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Arghh I've lost my Halifax Rewards accounts, 14th April setup must have been correct

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  • innovate
    innovate Posts: 16,217 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 4 May 2013 at 4:26PM
    Anagran wrote: »
    .....no mention of being down graded......

    They did not need to mention any downgrade in the letter, it is in the NOV
    If we find that you do not have at least two different direct debits set up on your Reward Current Account, we may change your account to a Current Account or similar. Where we do this, we will give you at least two months’ notice

    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/130501-bank-account-changes.pdf

    And in the T&Cs (page 18)
    (g) We may review your account from time to time and if you have not kept a minimum of two different direct debit mandates on your account at all times, we may change your account to the Current Account, or if this account is no longer available, to a standard current account with similar features to the Current Account. We’ll give you at least two months’ notice before doing so

    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/reward-current-account-guide.pdf


    In both documents, there is the "We’ll give you at least two months’ notice before doing so". Haven't seen anyone saying they had had 2 months notice about a downgrade.
  • Dr_Cuckoo3
    Dr_Cuckoo3 Posts: 1,398 Forumite
    edited 4 May 2013 at 10:53PM
    Anagran wrote: »
    My partner and I both have reward accounts with BOS. I received RCAcust 20 and he received RCAcust18.

    innovate wrote: »
    They did not need to mention any downgrade in the letter, it is in the NOV

    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/130501-bank-account-changes.pdf

    And in the T&Cs (page 18)


    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/reward-current-account-guide.pdf

    The poster you quote is referring to BOS Reward accounts rather than the Halifax brand

    The BOS Reward accounts aren't being downgraded if direct debits are not set up (only the BOS Ultimate Rewards accounts are liable to be downgraded to current (classic) accounts p2) for other reasons
    http://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/130501-bank-account-changes.pdf
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • Old_Wrinkly
    Old_Wrinkly Posts: 5,182 Forumite
    socrates wrote: »
    Anyone who has had their account downgraded but meets the new criteria albeit late can apply over the phone again - it takes about 15 minutes

    Why does it take 15 mins?
    As you already have the current account (the 'downgraded' ones still have the same sort code and account number) and meet the criteria (which the call centre person can presumably see on their screen), isn't it just a case of setting some sort of flag/ticking a box/clicking a button.
    Shouldn't take more than 2 mins ...
  • socrates
    socrates Posts: 2,889 Forumite
    Why does it take 15 mins?
    As you already have the current account (the 'downgraded' ones still have the same sort code and account number) and meet the criteria (which the call centre person can presumably see on their screen), isn't it just a case of setting some sort of flag/ticking a box/clicking a button.
    Shouldn't take more than 2 mins ...

    OK - you know best - I spent 15 minutes on the phone actually doing it but what do I know?
  • socrates
    socrates Posts: 2,889 Forumite
    innovate wrote: »
    They did not need to mention any downgrade in the letter, it is in the NOV



    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/130501-bank-account-changes.pdf

    And in the T&Cs (page 18)


    http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/reward-current-account-guide.pdf


    In both documents, there is the "We’ll give you at least two months’ notice before doing so". Haven't seen anyone saying they had had 2 months notice about a downgrade.

    They are hiding behind the premise that more than one sole Reward Account was not actually allowed - that is why they are re-activating or upgrading (or whatever you want to call it) one Reward account almost immediately
  • Old_Wrinkly
    Old_Wrinkly Posts: 5,182 Forumite
    Anagran wrote: »
    I have to say I was a bit annoyed by these new rules about 2 direct debits. At the time of receiving these letters this reward account was genuinely my main (only!) Current account but I only had one direct debit going out monthly. It wasn't too much hassle though to switch one of the household bills from my partners account.

    Apologies if this point has been raised before ...

    I just don't see why Halifax/BOS are annoying customers who use this account as their main one but (for whatever reason) didn't have 2 direct debits set up on the account. There are many people who have had trouble with direct debits in the past and now don't use them by choice (even knowingly losing discounts on bills in some cases).

    I can see the advantage to the likes of utility companies in having a direct debit set up, but what benefit does a bank get in having to process one?
  • pqrdef
    pqrdef Posts: 4,552 Forumite
    "To remain in the Reward Current Account, you will need to have at least two different direct debits set up by 14th April" would be a very odd way of saying "well actually it doesn't matter what the hell you do by 14th April".

    It's pretty obviously notice that if you don't, you might get downgraded.

    As I read it, the situation is that they may review an account at any time from 1st May, and if it hasn't got the DDs, they may downgrade it, so long as they've given 2 months notice of the change, which we got in January, in anticipation.

    It doesn't say you get 2 months grace to remedy the omission. It's just 2 months notice of changing the account, so you've got time to change banks if you don't like it.

    And it doesn't say the "offence" has to be committed before the notice period can start. The wording allows them to say "we will look at your account 2 months from now and if it isn't in compliance, we will downgrade it there and then". You will have had two months to find another bank if you don't like it.

    Being abroad won't help. A letter to your last known address is just fine.
    "It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis
  • Old_Wrinkly
    Old_Wrinkly Posts: 5,182 Forumite
    socrates wrote: »
    OK - you know best - I spent 15 minutes on the phone actually doing it but what do I know?

    It was a straightforward question ...
    No need to regard it as anything else.

    I've not done it, but I know someone who might have to and they aren't too happy speaking to banks over the phone.
    Did they start trying to persuade you to upgrade to a fee-paying account (e.g. Ultimate Reward)? Is that why it took 15 mins?
    Or was it just a lengthy ID validation?
    (I'm simply trying to fathom what sort of procedure is involved.)
  • innovate
    innovate Posts: 16,217 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    socrates wrote: »
    They are hiding behind the premise that more than one sole Reward Account was not actually allowed - that is why they are re-activating or upgrading (or whatever you want to call it) one Reward account almost immediately

    What clause from their T&Cs are they referring to? (genuine Q)
  • innovate
    innovate Posts: 16,217 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    pqrdef wrote: »
    "To remain in the Reward Current Account, you will need to have at least two different direct debits set up by 14th April" would be a very odd way of saying "well actually it doesn't matter what the hell you do by 14th April".

    It's pretty obviously notice that if you don't, you might get downgraded.

    As I read it, the situation is that they may review an account at any time from 1st May, and if it hasn't got the DDs, they may downgrade it, so long as they've given 2 months notice of the change, which we got in January, in anticipation.

    It doesn't say you get 2 months grace to remedy the omission. It's just 2 months notice of changing the account, so you've got time to change banks if you don't like it.

    And it doesn't say the "offence" has to be committed before the notice period can start. The wording allows them to say "we will look at your account 2 months from now and if it isn't in compliance, we will downgrade it there and then". You will have had two months to find another bank if you don't like it.

    Being abroad won't help. A letter to your last known address is just fine.

    None of your interpretation of the T&Cs is very wrong but given that there was no requirement for DDs before May 1 2013, the very earliest someone could be downgraded for not having the two DDs would be the 1st of July 2013.

    The 14th April date is entirely a red herring since it is not referred to in the NOV or the T&Cs.
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