Always read the small print with bonuses

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Written 12th February 2025

I've been looking at Cash ISA and Lifetime ISA accounts for my son recently. One of the better interest rates is Moneybox. I must confess even I was interested given their high interest rates. However I still have yet to open any accounts with an app only provider as every time I do my due diligence on the company by looking at Trustpilot reviews, I'm always shocked by the number of low star reviews some of these companies have.


I'm not saying other financial institutions don't mess up sometimes, because I know first hand they do after transferring a sum of money by CHAPS payment last year that 'disappeared' for 10 days because the staff member actioning the request had not double checked the bank details and had sent the payment to the wrong bank. I didn’t leave a negative review for the bank as it was a rare occurrence and the matter was eventually resolved. However, when you read lots of poor reviews about a company I wonder why more people don't check out genuine feedback before deciding to invest their savings with any new company. Surely just because they are advertised on some financial sites that are credible and well regarded, we should always consider the fact that these sites are also receiving financial incentives to advertise these products and companies. 


I wanted to write this post not because of 1 star reviews down to the technical inadequacy of apps, or the inability to speak to a human when an issue arose but more because I was flabbergasted at the number of people surprised about the government bonus being taken away from their balance when they went to withdraw the money in their Lifetime ISA account because they weren't actually buying a property. Do people not read the terms and conditions of the account when they open it? Do they just read the headline bonus amount without realising there is going to be plenty of small print connected with the bonus? There is a very informative page on the MSE website with all the details about the bonus and early withdrawal penalties, plus account providers here.


What is even more surprising to me is the very few companies that actually offer the Lifetime ISA type of account (8 offer standard Lifetime ISAs, and 3 offer the Stocks and Shares version at the time of writing). Apparently due to the complicated paperwork that goes with obtaining the bonus monies from the government. Surely our government in helping our younger generation to get onto the housing ladder (or save for their retirement), should make it simpler if that's the case? So there is a greater choice of provider and we could get one from a 'normal' high street bank or building society with a long track record of being financially stable and trustworthy? 


One thing I didn't realise before delving into this subject is that the £4k per year you can pay into a Lifetime ISA comes out of the £20k allowance you can save per year in an ISA without tax being payable on the interest the money generates. I'd always just assumed it was on top - a nice bonus for the younger generation to help them on their way to their first home (or their pension). How many other people didn't realise this?



In principal though, and if you only use this type of account for its intended purpose (for your 1st home or for retirement), these accounts are a no-brainer. No other account will give you a 25% bonus (tax free) on your savings. However, if you're thinking of using one just for savings which don't meet the eligibility criteria, you'll end up losing out due to the withdrawal penalties so you'd be better off saving with another standard ISA or savings account provider.


When I'm looking for savings accounts (or any other kind of financial product) I always check MSE, money.co.uk and also enter a google search too as some providers don't use comparison sites to advertise so it's always worth spending a bit of time checking the whole online market. But whoever you end up saving with, always read the small print - especially facts like your 'cooling off' period if you change your mind, how you credit and withdraw money from the account, when is interest paid and where is it paid to, how to close the account, is there online access etc etc.

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