You can lose at cards when buying holiday money

Sold into bondage by Bradford & Bingley

I opened an instant savings account on 1 April with Bradford & Bingley. On 30 May, I visited the branch for a tax certificate and was talked into changing it into a one-year bond. The staff member said it was a fantastic deal if you are not in a hurry for the cash. I was not expecting this response and, instead of taking the leaflet home to read, was persuaded to switch over on the spot, which I regret tremendously.

A month later, I asked to change the bond back to the instant savings account, but Bradford & Bingley refused. I am worried about having more money in one bank than the protection scheme will refund if Bradford & Bingley collapsed.SLEynsham, Oxfordshire

Your experience sounds more appropriate to a car showroom than a bank branch. Under the Banking Code, you have a 14-day cooling-off period but only if you had switched into a current account, savings account or cash Isa. There is no cooling-off period with fixed-interest products. The bank's response was regrettably abrupt. It sticks to its first response, saying it could find no evidence from the branch that you were badgered into buying the bond. They are hardly likely to admit it, and I'm sure your definition of pressure selling differs from a salesman's.

I'm losing interest in my Isa transfer

In April, I transferred my mini cash Isa to Birmingham Midshires. It received the funds on 23 April, but still hasn't informed me that the account has been opened. I have made several phone calls and received assurances, but I can't deposit a further £3,600 in the account, thus losing several weeks' interest. I would have been better off leaving the money in the original account.AWEast Hoathly, East Sussex

Many banks have made a pig's breakfast of Isa openings and transfers this year (see page 14 of this week's Cash). Birmingham Midshires opened your account on 29 May, a month after receiving the money, but sent you no welcome letter thanks to a 'system error'. It has now backdated interest to 24 April and confirmed that you can deposit more money in the account. If you do, interest will be backdated to 1 May. It has also sent you £25 and flowers.

· Email Margaret Dibben at money.writes@observer.co.uk or write to Margaret Dibben, Money Writes, The Observer, 3-7 Herbal Hill, London EC1R 5EJ and include a telephone number. Do not enclose SAEs or original documents. Letters are selected for publication and we cannot give personal replies. The newspaper accepts no legal responsibility for advice.