Halifax £100 Opening Bonus

ses6jwg

I spoke to an adviser in branch today and they said to qualify you have to switch at least 2 DIRECT DEBITS, standing orders DO NOT count.

She did say you could CHOOSE which direct debits to switch.

She also said that you must switch across 1 CREDIT (it must be GIRO/ BACS credit) and this MUST be a salary payment, pension, benefit, tax credit etc. It CANNOT be a standing order or a transfer from an external bank or your incentive will be revoked.

Subzero2003

ses6jwg wrote: »

I spoke to an adviser in branch today and they said to qualify you have to switch at least 2 DIRECT DEBITS, standing orders DO NOT count.

She did say you could CHOOSE which direct debits to switch.

She also said that you must switch across 1 CREDIT (it must be GIRO/ BACS credit) and this MUST be a salary payment, pension, benefit, tax credit etc. It CANNOT be a standing order or a transfer from an external bank or your incentive will be revoked.

Where do they get these random T&C's from?! It says nothing like this on their website! :mad:

This is what there T&C's say on their website:

_Halifax_Website wrote:

£100 to switch Terms and Conditions

1. To qualify for the £100 switching incentive (the "offer") you must successfully apply for a new Halifax Current Account, Halifax Reward Current Account or Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account and use the Halifax Switching Service/Team to switch your existing current account from another bank. This means transferring all your direct debits and other regular payments from your existing bank to your new Halifax bank account ("your account") with us.

2. We reserve the right to claim back the offer if you do not complete the switch from your existing current account by transferring all your direct debits and other regular payments to your account.

3. This offer only applies to applications received in branch, online or by telephone between 3rd January 2012 and midnight on 19th February 2012.

4. Only one offer is available per customer. Joint accounts opened under the offer will only be eligible for one payment.

5. Customers who have been in receipt of a fee free overdraft in the last 12 months when using the Halifax Switching Service/ Team will not be eligible for another fee free overdraft. Whether you can have an overdraft and the amount will depend upon your personal circumstances at the time you apply for one. Any overdraft we agree is subject to status. Overdrafts are repayable on demand.

6. The offer will be paid directly into your account when we start your switch.

7. The offer will appear as a cash credit in your account.

8. Subject to condition 9 below, the offer excludes existing Halifax and Bank of Scotland bank account customers switching to new Halifax bank accounts.

9. All Halifax Current Accounts, Halifax Reward Current Accounts and Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Accounts are offered subject to status. Accounts can only be opened by personal customers. A customer can still hold one Halifax Reward Current Account and Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account in their sole name and one in joint names.

The offer is available to existing customers who already have a Halifax or Bank of Scotland Current Account, Reward Current Account or Ultimate Reward Current Account in their sole name and wish to open a Halifax account in joint names.

The offer is available to existing customers who already have a Halifax or Bank of Scotland Current Account, Reward Current Account or Ultimate Reward Current Account in joint names and wish to open a Halifax account in their sole name.

The offer is not available to existing Halifax customers who are upgrading their account.

10. The following Halifax bank accounts are excluded from the offer: Easycash account, Cardcash account, Expresscash account and Student Current Account.

11. The offer is subject to change and can be withdrawn without notice at any time.

12. The offer is not available to employees of Lloyds Banking Group nor is it available if the employee is the first named on any Halifax bank account held in joint names.

u704446

It would've been helpful if the Ts&Cs were to give the minimum requirements for the "all your direct debits and other regular payments...". Unless we can get a definitive answer maybe a minimum of 2x DDs and 1x Standing Order would give a good chance of success (they can muck things up in the switching process, or is that just Santander?)

Subzero2003

u704446 wrote: »

It would've been helpful if the Ts&Cs were to give the minimum requirements for the "all your direct debits and other regular payments...". Unless we can get a definitive answer maybe a minimum of 2x DDs and 1x Standing Order would give a good chance of success (they can muck things up in the switching process, or is that just Santander?)

