Useless Halifax

dwileflunker

I had a similar problem with Halifax. I wanted to see an advisor but was told no one was available for three days so I told them to stuff their accounts, if they couldn't be bothered neither could I, and I closed all the accounts I had with them there and then and moved to the Yorkshire BS. The sad thing for their shareholders is that nobody was in the least interested or concerned that I was taking my buisiness elsewhere.

nash0819

If they spent less money creating the most irritating adverts known to man then maybe they would have a little bit more money to pay their staff, who would then care more about the organisation they worked for and therefore give proper customer service?

Thomas_Crown

Yesterday afternoon I phoned the complaints department at Halifax & lodged a complaint with them. This morning a woman from my local Halifax branch left a message on my answering machine implying that I had turned up for the appointment on Wednesday ie. a day late! I phoned her back & made it quite clear that I turned up at 1pm on Tuesday as per their letter.

The outcome was an apology & a new appointment with a different accounts advisor tomorrow BUT I will have to close my 7% Regular Saver account which has been running for 3 months & start again with a 10% account. I will get no interest on the 7% account so is it worth the hassle to change?

There is £450 in my 7% account & I would continue to pay £150 per month into the new account, however the £450 would serve as an initial deposit on this account.

Is there any advantage in changing to the higher rate account bearing in mind the loss of 3 months interest on my existing account? Anyone good with figures who can give a definitive answer, please?

YorkshireBoy

Thomas_Crown wrote: »

I will get no interest on the 7% account...

I don't think that's correct. If you withdraw or close, the rate falls back to one of the websaver rates doesn't it?...probably 4.xx%.

Anyone good with figures who can give a definitive answer, please?

According to several posts on the main Halifax 10% account thread, it doesn't matter where you are in the 7% account year (even 11 months in), it's still worth closing and opening the 10% version.

Don't take my word here for it though, find the information yourself (to double check) in the other thread. Warning...it's around 700 posts long!

YorkshireBoy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Don't take my word here for it though, find the information yourself (to double check) in the other thread. Warning...it's around 700 posts long!

Here it is...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11525503&postcount=123

(and it's now 811 posts long!!)

debbie42

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

If you withdraw or close, the rate falls back to one of the websaver rates doesn't it?...probably 4.xx%.

That was how it worked for me: it reverted to (I think) the websaver rate. I was only 2 months into my 7% rate when I closed it.

There were a few posts suggesting that you didn't have to close the 7% to open a 10%: I wonder what happened with those?

grandcru52

Tried to open a 10% account online this afternoon. For some reason, whilst my details were being sent the transmission was interrupted, but a message from Halifax said they were aware of the problem and to try again later.

This I did..... only to get the message that my application had been denied because I had exceeded the allowed number of accounts????!!!

Tried to phone them. Hung up after being on hold for 20 minutes.

Gambit

Suppose it just depends on the staff in branch. I've had problems with Halifax customer services in the past but been dealing with them for the last few months since I opened a joint account and they have been great... touch wood!

I strolled into my local branch to work about 10 minutes before closing and I managed to get an advisor who opened my account very quickly and efficiently. I paid in my opening deposit today and so far it's gone smoothly...

regularsaver1

jamiegibbo wrote: »

its the level or service i was getting at. when your in the centre of town and no access to the net until you get home. its often handy to pick up some sort of material to have a read through.

their staff seemed more keen to book appointments and upsell current accounts without listening to the reason i was there.

highly annoying

every branch has a pc for customers to go on the website

also, if you want to open this then you'd have an appointment - its those advisers you'd ask the questions to.

I mean in dcotors, would you ask the receptionist medical advice? no

most branches ran out of leaflets - big deal. i found these leaflets did not contact a lot of info

regularsaver1

dwileflunker wrote: »

I had a similar problem with Halifax. I wanted to see an advisor but was told no one was available for three days so I told them to stuff their accounts, if they couldn't be bothered neither could I, and I closed all the accounts I had with them there and then and moved to the Yorkshire BS. The sad thing for their shareholders is that nobody was in the least interested or concerned that I was taking my buisiness elsewhere.

what can they do if they are inundated in people wanting this account and the branch is not the only way to open it - a bit of an extreme reaction

and this account has been available since 9th June, and many people are leaving it to the last minute