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A&L 'switching' problems

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Comments

  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Essenchill wrote:
    Could someone just jot down a Janet & John guide to switching Direct Debits yourself?!
    There's some useful information on the BACS website at http://www.bacs.co.uk/BPSL/directdebit/generalpublic/faqs/
  • Essenchill
    Essenchill Posts: 1,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    There's some useful information on the BACS website at http://www.bacs.co.uk/BPSL/directdebit/generalpublic/faqs/

    Thanks, I will have a look
  • Seaxwyn
    Seaxwyn Posts: 4,896 Forumite
    I am so glad I found this thread as I have just opened an A&L account and have the switching form filled in and sitting on the table ready to be posted this morning. I think I will do the switching myself.
    Total debt: 1 January 2007 £[strike]49,387.79[/strike] 1 January 2012 £[STRIKE]19,312.85[/STRIKE] 1 August 2012 £11,517.62



  • anniecave
    anniecave Posts: 2,477 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What the hyperlink doesn't say, which is worth knowing, is that a lot of direct debit originators (the person taking the direct debit - the electricity company, council, loan company, credit card provider etc etc) prepare information a few days in advance regarding the direct debit details (up to 10 days) so it's good to get in touch approx 3 weeks before the direct debit is due to be taken in order for them to amend their records.
    My new current account provider tried to switch my direct debits to my new account too quickly, and my student loan, electric and credit card company all couldn't react in time!
    Indecision is the key to flexibility :)
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    anniecave wrote:
    What the hyperlink doesn't say, which is worth knowing, is that a lot of direct debit originators (the person taking the direct debit - the electricity company, council, loan company, credit card provider etc etc) prepare information a few days in advance regarding the direct debit details (up to 10 days)
    There are numerous references to the "10 days" you mention in the link (and from the link) I provided. :confused:
    so it's good to get in touch approx 3 weeks before the direct debit is due to be taken in order for them to amend their records.
    The best time to get in touch is the day after the last payment you want taking from the old account is taken. That way you're giving them (up to) 30 days to action the changes.
  • Seaxwyn
    Seaxwyn Posts: 4,896 Forumite
    WARNING RE DOING THE SWITCHING YOURSELF!

    I just rang A&L with various questions about my new account and spoke to a very helpful person called Phil.

    One important thing he said is that one of the criteria for the Overdraft matching service (where they match your existing overdraft) is that you have to use their switching service.

    I mentioned that I'd heard of people having problems with the switching service and he said that this is due to the companies ignoring A&L's instructions to close direct debits. He said that you can log on to your A&L account, see when DDs have been opened and phone the companies yourself to check they have closed old DDs.

    Id be interested to know more about specific problems people have had so I can watch out for these.
    Total debt: 1 January 2007 £[strike]49,387.79[/strike] 1 January 2012 £[STRIKE]19,312.85[/STRIKE] 1 August 2012 £11,517.62



  • I switched to A and L from first direct and all my direct debits and standing orders went through fine, except one dd where it was just late so they took two lots the next month.( Only £8 so it wasn't too bad!) The only thing I did was back it up with a letter to my employers making sure they knew of the switch, but that's because thought they would mess it up, not A and L.
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