Economic Area currencies and euro made with offices of the bank within the European Economic Area are covered. There are different levels of protection for other investments covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Further details of the scheme are available on request.
You can find more information on the FSCS website at www.fscs.org.uk (link opens a new window).
Troubleshooting and support
What type of computer and software do I need to use?
We know that the AA Internet Saver works on the following platforms:
- a PC running Windows 98, 2000 or XP; using Internet Explorer 5 or later or Firefox 1 or later
- an Apple Macintosh running OS X 10.2 and later; using Safari 2 or later, or Firefox 1 or later
(Please note that Internet Explorer for Mac is no longer available from Microsoft. Although it can be used, it does not correctly display the style sheet inside the account, and makes it difficult to operate.)
We recommend that if you are having difficulties, you check first with the browser provider's website, to see if a more recent version is available.
To print your statements, you will need to use Adobe Acrobat reader, which is available from Adobe's website.
If you need assistance in upgrading your computer or software, you should refer to the manual supplied with your computer, or contact an IT professional, as we are unable to provide support in these matters.
What settings do I need to view my AA Internet Saver?
Most PCs are set up correctly to use our AA Internet Saver. However, there are some settings that prevent access. We've got the recommended settings for using our account below.
Internet Explorer 5: Checking your Security and Privacy Level
- Load Internet Explorer, then click on 'Tools' which appears on the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select 'Internet Options'.
- Click on the 'Security' tab. Click on 'Internet Zone' and then click 'Custom Level'. Look for 'Allow cookies that are stored on your computer', and then select 'Enable'. Look for 'Accept per session cookies' and select 'Enable'.
- Click OK to save the settings, then shut Internet Explorer down.
Internet Explorer 6: Checking your Security and Privacy Level
- Load Internet Explorer, then click on 'Tools' which appears on the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select 'Internet Options'.
- Click on the 'Security' tab, then click 'Internet Zone', and click 'Default Level'. Then, move the 'slider' to 'Medium Level'.
- Click on the 'Privacy' tab, and click 'Default Level'. Then, move the 'slider' to 'Medium Level'.
- Click OK to save the settings, then shut Internet Explorer down.
Internet Explorer: Disabling Content Adviser
The Content Adviser in Internet Explorer may stop you being able to register and move around the online system. You must disable it when using the AA Internet Saver.
- Load Internet Explorer, then click on 'Tools' which appears on the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select 'Internet Options'.
- Click on the 'Content' tab, and check what is listed at the top of this tab.
- If it shows 'Disable' and 'Settings':
You should click 'Disable', and enter the password you selected when you turned this option on. If you can't remember the password, or didn't set it, we cannot assist with this. You will be unable to disable the Content Adviser.
The buttons will change to 'Enable' and 'Settings'. You can then click OK, then close Internet Explorer. - If it shows 'Enable' and 'Settings':
You do not need to change anything; this is the correct setting to access our AA Internet Saver.
If you rely on Content Adviser to restrict access to unrated websites on your PC, you should re-enable it after using the account.
If you are experiencing problems that relate specifically to the operation or set-up of your Internet software, please refer your queries to your Internet service provider.
I've received an email from the AA, but parts of it are missing, or pictures are replaced with an X. Why is this?
We make our emails easier to identify by branding them with our logo, and having some of the headers appear as pictures. Many email programs block pictures by default, to protect you from malicious content.
To ensure that you can always see our emails, add theaa@esavingsaccount.co.uk to your 'safe senders' email list, or look at the top of the email window for an option to 'show all pictures in this email'.
If you're using Outlook 2003, you can read this article: http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/assistance/HP010440221033.aspx .
If you're using Outlook Express, you can read this article:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/843018.
Please refer to your email program instructions for further information if you're still unsure how to view the content of the email.
I use AOL and I'm having trouble opening or viewing my account. What can I do?
