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MyEggNest:
Child Trust Funds
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Child Trust Fund
By Engage Mutual Assurance
The engage Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a Stakeholder account that allows your child’s savings to share in the growth potential of a stock market-based investment. However, please bear in mind that the fact that a Child Trust Fund (CTF) is Stakeholder does not mean that the investment is suitable or that its performance is guaranteed. engage is one of the UK's leading Child Trust Fund providers and has a dedicated UK based customer service team.
This product is issued by Engage Mutual Assurance
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Reviews
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 11 May 2010 by Louise Connolly
Good Points: Good communication, clear concise information on literature and web site
Bad Points: None
I am pleased to have opened accounts with Engage Mutual for all of my family members. I trust that they will look after our investment and give us the best return possible when the time comes. During the years I have had the accounts, the communication has been excellent and user friendly. The new web site shows Engage Mutual to be forward thinking and keen to improve their service. The site is a brilliant source of information which is laid out in a user friendly way. The products and services offered are wide ranging are explained very well. I will be a regular visitor!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 03 Apr 2010 by Mr Ravat
Good Points: Working with the Engage Mutual is a quick and efficient service. The child trust fund is very easy to set up and manage. WE have 2 CTF#s for each of our children, with a regular monthly direct debit that helps them save for a decent lump sum payable when they are a little older to help with University and or Driving lessons. Who knows how expensive things will be in 15years time! Staff at the ENgage Mutual are friendly and give straight forward direct information that give good confidence in saving with the Engage Mutual Child Trust Fund.
Added bonus are the Boots vouchers which are given on account opening and account top up on a regular basis. A good incentive to increase the saving amounts!
Bad Points: Internet order can take a while to be actions see general comments.
We tried to set up an additional payment into both CTF's coming from a different bank account. This was initiated over the web in the first week in February. The instruction was to invest a further £10 per month into each CTF. However I am a little disappointed that the payment has taken this long to action and credit my childrens account. Lets hope the payment is taken and credits both accound by the middle April. I do feel as if the children have lost out and due to some inefficiencies or technical matters at ENgage that both accounts should be credited curtesy of Engage as a good will gesture. However somehow I dont think this will happen. We can only hope.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 30 Mar 2010 by pavinder banggar
Good Points: good customer service and good advice given when i have called them and helpful in advice regarding the service provided
Bad Points: only do the share account and not the guarenteed ctf account, also only been operating for 8 years so have not had to pay out yet which leaves you with doubts.
i want a guarenteed savings account so will be looking to transfer to a different ctf account. Apart from this i was very happy with engage's customer service and how they dealt with my query. i got friendly advice about the company and what they offer and also the benefits of their service but also they was completely honest with me when telling me that they have only been in business for eight years and as of yet have not had to pay anyone out as no one has reached the age of eighteen. overall a good service but i am looking for a guarenteed ctf account.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 22 Mar 2010 by NEIL SPENCER
Good Points: The account was opened and all the setting up was carried out for us.
Bad Points: None
I am happy with the level of service we have recieved from this fund. tHE EASE TO ADD FUNDS TO THE ACCOUNT IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD AND THE FREE VOUCHERS CAME IN VERY HANDY JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME. I would recommend this company to any new parents who are currently unsure about the saftey of there childs trust fund with the current economic climet due to the way they keep me informed about the way they have invested and the level of funds currently in the account. Thank you for the service you have given me up to date.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 17 Mar 2010 by Chris Mason
Good Points: Easy to set up , administer and review
Bad Points: None
The process of setting up an Engage Mutual Child Trust Fund for both our children was simple and offered ongoing easy maintenance. Statements are produced annually and are easy to understand and interpret. The fund itself is competitive and offers a lifestyling option that reduces investment risk from the age of 13. Paying into the fund is also simple, by direct debit, and the Engage Mutual Child Trust Fund also allows other extended family members to contribute. Again, the process of setting up these additional contributions was extremely easy. All in all we're very happy with Engage Mutual as our choice of CTF provider.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 10 Mar 2010 by Emma Wills
Good Points: Easy to open
Can change details online
Bad Points: None
I have had nothing but good experiences of using this company and the Child Trust Fund service. I opened an account 4 and a half years ago for my first son and have now opened another account for my second son. It is very easy to open an account and once opened you receive all the information you need. I have amended my Direct Debit details with ease using the online service and it is amazingly easy for other family members to also set up payments to be credited to the account. You receive annual statements to see how your investment is doing and the staff are extremely helpful and friendly if you should need to call.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Jennifer Scott
Good Points: We always get a clear statement.
