Switching your account to Halifax (from Nationwide)

Nine_Lives

The online form you fill out to switch your direct debits, SO's etc etc from (in this case) Nationwide TO Halifax.

For the g/f it's been 2 weeks since she filled out the form & 1 week for me.

Looking in our online accounts, it's showing that there's been no change so far.

How long do you typically have to wait?

Material_Girl_2

I'm not sure how long it will take but perhaps it's a good idea to call the companies you have your direct debits with and let them know your new bank account details. Then you know that your direct debits are taken from the correct accounts and will not bounce. I think it's always a good idea to take control of these things yourself as banks do make errors and forget things, it may save you some hassle longterm.

Katgrit

Do NOT assume the direct debits will be transfered over, get on the phone asap and check with the companies yourself. I naively assumed it would all go as smoothly as Halifax promised and let them deal with it. Maybe i was stupid in cancelling the old direct debits when Halifax told me to, but it meant that several bills went unpaid and I had to do lots of running round myself after. Thank God I had the sense to not send NatWest the template letter to close my account otherwise I'd have been without my wages too. So many companies wouldn't accept Halifax's authorization to switch direct debits, my employers wouldn't switch my wages over despite having the personel payroll number that Halifax said would make it all ok. Part of the problem was that new direct debits dont usually show as set up on an account until the first payment comes out. By which point if its not there its too late. There were also companies that knew they wouldn't accept Halifax's sayso and didn't bother to inform me. Just one big faff all round. Obviously not helped by me thinking Halifax would be able to do all they claimed. Cant say enough DO IT YOURSELF and make sure every single payment is paid, with a manual back up ready. Belt and braces all the way!! It was NOT worth the cash incentive to switch, and moving accounts is something I'm not in a hurry to do again, ever. At least you know to get checking now. Forewarned is forarmed!! (I think thats a saying but I could be wrong!!) Hope this helps.

Consumerist

I agree with opinions4u.

I would suggest you keep enough cash in your old account to cover all DDs and SOs until you see each of them actually paid out from the new account. As each is paid out from the new account, you can transfer funds across from the old account to cover them, if necessary.

It would be wise to check both accounts daily once the switching process has started. You should soon spot missed or duplicated payments which you should then sort out yourself with the payees concerned. Keep a particular watch on any credit-card minimum payment DDs.