Halifax (changing standing order amount online)

ironman1

Does anyone know how to change the amount of a standing order on a Halifax online account?

I spoke to them yesterday about overpayments on our mortgage account and how it's annoying having to phone to do this so they suggested setting up a standing order that will do it for us every month.

They said we could change the amount whenever we wanted as I told them we never pay the same amount every time.

I have looked on the online banking but can't find an option to change it at all. Just 'view details'.

If anyone could help and save me having to listen to that poxy on hold music again I'd be very grateful!

Thanks

Baldur

To the right of your account, under 'Standing Ordrs' in the 'Transfers/Pay Bills' page, there should be a drop down box saying 'what would you like to do?'

One of the options, if you click the arrow to the right of the box should be 'amend'.

ironman1

Thanks, but all I get is 'View details' and nothing else!

Baldur

ironman1 wrote: »

Thanks, but all I get is 'View details' and nothing else!

Did you only set up the Standing Order yesterday? If so, maybe allow a couple of days for the full options to show up or they may only do so after the first payment?

Mikeyorks

As Baldur says .... there should be an Amend facility. Could be that as the SO sounds to have only been set up in the last 24hrs / never used ..... it's not fully enabled yet. Give it another 24 hrs and it should be fully viewable?

ironman1

Thanks lads, I'll check it out in the next day or two. makes it so much easier to make OP's on the mortgage. By the way when you get to amend it, can you change it to (for example), £417.58, or is it just £350/400/450/500 etc? Thanks

jennifernil

You can change it to anything you like.

jambosans

You will need to check, but I'm guessing the standing order you describe is an HPP* (Halifax Payment Plan). It's a special type of standing order, which only mortgages can amend. If you want to make an overpayment to the account you will need to setup a separate standing order using your mortgage role number or sort code and account number.

As far as I'm aware, you cannot setup a standing order to a mortgage online (it won't take the "A/" roll number), so you will need to contact mortgages, get them to contact Telephone Banking, and request a standing order setup this way.

*I'm assuming your mortgage is also with Halifax, as this is something unique to Halifax mortgage and bank account holders.

ironman1

You may be right as I still only get 'View details' when clicking on standing orders and then the one connected to the mortgage.

The thing is I didn't even suggest using a SO for overpayments from one account to another. It was a Halifax worker over the phone who set it up and suggested it as a better option than keep phoning. So surely they should know how it works? I asked about ten times 'Can you edit the amount of your standing order'. The person (and then another person after her) said that is definitely allowed.

What's the point if you can't change it, I mean I told them the payments differ every month. It's the usual c0ck up by Halifax. Last time they said we could make additional payments by using it as a bill payment from the Joint to mortgage account...

And yes the mortgage is with Halifax.

jambosans

ironman1 wrote: »

It was a Halifax worker over the phone who set it up and suggested it as a better option than keep phoning. So surely they should know how it works?

Which department set it up? Halifax Mortgages or Halifax Bank Accounts? The former will have setup an HPP, which you cannot amend (as this will be the required mortgage payment). The latter department would have to get confirmation from Mortgages before setting up a separate standing order to make overpayments to your mortgage. It is possible that both are restricted to amendments over the telephone only. Halifax Online Banking is fairly clever, so it will know the standing order is to a mortgage roll number, and this may automatically incur restrictions (something a Mortgage or Bank Accounts Advisor may not have known).

ironman1 wrote: »

What's the point if you can't change it, I mean I told them the payments differ every month.

Think of an HPP as having more in common with a Direct Debit, than standing order. Halifax Mortgages control the HPP, and the added advantage of a HPP over a normal standing order, is that, if there are insufficient funds in your bank account to cover the mortgage payment, it will re-attempt for up to seven days, before you are charged for late payment.

ironman1 wrote: »

It's the usual c0ck up by Halifax.

A bit of misinformation, hardly the end of the world. Like I've said, you simply need to contact Halifax, confirm the standing order is a HPP, and request Mortgages arrange with Bank Accounts to setup a separate standing order to allow for overpayment on the mortgage. Bank Accounts will only setup this standing order if Mortgages confirms to them that your mortgage can accept overpayments.

As I've said, once this standing order is setup, it may be subject to amendment restrictions via Online, but you should be able to amend via Telephone Banking (08457203040). That said, not being able to amend via Online, shouldn't be a major issue, the point of a standing order is to make a fixed regular payment (if you need to make sporadic payment amounts, then you would be best reverting to your current method for overpayment).