Bad Points: None.
Being a first time Mother I had no idea what a Child Trust Fund was let alone what to do with it. It is a minefield of information for first time parents. You have a responsibility to your child to make the best informed choice. I read all the leaflets that we received and after a lot of research I found Engage Mutual on the internet. The website was clear and listed all the advantages of Engage Mutual without the hard sell. It was very easy to set up the account on the internet which was a bonus when you have a new little bundle that needs all your attention and it very unpredictable. We have always liked the clear statements that we receive from Engage Mutual and the fact that it is so easy for friends and family to add to the account. So when our second son arrived we naturally took out a Child Trust Fund for him as well.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by David Webster
Good Points: Excellent communications, quick and efficient.
Bad Points: None to mention so far.
I have taken staff friendliness down to the medium as I don't know if they are good or bad for this - never needed to contact them. This does bode well for ease of use and quality of information however that I have never contacted their staff.
I also commend Engage Mutual for their summary reports for ease of understanding, but they could do with putting the current value of shares owned to aide with the understanding of the current value of the account. Thats just a minor though.
I have in fact recommended Engage Mutual CTF's to all my friends although not my family as recent additions to the family have been non-UK residents.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Glen Hornsby
Good Points: Quick, easy registration and prompt delivery of information pack.
Bad Points: None
i took out the child trust fund for our first child and found the registration process quick and easy. I was impressed at the speed that confirmation documents and information pack was sent to my home in the post. The annual statement supplied is easy to understand and im not bamboozled by any shares jargon. It clearly highlights what my fund will be worth. I've never actually needed to call Engage so I'm uable to comment on staff interaction with customer. The whole process led me to not think twice about enrolling our secong child to the trust fund with Engage Mutal.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Christina de Contreras
Good Points: The website was very user friendly and straightforward.
Bad Points: None
My experience with engage Mutual was incredible, I already hold 2 accounts for my other children with them and this time was no different, staff was very helpful, very friendly and quick which was very much appreciated.
I previously had to call engage to be able to open an account, this time I did it online and it was fantastic, the website is very clear and user friendly, the questions are very simple, not too much to fill in and I got my prepaid envelope over the post, so i could just stick the voucher inside and send it, that was it, my 3rd child account was open in less than a week. Excellent work Engage mutual, thank you
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Gemma Beddow
Good Points: Annual statements
Bad Points: Little information throughout the year
I opened a Child Trust Fund with Engage when my son was born three years ago. I found their website very informative and the initial communication comprehensive. The annual statements are of interest, though of course as this is a long-term investment, I feel no need to act on them. The forms supplied for relatives to gift money into the trust are also helpful. I was impressed enough to open my daughter's Fund with Engage last year too. I feel unable to comment fully on staff friendliness as all my dealings have been online - which has been a bonus as everything was so simple to set up - very useful with two small children to look after!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Joanne Brown
Good Points: easy to apply and able to apply online even if you dont have the voucher yet. we received written confirmation days after submitting the application online and have been informed by letter what is happening at every step
Bad Points: only thing i can say is that we could have been sent a prepaid addressed envelope to send in the voucher but it isnt a big issue
i have used engage chld trust fund with one of my other daughters child trust fund voucher and cant really fault the service, as i have previously stated they keep you informed of what is happening and are easy to contact if you need to. the application form is simple and can be done online and the information regarding it is easy to understand. i was also able to set up a direct debit online and received confirmation by both email and post. we get a letter stating what the money has been invested in and what its value is worth.on a whole i cant fault the service.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Clare Peel
Good Points: £25 boots voucher
Friendly and helpful staff on telephone
Bad Points: None
I found opening my child trust fund very easy...for my first child I went into Yorkshire Building Society where the form was completed for me in around 5 nminutes. For my second child I simply rang Engage and it was all set up over the telephone also in about 5 minutes. The staff are very friendly on the phone every time I have called. I am not very financially minded but felt reassured and happy with the accounts I set up. I receive my statements on time and they are easy to understand. Also, a very good incentive to join for parents is a £20 Boots gift voucher, I received one of these in the post for both my children and they were very well spent on nappies!!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Suzanne
Good Points: Easy to apply using the internet.