I agree, and since they haven't defined it, i am led to believe it is open to anyone with at least 1 direct debit and 1 standing order.

Gromitt

ses6jwg wrote: »

She also said that you must switch across 1 CREDIT (it must be GIRO/ BACS credit) and this MUST be a salary payment, pension, benefit, tax credit etc. It CANNOT be a standing order or a transfer from an external bank or your incentive will be revoked.

Sounds exactly the same as the switching offer for existing customers in December (you had to have an existing Halifax account to take advantage of the offer and not had used the switching feature before).

But then they just said it had to be a 'Full switch' - as long as the account you were switching contained at least 2 standing order, it was fine, but without switching a credit, no £100 for you. So I left it. I don't trust my company not to screw up my wages for the sake of £100. It could cost me far more if the bills don't get paid.

It seems the banks are getting wise to the incentive grabbers

SuperHan

Subzero2003 wrote: »

I agree, and since they haven't defined it, i am led to believe it is open to anyone with at least 1 direct debit and 1 standing order.

It has to be 2 direct debits. When I opened my account, that was what I was told. The person who opens your account is the one who puts the bonus in to your bank on the same day, so as long as you meet their terms and conditions you will get the money, it's just whether they'll let you keep it afterwards!

She also said that you must switch across 1 CREDIT (it must be GIRO/ BACS credit) and this MUST be a salary payment, pension, benefit, tax credit etc. It CANNOT be a standing order or a transfer from an external bank or your incentive will be revoked.

In the case of a joint account, you will still get the bonus if the account is funded by standing orders. This was clarified with a manager in branch, as I switched my joint account and my current account to get two payments. My salary is paid in to my sole account which then funds the joint account, and I was eligible for 2x£100 bonuses!

peanuts92

Gromitt wrote: »

Sounds exactly the same as the switching offer for existing customers in December (you had to have an existing Halifax account to take advantage of the offer and not had used the switching feature before).

But then they just said it had to be a 'Full switch' - as long as the account you were switching contained at least 2 standing order, it was fine, but without switching a credit, no £100 for you. So I left it. I don't trust my company not to screw up my wages for the sake of £100. It could cost me far more if the bills don't get paid.

It seems the banks are getting wise to the incentive grabbers

Yeah this was the incentive i took advantage of in December and it was for existing customers, which i luckily was and got the £100 . I switched my part time job wages over for the credit, however if i had a full time job and bills then i'd be a bit more carefull like you. However, as soon as they announced another switch incentive for January i got excited (thought another potential £100 ) but this time its essentially for new customers or existing customers who have an account in their sole name but want to switch to a joint account and vice versa. I am really tempted to sort out a joint account to switch to bag the £100 but its going to be a lot of hassle to set up and i've decided i'm going to leave it. I've heard that these switch incentive promotions have been given before in the past and occur everynow and then. I just hope that theres another one coming up soon but this time for existing customers....:)

u704446

Why can't they spell all this out in the T's&C's?? :mad: It's not exactly difficult.:o

whitewater_2

Just to clarify this for everyone. The £100 is paid on the day the transfer is started but will be quality checked in a month and if terms are not met the £100 will be removed from the account again.

You must switch a wage or benefits credit, failure to do so will forfeit the offer, a transfer from another bank acc is not sufficient

You must transfer every direct debit/standing order from the other account, you cannot select a few as this will forfeit the £100. (minimum of 2)

Gromitt

whitewater wrote: »

Just to clarify this for everyone. The £100 is paid on the day the transfer is started but will be quality checked in a month and if terms are not met the £100 will be removed from the account again.

Ok, got to ask this: If you get the £100 and move it somewhere else, and then get it removed again as you didn't comply with the T&Cs that only they know but you don't have an overdraft, what happens? Do they ask for it back, or do they make your account £100 overdrawn and then charge you an unauthorised overdraft and £1/day ?

It would be much easier if they just put on their website what they are telling their staff!