Switching all Direct Debits at once

mr1974

Dear forum,

I have recently successfully claimed charges back for my Alliance and Leicester account. :beer:
In retaliation they have now chosen to close my acount from the 1st of September. :T

I am not particularly impressed by their dcision, I was expecting it, and I also have the following accounts:
Barclays
Halifax
Nationwide

I was wondering if you have any suggestion on how best to proceed to move all the existing direct debits of my Alliance and Leicester account to one of the new accounts, and if you have any suggestion on which bank may provide the smoothest operation given you past experiences.

Thanks in advance.
mr

CopperPlate_2

smile were very good at the transfer process. Nationwide also. No problems with either, but some of the companies were difficult in that they wanted me to complete a new DD mandate, but this was only one or two out of about twenty so not that much to worry about.

regularsaver1

Halifax do switching service on current accounts - not on card cash accounts

mr1974

An Halifax customer service representative told me they could that just for new accounts, not existing ones.

At Barclays, they told methis had to be initiated from Alliance and Leicester.

I called Alliance and Leicester but they misunderstood and sent me a form to transfer DD _to_ the A&L account, rather than _from_.

Any other suggestion before I embark into the second round of phone calls?
Thanks
mr

regularsaver1

mr1974 they can do it for existing ones - my friend did this 6 months after. kinda test the water first you see

mr1974

URGH! Just been told again by the Halifax Customer Care that they can do it only for new accounts. "Are you sure, my friend did it?!" "Yes of course I am sure"

Perhaps rules have changed...Or they don't know how to do their job (but if that is the case I don't understand why if I show such an high level of incompetence at my job I get sacked on the spot).
mr

Mikeyorks

mr1974 wrote:

they can do it only for new accounts

....apply to update your existing account to the recent high interest account ... and see if they'll include the switching package ? :-

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/transfer.shtml

......but it does read as though it applies to new accounts?

Bit puzzled, thinking about it, how they re-route your salary? Can't imagine my employer being amenable to changing my BACS salary detail on the say so of a 3rd party! Even if there is a form I've allegedly signed.

regularsaver1

maybe its changed then

i know some employers and dd companies will not change through a third party

mr1974

Nationwide do offer a switching service for existing accounts (I have one with them), and I have taken advantage of it. A bit odd I've had to go to the branch for the forms, and the cashier asked me to provide them a list of DD (by asking my old bank) and to return the form at the branch???


Once at home I've read up the switching service leaflet provided with the form, which says that THEY will chase up my old bank for the switch, and that I can send the form directly, without having to go to the branch again... That's what I have done, as it meant no more time wasting. Should it fail, I will contact individual organisations manually to update the DDs.

I do not have a salary to transfer, as it is being paid in another account, jsut a bunch of DDs.

Let's see what happens I will update with the results (this could be quite handy for someone else wanting a seamless migration esp. as banks close accounts in retaliation to claiming back past charges).
Given that Nationwide offers other advantages for transactions abroad, it may as well become a good account to hold nevertheless.

Thank you all for the advice,
mr

mr1974

Thanks for the upgrade suggestion, very creative idea. I've sort of solved with Nationwide. I am not sure I wouldn't have incurred a credit check for the upgrade, which is definitively something I don't want (I would rather save a hit on the credit file for a 0% credit card or a mobile).

I don't need it this time, but I have re-routed my salary through a switching service in the past. Our accountant just came around my desk to ask for confirmation before going ahead.

mr

regularsaver1

Yes basically your existing bank are supposed to respond with details of all your dd's / SO's in 3 working days