Bad Points: None that I can think of.
I applied for my sons child trust fund over the internet. The web site gave me all the information I required to help me make my decision to go ahead.
My older son has his fund with engage too. The form was easy to understand and fill in. I looked at other child trust fund providers even though my older son has his with Engage but in the end I decided to go ahead with a policy with Engage. I feel that both my sons child trust funds are in very good hands. I would not hesitate to recommend Engage to other parents.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Ailish Gilder
Good Points: free introductory offer when joining
Bad Points: Infrequent communication regarding the balance on the account
The engage mutual child trust fund account is easy to open and the introductory offers are a very good bonus. When I have needed to speak to an advisor they have always been very courteous and helpful and have always dealt with my questions sufficiently or offered to call me back and have always called me back when they said they would. The biggest crticism that I have is that the communication regarding the performance of the fund and the balance of the account is a little infrequent, I would prefer to receive a statement twice a year rather than annually.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Nicola
Good Points: Easy to set up online
Cashback and Gift vouchers
Bad Points: Can't track progress online
Can't pay in cheques made payable to your children
I recently opened another trust fund for our second daughter after being impressed with the performance and administration of the one I opened for our eldest daughter. I found the process very quick and easy - just fill in a form online and pop your voucher in the post. I also received £50 cashback via Topcashback.co.uk and Boots gift vouchers are given if you set up a direct debit (although I am still waiting for mine after 2 months!). One downside seems to be you can't track the progress of the fund online - you have to wait for an annual paper statement. It is easy to make one-off payments (although not by credit card). However we were unable to pay in cheques the children received for birthdays/christenings and had to open a bank account for them instead.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Wendy Wolfcarius
Good Points: Easy online access to make additional payments and a nice incentive to increase direct debits.
Bad Points: Confirmation letters when additional payments have been made do not confirm amount. It would be helpful if you could check the account online throughout the year to check updates yourself, otherwise you have to wait for the annual statement.
Staff have always been very friendly and helpful by phone but the recent addition of website access to increase payments or make one-off payments is even better. I opened our second child's account wholely online very quickly, and the voucher incentive to increase your direct debits regularly means you are saving money very fast. My only request would be to be able to check the entries on the account via website to make sure all the payments are there prior to the annual statement, since the confirmation letters don't refer to actual amounts when you make a one-off deposit. But otherwise I find the service very efficient.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by David Fletcher
Good Points: Easy to set up
Good, clear information
Easy for Friends / Family to contribute
Bad Points: None
After shopping around after the Birth of our first child, we chose Engage.
We have now invested the Child Trust Fund vouchers from the goverment for both our children.
Right from the outset, the whole process of applying and getting things set up was simple, striaghtforward and easy to understand. The clarity of information summarising the investment is excellent.
I pay a regular monthly sum into both of their accounts, and extra amounts from friends and familiy around Birthdays and Christmas. Again, this is simple to undertake, and response has always been quick.
I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Engage to anybody, having found them a pleasure to deal with in every way.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by rebecca clifford
Good Points: Efficient
Friendly
Know what they are talking about (not scripted nonsense!)
Bad Points: Havent got any yet!!
They have been extreemely efficient with paperwork for both my son and daughter.
I had to phone on one occasion as I had not recieved a yearly update when we moved house. They were friendly and paperwork arrived very quickly.
I have had no problems with understanding what I have applied for and how it works. They also explained well the risks involved.
I was so happy with the service I have used them for my daughter too and would happily recommend them to friends.
Not sure I like this survey though! There isnt much of a guide as to the type of thing you expect to be written! But cant all be perfect!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by lisa bell-mcgrath
Good Points: easy to set up and i dont have to do anything recieve statement every year
Bad Points: None
its very easy to set up and i dont have to manage it as the direct debit comes out every month and i recieve a statement every year so i know whats happening and if i have any problems just a phone call. very helpful staff always polite when i have phoned with a querie. i also have opened an account for my daughter because its reassuring to no that when they turn eighteen they will both have something to help them whether it be driving lessons, a car or even to help them set up a future i think it is a great idea.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by simon tudor
Good Points: We chose to put our daughters trust fund with you as you seemed to be the best choice for us..we didn't want a huge fuss over it just somewhere safe to invest until she is older also we liked the fact that the staff were very friendly and reliable and the company has a trustworthy reputation..the statements we recieve are clear and concise not full off mumbo jumbo..thats why when we had our other daughter we knew exactly where we wanted it to go...
