Bank Accounts

cwitt

Rip off.:mad:
I recently changed my account to the Alliance and Leicester as I have other accounts with them and they were offering £100 to switch.
They dealt with it all for me but I then received a letter to say I didnt qualify for the bonus as I hadnt switched my direct debits.
I dont hjave any direct debits on my account but nowhere in the terms does it specify that you will be penalised for NOT owing people money!!
What a rip off!!

onlypaddy

From A&L website:

£100 cashback when you open and switch to a Premier Current Account using our Switching Service. Condtions apply. (See Note 1 below).

And from said note 1:

To qualify for this offer you must switch all your Direct Debits using our switching service and meet the monthly funding requirements (you must pay at least £500 into your account each month)

So there it is in black and white - no Direct Debits, no use of the switching service and you don't qualify for the bonus

Mark_In_Hampshire

I read that a bit differently.

The OP has indeed switched all their direct debits to A & L and therefore ought to qualify.

wok_boy

A little bit pernickity though that condition is, being penalised for not having direct debits. You could try the charm offensive and ask them to reconsider

DrScotsman

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

I read that a bit differently.

The OP has indeed switched all their direct debits to A & L and therefore ought to qualify.

Seconded. Under the term onlypaddy quoted, the OP has fulfilled it. If that was the only condition I would complain.

However I thought there was another condition stipulating you had at least one (or two) direct debits to switch over. I'd have a closer look at the T&C...

EDIT: I'm not finding any other terms and conditions. Apparantly A&L were too lazy to put in a "you need at least n direct debits" condition like Nationwide did. OP has a case.

Mark_In_Hampshire

That's hilarious. An admission, if ever there were one, from A & L and Nationwide that their income relies on penalising their customers - why else would they want to go to the hassle of messing around moving peoples' direct debits for them!

I don't have any direct debits, and on point of principle I suspect if I were the OP there would be a claim going into the small claims court for the reward as promised.

onlypaddy

To use the switching service, there must be something to switch

However I do agree with the rest, write a letter and they may be nice. when I switched last year they told me i didnt qualify as I had picked and chose and i wrote a letter and got it. if you say you've transferred your total number of direct debits you may get away with it.........

but next time, read the conditions and if in doubt, ask the question. Then when A&L inevitably f*k up you have more to use against them

DrScotsman

onlypaddy wrote: »

To use the switching service, there must be something to switch

Good point, they offer £100 to use their switching service, so you will have to have actually used it.

However A&L supposedly write to your employer to switch your salary. Also I think they can transfer standing orders, so you can "switch" without any direct debits.

DrScotsman

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

That's hilarious. An admission, if ever there were one, from A & L and Nationwide that their income relies on penalising their customers - why else would they want to go to the hassle of messing around moving peoples' direct debits for them!

With Nationwide, you can (or could) obtain a Flex Account without the condition that you paid at least £X00 each month. The Direct Debit thing is probably a way of ensuring you actually use the account and didn't just get £75 for nothing.

A&L have no excuse though since their account requires £500 a month and they charge a low use fee to enforce it, meaning they already have a way to make sure you're using the account.

onlypaddy

However A&L supposedly write to your employer to switch your salary. Also I think they can transfer standing orders, so you can "switch" without any direct debits

Yes, but in their conditions it doesnt mention these - only direct debits.

With Nationwide, you can (or could) obtain a Flex Account without the condition that you paid at least £X00 each month. The Direct Debit thing is probably a way of ensuring you actually use the account and didn't just get £75 for nothing

Lol, i did this one too. Set up a standing order from one old account to my current one and then switched it to my nationwide account. Took 5 minutes and got me £75! if only I was always paid that well....

DrScotsman

onlypaddy wrote: »

Yes, but in their conditions it doesnt mention these - only direct debits.

"£100 cashback when you open and switch to a Premier Current Account using our Switching Service."

Combine with this:

With our Switching Service we can:

* transfer your direct debits and standing orders to your new Alliance & Leicester account; and
* help you to arrange for your main salary or other income to be paid to your new Alliance & Leicester account.

If he's done the latter then he's used the switching service. He's also transferred all (zero) of his direct debits as stipulated in the *only* term and condition, and is hence due the £100.