Halifax current account: delays when making transfers?

DUS

Hi,

I´ve been living in the UK for a year now, still enjyoing it ~smile~, but UK banks still manage to surprise me on a regular basis. LOL

Question re Halifax: I´ve got a current account with them and have 2 issues when sending money, whether that´s when arranging a transfer online or with SOs. Example:

a/ I just tried to transfer a sum from Halifax to another account with Barclays. It´s the 30th today but the only day Halifax would accept for the transfer is April 1. Is that a joke? Well, a suitable day it would be indeed, but seriously, why can´t I transfer straight away (like the other way around from Barclays to my Halfix account) or at least the next working day?

b/ I´m paying my rent via standing order. The money is supposed to leave my account on the 27th. So far, so good. And it works, yes, except for those months where the 27th is a Sat or Sun. :mad: And if the following Monday is a bank holiday.... yes, another delay. And, unfortunately, this has already caused some problems with my landlord in recent months. Jeeez, is their IT from the 1950s? Honestly, this is an automated, computerised system, why can´t a standing order go through on the date I want it to? The regular problems with Halifax and paying my rent are quite frustrating and I am considering opening an account with another bank. Surely I don´t want to end up paying on the 25th or so just to make up for these stupid delays Halifax cause.

But, having said all that, maybe it´s only me and I am just too stupid to make proper use of their system. Hence, my message to this board. Is there anything I can do to make sure that Halifax execute a standing order on exactly the day I want them to? And is there any secret as to how I can manage to make a same-day or instant money transfer to an external account or will I always have to wait 24 to 48 hours before Halifax transfers the money?

Thank you!

DUS

opinions4u

DUS wrote: »

a/ I just tried to transfer a sum from Halifax to another account with Barclays. It´s the 30th today but the only day Halifax would accept for the transfer is April 1.

If you tried after 5pm, this is the option you'd be given (it will also take 3 working days to arrive via the BACS system).

If your account is the current account the following applies:

If you tried before 5pm, and the amount was for less than £1,000, chances are it would be in the receiving account within 2 hours (called Faster Payments - still under development though). More than £1,000 will still take 3 working days.

Is that a joke?

No. Which countries do you believe do things faster?

Well, a suitable day it would be indeed, but seriously, why can´t I transfer straight away (like the other way around from Barclays to my Halfix account) or at least the next working day?

Answer above, I believe. Additionally, Barclays have better implemented a new system called "Faster Payments". Others are slowly getting there.

I´m paying my rent via standing order. The money is supposed to leave my account on the 27th. So far, so good. And it works, yes, except for those months where the 27th is a Sat or Sun. :mad: And if the following Monday is a bank holiday.... yes, another delay.

These days are not bank working days. There's a clue in the name of the Monday!

Jeeez, is their IT from the 1950s?

I believe it's the 1960s, but stand to be corrected.

Honestly, this is an automated, computerised system, why can´t a standing order go through on the date I want it to?

The old BACS system allows time for fraud checks where needed. The new Faster Payments system doesn't.

The regular problems with Halifax and paying my rent are quite frustrating and I am considering opening an account with another bank.

Your call. But I don't know of any other bank that pays standing orders when the banking system does.

Surely I don´t want to end up paying on the 25th or so just to make up for these stupid delays Halifax cause.

Good solution.

But, having said all that, maybe it´s only me and I am just too stupid to make proper use of their system. Hence, my message to this board. Is there anything I can do to make sure that Halifax execute a standing order on exactly the day I want them to?

No. The first bank working day after a weekend or bank holiday is normal.

And is there any secret as to how I can manage to make a same-day or instant money transfer to an external account or will I always have to wait 24 to 48 hours before Halifax transfers the money?

Do it early. Before 5pm. Do it in £500 amounts (possibly £1,000 now, but I haven't tried this much). You can probably get 3 a day away to a payee via a current account. None from a savings account.

DesG

opinions4u wrote: »

Do it early. Before 5pm. Do it in £500 amounts (possibly £1,000 now, but I haven't tried this much).

When did this 5pm thing happen with HBOS for restricting FPS?

Cheers, Des.

opinions4u

DesG wrote: »

When did this 5pm thing happen with HBOS for restricting FPS?

Cheers, Des.

Their web site suggests that it's a 24/7 thing.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/OnlineBankingHelp/fasterpaymentsfaqs.asp

I don't do many, but don't recall any success in the evenings!

DUS

Thanks for the feedback, opinions4u! It´s "good" to hear that the Halifax system is actually working the way it´s designed to, rather than me being the only one who´s just too stupid to use the existing system properly.

opinions4u wrote: »

Which countries do you believe do things faster?

I stand to be corrected but I am quite sure that with my previous bank in Germany, all SOs etc were paid on the pre-defined day, regardless of that day being a Sat, Sun or bank holiday monday. Having said that, at the end of the day it´s immaterial whether a bank in Germany did it, since I´m here in England. And if SOs are not paid automatically 7 days a week, then that´s the way it is.

Again, thx for all the info and advice re the 5pm watermark and the GBP 1,000 threshold!

DUS

Mikeyorks

DesG wrote: »

When did this 5pm thing happen with HBOS for restricting FPS?

Late April 08 ..... when they introduced some preparatory code for FP.

But it doesn't apply to FP payments. Rather to payments which fail whatever current discriminations they have in place against FP .... and therefore go via BACS. So I presume .... and I think it's 1800hrs ..... it's the time their little online calendar turns over and which governs whether your BACS goes overnight - or the following working day night.

DesG

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Late April 08 ..... when they introduced some preparatory code for FP.

But it doesn't apply to FP payments. Rather to payments which fail whatever current discriminations they have in place against FP .... and therefore go via BACS. So I presume .... and I think it's 1800hrs ..... it's the time their little online calendar turns over and which governs whether your BACS goes overnight - or the following working day night.

I was reading it that FPS only worked before 5pm now?

Cheers, Des.

noh

FPS works 24/7.
Just tried (at 22.05) a transfer from Halifax to Tesco which was successful via FP.

Nigel

DesG

noh wrote: »

FPS works 24/7.
Just tried (at 22.05) a transfer from Halifax to Tesco which was successful via FP.

Nigel

It may be working now, it wasn't earlier this evening or yesterday or another day last w eek I tried. (all transactions from Halifax to Tescos)

Just did one now and £999 went by FPS.

Cheers, Des.

noh

Yes I know.
The faster payments system works 24/7.
Halifax implementation of it is flaky but it isn't time restricted its just hit or miss whether it will work or not.

Nigel