Halifax faster payments - something strange

Milarky

Last Tuesday, I tried to send a faster payment out from my main Halifax current account and was adjusting the amount to find the limit the system would accept via FPS (It turns out it's £1000) If an amount would go that day I went 'back' and increased the amount - and got up towards £1000 after several attempts. However, once the system finally amended the message that says that FPS was not available for that amount I found that NO amount would then be accepted - however small. ...and it was the same for any other payee I tried.

Called Halifax and they could not help but suggested using the 'delete' and 'reinstate' options (in the dropdown menu under every payee's details) to see if this would somehow 'clear' the block. Although this did not work and the 'unavailability' of FPS continued until today, I've just tried something else - 'move' the details to a different Halifax current account. Hey presto, the message then changed when an attempt to make a payment from the second Halifax account (under the limit) was made and the payment did indeed go instantly and is now at the other end.

So this mystery resembles a 'block' created on a single account when you've been fiddling (going back and forth) possibly which then sits there - for how long I don't know - giving spurious messages about the state of the FPS - but only for that one account.

Anyone else been caught out like this?

thumshie

Well, I've had a 'block' but dont think it was for constantly changing the amount.. I was doing FP's regularly/Daily then it stopped for almost a month :
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=21171363&postcount=62

While other accounts with HBOS could transfer to the same destination accounts minutes before/after trying my blocked account.

BTW: Why were you working up to find the FP Limit, surely you start with the amount you want to transfer/account balance and work down??:D

withnell

I've got into the habit now of making the payments out before pushing the money back in from my savings account - although to be fair the FP implementation has dramatically improved over the last few months, and I'm now always allowed to send 2k (as 4 x 500 lots) to another account in one day

aliasojo

Just wanted to thank you for your post milarky. You have managed to solve the very problem that Halifax staff had no clue about.

On Thursday of last week I sent 7 FP. The 8th wouldn't go, nor would any since (this is now Wednesday), not even for small amounts. Halifax were not able to help and my credit card payment needed to be sent asap. I was about to go and physically withdraw the money and pay it into my 'excellent service but rubbish rate' RBS account to send it from there, as their FP's are always reliable.

I thought I'd quickly check the site in case someone had had a similar problem and you were there. Sorry you had problems btw but I did what you posted about and my cc has now been paid without me having to leave my chair. :beer: Kinda ironic that a 'Joe Bloggs' on the net can help when Halifax staff couldn't, mind you. :rolleyes: I really wish Halifax would sort this service out once and for all, other banks can do it, so why do they seem to have so many issues? The only thing that keeps me with them are the Reward accounts. :rolleyes:

LucyTheDwarf

I've tried both suggestions (deleting and reinstating, and moving the payee to another account) neither of which work. Stumped now

withnell

I've been told the limit has now increased to 5k, and i've certainly been able to move just under 4k in a day (haven't needed to move any more)

LucyTheDwarf

I guess I'll just have to send by BACS. Very annoying. Luckily, I do have instant access accounts with other providers that do manage to send FPs okay, but that really isn't the point.

mary

I managed to send 3 x £1,000 last Wed by FP to Lloyds and since then have not been able to send anything by FP, not even £1 would do. Eventually went into the branch, withdrew cash and then extra from the cash machine, but I still have some to go. Incredibly frustrating, so will now try your suggestions.

Needless to say staff were unable to help.

mary

Success, just moved payment to a Reward Account and money has gone immediately.

As you say Milarky, it does seem to be a block on a particular account. It doesn't seem to matter who the payee is, or the amount of money or the time of day. I'm glad I'm not the only one to have found this querk.
Has anyone who has the block found out how long it remains, or does IT even know it's there?

Dagobert

Does anyone actually know the maximum total that can be transferred out per day?

mary

I'm told both by CS and in branch that is variable, it can be £5,000 one day or £50 the next. It all depends on external security, and not controlled by online people if you ring of people in the branch. They try more or less on the same screens as we do. Max I could do in one go was £1,000 on one day.