Halifax Reward Account

tenpin369

Not certain of how HBOS track the opening process of online accounts.
I should imagine that there is a point where opening multiple accounts within a short time-scale will set off an alert.
Bit like applying for multiple credit cards.
Maybe best to apply over a period of time.
As long as you are financially 'viable' I don't think that applying for bank accounts will impact your credit score - other than money laudering protocol!
Anybody got any other thoughts

DC

YorkshireBoy

tenpin369 wrote: »

I should imagine that there is a point where opening multiple accounts within a short time-scale will set off an alert.

Anybody got any other thoughts

Being as the current limit on these Halifax/BoS accounts is two (one sole and one joint), I wouldn't have thought there'd be too many alarm bells ringing.

jfke

Had a bit of bother with mine. Opened a fortnight ago online and all seemed fairly smooth, set up online banking within a couple of days. Since then they've put a hold on the account pending verification of id, residence and work details. I brought this into the branch last Monday and it got photcopied, returned and presumably couriered. No notification within the "72hrs!" quoted. I rang the telephone banking and was told to drop £100 into the account and let it rest overnight to activate everything. I strolled into branch yesterday to do this and they claimed the account was not verified and had no record of me bringing in my documents...reassuring. I was advised to bring in only the utility bill and passport today as employment verification wasn't needed and they would sort this in branch.

I duly did so this morning but alas it was as I first informed them. The verification details need to be copied and couriered to their fraud department who have put a hold on my account pending verification of id, residency and employment status...I got a call from the branch 10 minutes after I had left to ask me to come back and provide my wage slips! Apparently it's a "formality" now and once it's all okayed from the fraud department the account will be "defrosted!" and I can start using it properly.

If it wasn't for my experiences with Santander I might be a little miffed at this point, as I've been schooled in banking incompetence I'm taking it in my stride....roll on First Direct.

premierfella

Halifax are well known for problems related to ID verification similar to that you describe (I have experienced similar issues myself and got the impression that the problem is less than user-friendly internal IT systems). Once you get past that and the account is open, things tend to run a bit more smoothly (certainly better than Santander).

jfke

Yeah, they seemed a bit bumbling as opposed to Santander's steadfast commitment to incompetence in all areas. With the £100 burning a hole in my pocket I decided to pop back into Santander to deposit it. Their branch had a queue out the door and no facility for quick deposits according to the chap on the welcome desk.

Something about this brand I just have to admire!

Fortunately I can print wageslips at work so I'll be heading out in the next half hour to submit them to the branch so wheels can start turning again. Looks like I may miss the £5 this month though...damn.

jfke

Woohoo, swift resolution. I arrived back in branch packing all my docs and ended up speaking to the chap I spoke to the other week. He sorted it rapidly and now the account has been taken off hold. My card paraphenalia should be sent out tomorrow. Good work HBOS.

teamcullen

I recieved the letter asking for ID and the deposit of £100 on Saturday. Put the £100 in from another account that day, and called up to ask if anyway around the ID issue as I'm already a customer.

They said it was fine and I was already verified. Recieved pin number and welcome pack today and card should hopefully be with me in a couple of days. Very smooth process!

Old_Wrinkly

One of the things you have to get your head around is how reliant on their computer systems banks are nowadays, and it helps to understand the limits of such systems (which are many). For example, if your name or address are not entered on the application in exactly the way that they are on the Electoral Roll, then some simplistic ER checks will fail. A sensible bank would have a reasonably intelligent person intervene at that point and either OK it, or instigate some other check. A less-than-sensible bank has their system spit out (say) "ER check failed" or "CRA name/address check failed" to the screen and the counter staff requests "further ID".
Best to know exactly what the ER says ...