Bad Points: none that i can think of
Trustworthy company with a good reputation..staff are very informative and polite plus they treat you like a member of the family when you ring with a general enquiry or want information regarding the accounts..i have found the whole experience with your company very rewarding and would recommend you to any one that had a child trust fund to invest..i like the way you never harass us to put more money into the account as we are on a budget and will put more in when we can afford it..the statements are clear and put in a way that i can understand.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Paul McLaughlin
Good Points: Clear, simple process to apply for the Trust fund. Second Daughter was even simpler to sort out which is just perfect when sorting out the financial side of things is not high on your list of priorities at the time!
Bad Points: None.
I have placed both my childrens Child trust funds with Engage. My initial experience was that the staff are very helpful and friendly and that all my questions were answered clearly, concisely and there and then. The update statements are clear and simple to understand and does not overcomplicated matters. I decided to place my second childs trust fund with Engage also due to the positive experience first time around and found that as an existing customer the process was simple, quick and efficient. I would be happy to recommend Engage as friendly, easy to deal with provider of the CTF which is just what you need when trying to sort out the financial side of things and juggle a new family life!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 09 Mar 2010 by Nigel
Good Points: Good product, signing up via Quidco provides cashback, signing up with engage provides boots vouchers.
Clear Statements.
Bad Points: None
I moved my first child's ISA from a rival provider to engage with no issues at all. I needed only to sign up via their website, providing the account number and a few other details and engage handled the transfer quickly and efficiently. My second child's ISA was set up directly with them (via Quidco, earning £50 cashback). Upon this happening I was provided with £20 in boots vouchers as well. I receive annual statements detailing my contributions as well as the total that the fund is worth. The life style option is very good as it derisks the fund as the child gets older and nearer to the fund's maturity. Very pleased with the product.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 10 Nov 2009 by Lynn Pickering
Good Points: Website Really easy to use, key features and terms and conditions written in plain english, as opposed to complicated financial jargon.
Bad Points: Am only at the beginning of the process but none so far.
I'm only at the start of the process having just completed an online application form for the Engage Child Trust Fund. So I therefore cannot comment on the staff friendliness as yet, as I haven't spoken to any staff.
However, I found the application to be really simple, it was laid out well and the key features and terms and conditions, which are normally horribly complex, long, financial jargon ridden documents, were refreshingly easily understable being written in plain english. In my experience of financial documentation this is a very rare occurence. Usually you need to be an expert in the law and have a degree in finance to decipher these documents.
Hopefully they have started as they mean to go on.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 25 Aug 2009 by Gemma
Good Points: *Friendly Staff
*Good quality information, via leaflets/staff/website
*Great joinging gift of £25 Asda vouchers
Bad Points: None
When we came to invest our daugther's ctf voucher, were were unsure as to where to go, and which account etc.
Whilst shopping in Asda we saw they did a fund with enage and you could get £25 Asda vouchers went opening the account with them and setting up a direct debit. We also got that when we opened my sons as well. We were unsure as to which was the best account and the staff were so friendly and helpful, taling me through each option.
When we moved house again the staff were so helpful and changed our details with ease...same thing when we changed our bank account too.
Then when I lost my job and needed to temporarily stop making the monthly payments to the funds that we usually did, the staff were kind and sympathetic, giving us our options and what to do when we wished to resume payments. Overall I am very very pleased with the children ctf's.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 24 Aug 2009 by Jane
Good Points: £50 cashback through Quidco, Good service
Bad Points: None so far
I went with Engage simply because if you sign up with them through the cash back site Quidco you earn a massive £50 cash back and I think this is an excellent offer. Its easy to sign up to Quidco and its simple to complete the on line forms for Engage it took me under 10 mins. I few days later all the paper work came through from Engage and confirmation of the account been opened. I simply had send them my paper voucher to complete the process a couple of days later I got a letter telling me they had recieved the voucher. I was very impressed by the promt service. I'll also enjoy having an extra £50 to spend on my little man
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 20 Aug 2009 by Neil
Good Points: Online application process is very simple and straightforward. Vouchers arrived within a few days. CTF Performance seems very good so far and I am very happy with my choice of provider
Bad Points: Only one fund to choose from (but I guess this keeps things simple!)
