Halifax Hell

Weeyin

Hello

My joint Halifax account was down graded to a cardcash account. There were no problems with my account, we paid in over £2k a month, did not exceed our overdraft etc. They said they can't explain it.
I was busy planning a weddingat the time, so didn't re-apply for a current account (to be honest i think they should have done this for us since it's their fault!). My £150 overdraft was still in place, so it didn't seem to much a problem. However, we applied for an overdraft extension, which was granted. The other week, we got a letter advising we need to reapply if this is still required as term has expired. We were then advised we should not have got an o/d with this account, and as of tomorrow, the original o/d and extension are being taken away. This was completely unexpected and has left us in the cr*p as we have paid out a lot this month thinking we had it there to use. I'm so angry, but i seem to have hit a brick wall - i'm just getting the old 'we can't explain why you got the o/d's in the first place' routine. Can they do this when i've not done anything wrong?

BruceyBonus

Overdrafts are repayable on demand, so they can ask for the money back whenever they want

But you can vote with your feet. Perhaps try opening a full current account at another bank.

cifpower

Of course they can do this. A CardCash account does not come with an overdraft so it appears someone made an error. Also, a CardCash account is only for 16/17 year olds

Weeyin

We are a married couple in our thirties, so don't understand why we have a kiddie account.

I've just phoned RBS to open an account (offered £5k o/d, although don't need that much, so have taken less). I've had enough of the Halifax. I know they can withdraw o/d's, but thought maybe they have to have a good reason, rather than their own mistakes?? IT's leaving people in the lurch to take it away for no reason.

space_rider

cifpower wrote: »

Of course they can do this. A CardCash account does not come with an overdraft so it appears someone made an error. Also, a CardCash account is only for 16/17 year olds

I have a card cash account which I use for internet shopping as I only put in the money to buy goods at that time. It`s also useful as you don`t get charged for using the card whereas sometimes you do with a normal debit card.

7sefton

Card cash was Halifax's basic bank account before basic bank accounts became nationally available. It came with a Solo card, no chequebook or overdraft, and was available to anyone over 16. When Halifax revamped its current account range in the late 1990s, Card cash was redesigned as the bank's youth account (for ages 16-17) and turned into a Visa Electron card. But customers who already held one, or customers who get one as a teenager but then grow up, are allowed to keep it indefinately.

woody01

My wife has a cardcash account with Chequebook/Electron etc and she only opened it in 2006. She was also 28years old at the time so i dont think it was just for 16/17 year olds.

Great account tbh.

Weeyin

Just phoned the complaints department. They advise that my original £150 overdraft (from my current account) was kept on with the downgraded account as per policy for existing customers. However, due to financial climate, they have decided not to continue this. When they reveiw customer accounts annually, they withdraw this service. Please note: to anyone that has this, this applies to you even if, like me, you have not had to previously reapply annually for the o'd.

Have been advised that although they can't give me an overdraft back on this account, they can offer me £2k on a credit card - so much for worries over the finacial climate!!

7sefton

woody01 wrote: »

My wife has a cardcash account with Chequebook/Electron etc and she only opened it in 2006. She was also 28years old at the time so i dont think it was just for 16/17 year olds.

Great account tbh.

Sorry, but you're completely wrong. Card cash does not come with a chequebook (or cheque g card for that matter). You have confused this account with another, I think. Easy to do mind, with Halifax changing their product lines all the time!

System

When it was available to over 18s, it did have an optional cheque book.
They withdrew chequebooks a year, or so, before they discontinued the account.
If you already had this facility, you could keep it, however.

7sefton wrote: »

Sorry, but you're completely wrong. Card cash does not come with a chequebook (or cheque g card for that matter). You have confused this account with another, I think. Easy to do mind, with Halifax changing their product lines all the time!

ShelfStacker_3

Weeyin wrote: »

Have been advised that although they can't give me an overdraft back on this account, they can offer me £2k on a credit card - so much for worries over the finacial climate!!

Arguably, a credit card may suit your needs better, as you can pay it off over a period of months - Halifax's offer is quite good IIRC.