Halifax Reward Account want me to go in Branch?

Andystriker

Here is an update for anyone interested

Into the Local Branch I went armed with my ID. The lady I saw at first said she could not see why I had two accounts blocked. So she continued to investigate on her screen and then said she had cracked it.

"Its because you have too many Reward Accounts." She then rang someone and they told her I could only have one so she must downgrade two. They told her that they are cracking down on multiple accounts and I am simply next in the queue.

I told them the reason I had them was to keep money separate, but she said there was nothing she could do, they had to be downgraded. I've had the three accounts since they were launched and today they downgraded two of them to ordinary current accounts.

She asked if I had a partner and then made an appointment for us to go in tomorrow. So I am turning one of the downgraded accounts into a joint account and then upgrading that back to reward status tomorrow.

So I have only lost £5 a month really.

The interesting thing is I have two Halifax Clarity Reward Credit Cards. I'm not sure how many of them I am allowed to have, but they have not said anything about them, so they seem to be still ok.

opinions4u

I think you should complain on the grounds that they haven't given you at least two months written notice of this specific detrimental change (the cesation of the Reward) as required by the Payment Services Directive.

While they could reasonably argue that the terms and conditions have given you notice of the restriction to one account, they haven't at any stage advised you in writing about how they intend to enforce the T&Cs.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/pdf/Halifax-Reward-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf

CTRL F "Two months" and see what you think.

Andystriker

opinions4u wrote: »

I think you should complain on the grounds that they haven't given you at least 60 days written notice of this specific detrimental change as required by the Payment Services Directive.

While they could reasonably argue that the terms and conditions have given you notice of the restriction to one account, they haven't at any stage advised you in writing about how they intend to enforce the T&Cs.

Hi Opinions, Hope you are well.

Do you think I would get anywhere?

The Payment Services Directive - can you point me in the direction of where it says they have to give me 60 days written notice of a detrimental change? Is there a website?

Perhaps I could get the accounts put back into Reward accounts for a couple of months?

Cheers

Andy

opinions4u

Andystriker wrote: »

Hi Opinions, Hope you are well.

Do you think I would get anywhere?

The Payment Services Directive - can you point me in the direction of where it says they have to give me 60 days written notice of a detrimental change? Is there a website?

Perhaps I could get the accounts put back into Reward accounts for a couple of months?

Andy

I've just amended the previous post and added a link.

It's actually 2 months, not 60 days! Hope you'll forgive the error. I think they'd give you £20 up front and make the change immediately.

rb10

I don't believe that's the real reason why your accounts were blocked.

If they were going to do that, they'd send you a letter advising that they would be automatically changed to Current Account in two months' time.

I'd guess that it's related to suspected fraud/money-laundering instead.

opinions4u

rb10 wrote: »

I don't believe that's the real reason why your accounts were blocked.

If they were going to do that, they'd send you a letter advising that they would be automatically changed to Current Account in two months' time.

I'd guess that it's related to suspected fraud/money-laundering instead.

I too have my doubts.

Andystriker

opinions4u wrote: »

I've just amended the previous post and added a link.

It's actually 2 months, not 60 days! Hope you'll forgive the error. I think they'd give you £20 up front and make the change immediately.

Thanks Opinions, much appreciated

rb10 wrote: »

I don't believe that's the real reason why your accounts were blocked.

If they were going to do that, they'd send you a letter advising that they would be automatically changed to Current Account in two months' time.

I'd guess that it's related to suspected fraud/money-laundering instead.

Hi rb10,

This was my first thought as well. However I have been running the accounts in the same way for the last 2 years or so. I put £1,000 in each month and take £1,005 out the next day leaving a balance of £5 in each account at all other times. That was it.

So what would make them suspect money laundering or fraud as the accounts have been run the same way.

The lady in the branch seemed to genuinely not know what was wrong and was virtually reading to me what she was seeing on her screen. And when the "Eureka" moment came and she said its too many Reward Accounts she read out the text to me (customer can only have one reward account not 3etc). If that was not the text on her screen she was a good actor.

I think I will drop them a line and pointing out I never got 60 days notice and see what they say.

Many thanks.

moneypuddle

They seem to be in a bit of a pickle at the minute. I have one bank card - I have to use one pin number for purchases in shops and a second for withdrawing cash from a machine!

opinions4u

moneypuddle wrote: »

They seem to be in a bit of a pickle at the minute. I have one bank card - I have to use one pin number for purchases in shops and a second for withdrawing cash from a machine!

That should be impossible! Tell us more.

iereboy

Moneypuddle,

You have to align your shopping pin and cash point pin together.

Visit a cash point and select PIN services.

Change the shopping PIN to match your cash withdrawal PIN or vice versa. Takes less than a minute to do.