Santander RBS Switch - please help!!

stestroud

Hello there,

I'm a bit nervous about my impending switchover so need some advice...

First a bit of background... As a student i was pretty reckless and opened several student accounts at once. Got in a state and defaulted on all of them. Also got a ccj.

I'm now debt free and have a vanquis and capital one builder card, though my score is still screwed for 2 more years until my 6 years is up.

Basically RBS were the only bank to take me in and offer an account although basic when i started to sort myself out. Since then, through hard work i finally got given a royalties gold account and visa debit last year!

However, gaining credit acceptance is still going to be a problem for me (experian rate me as poor).

SO.... When i end up with Santander, how do i know that im going to get another reward account with functioning debit card? Do they have to honour my current benefits?
As a 'bad person' creditwise, what is stopping santander from just giving me a basic atm card account as im sure this is all id get if i applied for an account with them now?

ANY advice would be greatfully received. I'd hate to leave RBS because theyve been great to me but obviously living in England im going to need a local branch.

(The banks that hate me are hsbc, lloyds, barclays, natwest. I applied for an account with halifax and they would only offer a no frills account, 1st direct rejected me).

opinions4u

Why do you need a branch?

One suggestion is to transfer your account to a Scottish branch of RBS. I would expect RBS Scotland and Nat West England to be trading as a single entity in the future - they are already the same group.

When i end up with Santander, how do i know that im going to get another reward account with functioning debit card? Do they have to honour my current benefits?

In the short term, I'd expect your account to continue unchanged. How Santander then decide to operate their business is up to them. But there would also be nothing to stop RBS changing the features of the account that they offer you.

pmduk

Personally, I'd stick with RBS and move my account to Scotland. You can use the Post Office for any counter transactions, though personally I never have never had cause to.

stestroud

opinions4u wrote: »

In the short term, I'd expect your account to continue unchanged. How Santander then decide to operate their business is up to them. But there would also be nothing to stop RBS changing the features of the account that they offer you.

Ok, but RBS wouldnt ever downgrade me if i stayed with them though? My record with them is great. Whilst they may cut down on reward benefits I'm more concerned about keeping my payment card.

pmduk wrote: »

Personally, I'd stick with RBS and move my account to Scotland. You can use the Post Office for any counter transactions, though personally I never have never had cause to.

This sounds good but can i still pay cash IN and make withdrawals? I know that at the moment they dont allow you to take money out on an rbs card.

Baldur

stestroud wrote: »

I know that at the moment they dont allow you to take money out on an rbs card.

This suggests that they do - http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content2?catId=94800755&mediaId=19900192

zppp

Baldur wrote: »

This suggests that they do - http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content2?catId=94800755&mediaId=19900192

Thats Bank of Scotland not The Royal Bank of Scotland

Baldur

zppp wrote: »

Thats Bank of Scotland not The Royal Bank of Scotland

My bad - wrong url, try http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content2?catId=94800755&mediaId=19900201

Only on the Key Account, though.