This may sometimes happen if you are using the built-in browser in AOL (when you log in for the first time, AOL shows you a screen that you can type a web address into). What you need to do is connect to AOL, minimise the program, then launch Internet Explorer or the program already on your PC.
If you are experiencing problems that relate specifically to the operation or set-up of your Internet software, please refer your queries to your Internet service provider.
Why are my password or security details not accepted when activating my account?
When you're trying to activate your account, you must make sure that you follow these rules:
- The password must be a mix of letters and numbers. The numbers cannot be at the start or the end.
- The memorable date must be in the format of the example given: two figures for the day, two figures for the month, and four figures for the year, separated by a hyphen, eg 01-01-2000.
- The memorable place can be a mix of letters and numbers.
- Your memorable book or film cannot be exactly 11 characters. Try keeping it under 10 characters.
Why am I being sent to the log in page, or getting messages about being logged out?
This is because your browser settings are incorrect. You may have some items switched on that prevent you accessing the AA Internet Saver. Please read the question under 'What settings do I need?' to check your set-up.
If you're experiencing problems that relate specifically to the operation or set-up of your Internet software, please refer your queries to your Internet service provider.
What does the message 'Insufficient Encryption: This document requires a larger secret key size' mean?
If you're using a version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator that does not support secure sites, you'll receive this message. You will need to upgrade to the latest version of your preferred browser, and be sure that it installs support for 128-bit security (the manufacturer's website will tell you this).
What does the message 'Security Alert: The security certificate has expired or is not yet valid' mean?
If you're using an old version of a browser, this message may appear, suggesting that our site's security certificate is not valid. This is not true. Changes to the technology used by Verisign, the issuer of our security certificate, mean that older versions of some browsers are unable to read updated certificates.
If you are getting this alert then we suggest you update your browser.
What should I do if I'm having trouble signing in but I can access the website?
Please check that you have entered your security details exactly as requested. If you are still experiencing difficulties, please call the AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203 for assistance. Lines are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm.
What should I do if I lose my Internet connection while applying/activating/viewing my account?
If you lose your Internet connection while viewing or using your account, or registering or activating your application, providing you do not close down your Internet browser you should be re-connected to the page you were viewing before you lost your connection.
The account is programmed to close itself down after a certain period of inactivity, for example if you do not use any of the product functions, or enter any data. If you do not regain your Internet connection within this period you will need to re-enter your security details if you are an existing customer, or recommence the application and activation processes if you are a new customer. In the latter case all data you previously entered will be lost.
My computer crashed – have I lost the information I entered?
If your Internet browser is shut down (eg because of a computer crash), you'll need to re-enter your security details if you are an existing customer, or recommence the application and activation processes if you are a new customer. In the latter case all data you previously entered will be lost.
If you lose your connection while using the funds transfer function, and are uncertain as to whether your instruction was completed, please log in to your account at a later time and check as to whether the transaction has appeared on your account details.
I have logged on correctly but am unable to view a list of my accounts. Why?
You need to telephone our AA Savings Team on 0845 602 6203. Lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
I can't print my statements/I get a message saying 'File Is Damaged'.
You should not click the 'Print' button on your browser to print the page; we've provided a correctly printed statement in an easy to view format.
To print this, press the print button that is located on the AA Internet Saver screen. It is shown on the Mini Statement and Full Statement pages.
When you press the print button, a new window opens, and an Adobe PDF file is opened, which contains a copy of your statement.
If the window does not open, please see if you have a pop-up-blocker installed. You can sometimes temporarily override a pop-up-blocker by holding the CTRL key when you click on a link. Unfortunately, we're unable to provide help with how to use a pop-up-blocker, but if you identify you've one installed, and this is stopping you viewing your statement, please contact the program's maker.
If you receive an error message saying 'the file is damaged' or a dialog box that states that there is a problem, or the pop-up window stays white, then you may be experiencing a problem with the software installed on your computer. Please check that you have the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader; see the above question for more details.