Have you looked on the database BalmPot? There are some 01 numbers there as well as some 0800 numbers. You have not mentioned which department you want. Have a look on the database.

So, if you have a current account with A & L (now Santander) why don't you give Halifax (now LLoyds) a cheque?

By the way, I called the switchboard and they put me through to customer services but each time they did this I was cut off for some reason, the line seemed to go dead each time they put me through. 

I ended up going to my nearest A&L in the end and what a palaver that was! 

They told me I couldn’t pay my credit card bill at the A&L branch and that the only way I could do this was if I withdrew money from my account and that I’d have to go the Halifax to pay this off with that money as it’s a Halifax1 card.

Well I asked them if I could withdrew the money and they asked for ID because of the amount I was wanting to withdrew. I know this is procedure but what a hassle! I showed them the statement thinking it would be enough as it has my address on but they wanted something like a passport or drivers licence which I don’t normally carry and didn’t think I’d need too. In the end I just complained that I’d come all this way to pay the bill, that I’d have to go back to where I’d come from and made a point of standing my ground but they kept insisting that I’d need to show the appropriate ID. As I say, I stud my ground and eventually they gave in and withdrew the amount I needed from my account after asking the appropriate security questions. Boy what a hassle! 

Banks these days have a tendency to make your life hellish!!

Anyway, once I was at the Halifax they accepted the payment saying it would be OK to pay the credit card bill as it was a Halifax card. Easy peasy!

The annoying thing is they [the clerk and the manager at A&L] explained to me that when calling A&L over the phone, and you’ve either forgotten or don’t have your phone PIN, wait a while as the announcement for the phone PIN will ask for this a couple of times then eventually you’ll be put through to whoever/whatever department you require. If only I knew this in the first place. Well you live and learn I guess.

The way I paid this is probably the quickest; it’s just a pain I had to go 4miles away from where I live to pay it. Plus the hassle of the security checks etc. If I wasn't so bothered about paying this on time I would've taken this in my stride instead of worrying and getting so irritated by the whole procedure.

I do internet banking now and again this way but wasn't overly confident paying my credit card bill this way. I think I'll try it this way next time though as it does seem hassle free nevertheless.

Many (most) banks operate the Faster Payment service for amounts under £10k. The internet banking payment gets to its destination the same day.