Upgrading Alliance & Leicester Account

buses7675

Hi All,

I am currently an Alliance & Leicester Current Account holder (the zero interest one, not good I know!), and intend to upgrade to either the Premier or Premier Plus account.

Either way, does anyone know if when you do this, as an existing current account holder, do they just 'upgrade' your existing account, or re-issue everything, as though it is a new account. I ask this mainly, as if there is no bother I may as well upgrade to one that gives interest, and as long standing Alliance & Leicester customer (had a savings account for over 10 years now, when they were a Building Society still!)

It does note on the site that if you are upgrading your account you should either phone them or go to a branch (either way not getting the free £20!) so they'll probably sort that out, but I was wondering if anyone had already done this and knows how it works?

Before anyone asks too, the main reason I have this account even though it has no interest, is because I opened it five years ago when I earned a lot less than £500 a month as a year 1 student, it is convenient to deposit money into an A&L account (as you can do it at a Post Office instantly, just using your debit card), rather than direct into Cahoot - I do then either transfer the money into the Online Saver or to Cahoot!

Cheers

Steve

buses7675

Forgot to mention yesterday too, I also have an Alliance and Leicester MoneyBack card (type that the moneyback was meant to finish as of yesterday) and have never recieved a letter advising me that moneyback is being withdrawn. Suppose I'll find out if I use the card this month, as the statement in April will show if moneyback is still being added!

I only got this card last May and strangely they did replace the card this January, still with the same T&Cs, card image is just a mirror image of the original one! When I applied in branch, I do remember when they were filling in the form on a computer, the advisor stated 'Its a Premier Current account you have, isn't it', to which I replied 'No', but she didn't seem to notice - Perhaps MBNA who run the card do think I've got a Premier account anyway, and so haven't removed the Moneyback - As an older card though, it has an APR of 18.9% (I think) where as new applications, when you have a Premier/Plus account so still getting Moneyback are set at 15.9% or thereabout!

The APR doesn't matter much really I suppose as that is as its is paid off every month anway, but if I upgrade my current account, will they reduce it to the new levels?

Any ideas about the way in which the upgrade the current accounts anyway, or has anyone else without a Premier/Plus account not been advised of Moneyback being withdrawn?

Cheers

Steve

must_stop_digging

just upgraded today my old giro bank current account to prem plus and it is just an upgrade of existing account ie all numbers, direct debits ,linked accounts and passwords remain the same. down side is no 0% overdraft or £20 as not a new account, but still worth it.

buses7675

thanks 'must_stop_digging'!

Glad all the direct debits/linked accounts remain same, otherwise it would mess up transfers into Cahoot and the A&L Online Saver and Direct ISA!

Did you upgrade online btw, as I've been through the application, and it does ask if you've got an existing A&L current account, along with its account number, so at that point they know what your existing account is - Surely there is no reason as that point to require you to actually phone up or go into a branch!

Cheers

Steve

MarkyMarkD

buses7675 wrote:

thanks 'must_stop_digging'!

Glad all the direct debits/linked accounts remain same, otherwise it would mess up transfers into Cahoot and the A&L Online Saver and Direct ISA!

Did you upgrade online btw, as I've been through the application, and it does ask if you've got an existing A&L current account, along with its account number, so at that point they know what your existing account is - Surely there is no reason as that point to require you to actually phone up or go into a branch!

Cheers

Steve

I'm surprised you think it's easier to fill in the "open new account" form on the website, when you could just phone and upgrade in a short phone call!

On the website it says

Alliance & Leicester current account customers wishing to upgrade their account to a Premier Plus Current Account should call the telephone number on the front of their current account statement.

- you cannot upgrade online. What you've done is apply for a second, additional, supplementary, Premier Plus account - which is NOT what you want!

If I were you, I would phone up and ask for an upgrade, and ask them to cancel your Premier Plus standalone application.

Hope this helps

buses7675

MarkyMarkD wrote:

If I were you, I would phone up and ask for an upgrade, and ask them to cancel your Premier Plus standalone application.

Hi All,

Its okay, I didn't finalise the application, just went through the steps to see what questions they asked for! - At present I still have a sinlgle standard Current Account with A&L!

Thank for you advise though folks, will give them a ring some time next week!

Cheers

Steve

MarkyMarkD

Ah, good work Steve - and well done on the "no student debt".

As you live in Liverpool you'll be able to talk to your neighbours on the phone when you call them late at night, as well! I'm always getting friendly Scouse voices when I ring late in the day.