Switched to A&L

Bosie

Consumerist wrote: »

Just make sure you transfer ALL your direct debits and standing orders. Yes, every single one on the list they send you.

This has been the most common mistake made by those who have not qualified for the £100 incentive payment.

Wouldn't want to see you go the same way.

Keep smiling. :beer:

I have about 5 direct debits that need transferring, so when they send a list, do you mean just make sure all 5 are on?

Consumerist

Bosie wrote: »

I have about 5 direct debits that need transferring, so when they send a list, do you mean just make sure all 5 are on?

However many direct debits and standing orders are on the list from A&L, you should ok the transfer of ALL of them. If I remember correctly, the list must be returned after you have indicated whether there are any which you do not want transferred. You must allow the transfer of every single direct debit and standing order they have put on the list.

In other words, you should have no direct debits or standing orders at all left on the old account once the switching service (which you must use to get the £100 incentive payment) has completed the switch.

If you are in any doubt about my meaning then post again. If you want the £100 incentive payment then you need to get this right.

tia86

Thanks for all the advice so far. Have received a welcome letter, and the bank card. (No pin or anything like that yet though!)

Someone said they are not changing their pay to go into this account - can I check does this mean that if I continue getting my pay into my other account and just put in the right amount to the A&L account this will meet the criteria? Or will my pay automatically get transferred?!

I'm begining to get a bit lost with it all.

Bosie

Consumerist wrote: »

However many direct debits and standing orders are on the list from A&L, you should ok the transfer of ALL of them. If I remember correctly, the list must be returned after you have indicated whether there are any which you do not want transferred. You must allow the transfer of every single direct debit and standing order they have put on the list.

In other words, you should have no direct debits or standing orders at all left on the old account once the switching service (which you must use to get the £100 incentive payment) has completed the switch.

If you are in any doubt about my meaning then post again. If you want the £100 incentive payment then you need to get this right.

Thanks for the information, today I received the form with all the direct debits from the other bank. It also came with an envelope, so should I just tick each dd as ok and send it back. On the letter it doesn't say anything? So glad I saw your post.

Consumerist

tia86 wrote: »

Someone said they are not changing their pay to go into this account - can I check does this mean that if I continue getting my pay into my other account and just put in the right amount to the A&L account this will meet the criteria? Or will my pay automatically get transferred?!

When I opened a Premier current account with A&L, there was not any requirement to pay in any salary or other income and I got the incentive payment. Now that A&L have rebranded as Santander, it's not clear whether this is a requirement or not. To err on the side of caution, it would be safer to assume that you must transfer salary as well.

Although they might encourage you to close the old account, only you can actually close it. In my view, it would be wise to leave the old account open (I did) even if you don't use it. This leaves your future options open and you can close it at any time you like (I still have my old account).

Edit

There is a bit more information about this (Premium) account on the A&L website. I would draw your attention to the third bullet point concerning timings. Simples ! :rotfl:

Consumerist

Bosie wrote: »

. . . so should I just tick each dd as ok and send it back.

I can't remember the form now but do whatever is required to agree to the transfer of all the direct debits and other payments. It is likely that you only need to tick anything you don't want transferred but I can't be sure without seeing the form. It should be fairly obvious but if in any doubt, it would be wise to contact A&L to verify.

samjef11_2

Consumerist wrote: »

I can't remember the form now but do whatever is required to agree to the transfer of all the direct debits and other payments. It is likely that you only need to tick anything you don't want transferred but I can't be sure without seeing the form. It should be fairly obvious but if in any doubt, it would be wise to contact A&L to verify.

Lol A&L would be a pain even with simple things now.

firsttimestudent

Heya! I applied for the A&L account too (PDCA giving 5%, not the PCA as I already have a Santander account, hence wouldn't qualify for the incentive). I did request a switch though during the application (so I can open their 6% account Regular Saver).

1. Did you guys fill in the Switching form (paper form) which they included in the Welcome letter? I was just a bit uncertain as in the Welcome letter it seems very clear that if I have requested a switch during application, I do not need to fill in the switching form again - but they included the Switching Form (generic, unfilled), which makes me slightly concerned!

2. How many days later do you receive the list of DDs and SOs for switching? I ask because I am going off for holidays in 2 weeks time - I know, should have applied earlier - just didn't want the post to be sitting in my postbox for a few weeks while I'm away!

3. For A&L's online banking, do you need your Visa card to access, make payments etc. - or once you got your PIN, you're basically up and running?

4. Anybody applied for their Premier Regular Saver as well? If yes, when did the account get opened, did you receive any letters about that (and is it in the same Welcome letter or in a seperate letter)? I haven't receive anything about that yet.

Thanks!!