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 27 Jul 2009 by E.Kallas
Good Points: None
Bad Points: My child's fund has this year dropped below the value it had one year ago, so basically the value has dropped by more than I invested this year. The fund has performed extremely badly this year and I would not recommend it to anyone. In the statement they did not even bother to comment on teh bad performance they've had this year- taking it for granted that the bad economic situation would explain it, I presume- I call it an utter arrogance!
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 23 Jul 2009 by clare
Good Points: Really easy to apply online. Good clear website with lots of information.
Bad Points: None
Really happy that I've finally invested the voucher and glad I have used engage Mutual.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 13 Jul 2009 by Lyn Akers
Good Points: Easy to understand and apply for
user friendly website
Bad Points: None so far
After spending days researching where to bank our childs £250 voucher we finally decided on Engage, the online application form was really easy to use and took less than 10 minutes to complete, you can even begin the process without receiving the voucher, the website was very easily laid out and extremely easy to understand, they explain all of the different accounts you can set up including the ones they dont offer, making it very easy for you to make your final choice, you are given free Boots vouchers for setting up a direct debit, and more vouchers for doing it there and then. Overall it was a very easy experience, we would recommend to anyone.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 12 Jul 2009 by Nigel Walsh
Good Points: simple, easy to understand website. recommended by others. All CTF's looked the same in the end. Their online web form was really good, easily and cleanly laid out. After service brilliant,
Bad Points: none so far with engage. My general niggle with CTF's is you cant touch the money at all. Perhaps better to put in your own name in a bunch of ISA's etc.
simple, easy to understand website. recommended by others. All CTF's looked the same in the end. Their online web form was really good, easily and cleanly laid out. After filling in the form, the very next day I received Oscar's pack along with my account number etc and a freepost envelope to send of our voucher as soon as it arrives. I also believe you can track online what you put in etc. Finally, if you use Quidco first, www.quidco.com - you can get £50 cashback - plus then add £20 quid a month you then get a total of £75 back towards the first years contributions. Not a bad start! After service brilliant,
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 26 Jun 2009 by Martha Dickins
Good Points: User freindly simpleapplicationn form.
Bad Points: None as yet.
Did not need to speak to anybody.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 20 May 2009 by JASPAL WAID
Good Points: Extremely easy to get on to their website , The website was very well laid out and the essential information that i would expect to be made available to a customer was there and clear and precise. The whole process of setting up the TESP was very quick and I encountered no problems.
Bad Points: The documentation took a bit longer than I would have expected but this may just have been down to the post office.
The Tax Exempt Savings Plan (TESP) do not seem to be heavily advertised and overshaowed by CTF'S.
Also i did find it difficult to get information on the current performances of Friendly Societies who offered TESP's . This may have been because it is all lumped in with CTF's .
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 20 May 2009 by JASPAL WAID
Good Points: I applied on-line for the Children's CTF. Their Website is very easy to use and well laid out . The whole process once I had read the information was very quick . The documentation arrived in the post and was clear and precise.
Bad Points: The delivery of the documentation took a few days.
The whole process was easy and plain to use. No complaints.
Website: Visit the website for this product
Reviewed on 23 Apr 2009 by Asta
Good Points: Very easy and quick to set up an account online, good interest rates
Bad Points: none so far
Write a review (must be at least 100 words) : Its all very confusing and time consuming to choose the right CFT provider. I have chosen Engage Mutual Assurance for few reasons. First it was important to me that I could open an account online. And I did it in less than 10 minutes with Engage Mutual Assurance! Very easy and stright forward to follow online instructions. Secondly, it was important to me to get good interest rates especially during these times and I found that they offer one of the highest rates which looks promising to me. Finally, the reviews left about Engage Mutual Assurance encouraged me to choose them as there were no ratings less than 4 out of 5. However, opening the account is the only experience I have engaged with them so far. Nevertheless I hope there will not be any regrets.
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