Switch to Santander

Gromitt

I cancelled my Santander account on the day the switching process started and that didn't cancel it as such, my SOs still disappeared from the switched bank afterwards, and the I got a letter from the DD saying "DD cancelled - bank account closed". Luckily they were all setup for the purposes of the switch so nothing was lost.

About 2 weeks after that I got a letter from Santander saying they couldn't complete my switching application and to contact the bank to find out why.

AliceBanned

I don't understand, Gromitt.

I have contacted the Financial Ombudsman who said this constitutes a complaint. They will write to Santander but said they will have up to 8 weeks to reply.

In the meantime I can't stop them moving my direct debits. The FA thinks they are likely to agree to close the account but I hope in the meantime I don't get in a mess as I won't have money in the Santander account for the dds. What a nightmare!

AliceBanned

IrishGypsy wrote: »

The switching process CANNOT BE CANCELLED once it's been inititaed (so that bit is actually correct),other than by closing the Santander account (unfortunately). This is your only option to ensure that the switch doesn't take place.

Santander don't close your old account as there's no option on the switcher mandate to do this, so all Santander switcher customers must close their own accounts with their old bank.

Thanks but they won't let me close it!! I've tried and they REFUSE! I now want to stay with my old bank and am doing nothing but hope the Financial Ombudsman can sort it out.

AliceBanned

Well I went into a branch today and was again told I couldn't stop the switching process or close it. I would just have to switch all the dds back (she even recommended I do this and wait three months just for the cashback). Later in the day i got a call from Santander complaints dept (I put in an email complaint as I did not have enough info about the account before they began the switch). They agreed it should be possible to close it. I have no written confirmation but hopefully this has now been done, although two standing orders appear to have been moved over, including my council tax one. Will just see how it pans out over the next few days but due to stress and bullying attitude from the guy in their switching dept (very non customer friendly) and the issue of past debt I decided too stressful to stay with them, which is a shame as it seemed a good deal financially, bit better than the account charges I have now but i'll just have to keep trying to repay my debts!:A.

Gromitt

When I closed my account, I setup my internet banking and then used it to send an e-message requesting account closure. It was easier than speaking to the muppets who are 'customer advisors'. This was done before my account was actually visible (it gave me some weird error on login, but it just meant I had no accounts setup yet)

So I didn't try to stop the switch as such, I just closed the account.

I remember I did get a secure message from the 'switching team', but I didn't read it as I had already shredded my login information by then (really hated that login process).

AliceBanned

Yeah not worth the hassle - my Halifax has been straightforward and user-friendly and more importantly not unpleasant. I guess if Santander don't close it this way I can do the way you did it anyway - just got their bumph in the post today - way too much!

Did you have to move any standing orders or direct debits back to your old account, or had they not been moved by then? they started moving mine the day after the application!

Just saw HSBC have a rate to beat them on current accounts now anyway. There are others out there so why should we pay our salaries in to the muppets.:D

Talking of which i paid my salary into Nationwide for two years and never even got a debit card - they said due to past credit problems. Fair enough, but silly as I was offered debit card elsewhere due to several years' good credit history - the problems were all way in the past and they still let that override their decision.They don't care about customers at all, even the ones giving them money. I thought that was sheer stupidity as I had conducted my account well and paid in my salary for so long - bit ott and appalling really - they also told me in front of everyone at the counter that I had bad credit and that was the reason - so insulting!:mad:

Gromitt

AliceBanned wrote: »

Did you have to move any standing orders or direct debits back to your old account, or had they not been moved by then? they started moving mine the day after the application!

My standing orders disappeared, but I really wasn't bothered by them as they were only dummies anyway (2*£22.64 SOs setup about 2 days before the switch). The direct debit was to a savings account which sent me a few letters, the first saying "We have received instructions, blah blah" and the second saying "We have noticed that account XYZ has been closed", so I just rang them up and said "Use previous account details" which they did no problems. All ready for the next switch

andrew-the-cat

It's absolutely possible, I closed my Barclays account while the switching service was in progress and my direct debits have remained on my old account and still work.

AliceBanned

Gromitt wrote: »

My standing orders disappeared, but I really wasn't bothered by them as they were only dummies anyway (2*£22.64 SOs setup about 2 days before the switch). The direct debit was to a savings account which sent me a few letters, the first saying "We have received instructions, blah blah" and the second saying "We have noticed that account XYZ has been closed", so I just rang them up and said "Use previous account details" which they did no problems. All ready for the next switch

OK thanks. One of mine is council tax so I will need to phone them. It has gone from my old account.

AliceBanned

andrew-the-cat wrote: »

It's absolutely possible, I closed my Barclays account while the switching service was in progress and my direct debits have remained on my old account and still work.

Thanks. I think my direct debits should be ok - they are still there and the new account should be closed. The standing orders have gone though but there are only two of those.