Halifax Reward Account - Scottish address holders will be rejected

IanManc

Shona6540 wrote: »

But the Halifax adviser said today I would not be eligible because of the scottish address and the applications team automatically cancel a scottish address holder. I can only apply with the Bank of Scotland who does not offer the same account or £100. Is his information wrong?

Well according to the terms and conditions of the account his information is wrong.

If you get this elevated into a proper, formal complaint then you're more likely to have it all looked into by someone who actually knows.

I've found Halifax awful to deal with - if you ring up and ask three different advisers the same question you'll get three entirely different answers, all delivered authoritatively with complete self assurance.

IanManc

Shona6540 wrote: »

Thankyou IanManc

That really is helpful but like I said the advisor seemed adamant today that it was all about the address.

Cheers

Awwwwww ....... you're being really nice, and I look like a right grumpy old s0d now.


:kisses3:

jennifernil

Shona6540 wrote: »

Thanks Jennifer,

But the Halifax adviser said today I would not be eligible because of the scottish address and the applications team automatically cancel a scottish address holder. I can only apply with the Bank of Scotland who does not offer the same account or £100. Is his information wrong?

I had to complete the original application by phone because the Halifax web application was not accepted because it was a joint account and I could not use a Halifax branch due to being in England that was when I was advised in the first instance by a Halifax advisor that an appointment could be made at a Bank of Scotland branch to apply for the advertised Halifax reward current account.

I had already made a complaint on my 2nd last call, the result was a member of the applications team was to phone me and explain what happened to my application and my ID documents, I'm still waiting on the call.

I have seen some of your other posts and did you say you could still apply in a branch with your residency in Scotland? The advisor at Halifax today was quite adamant that applicants that stayed in Scotland cannot have one of these accounts, any information to the contrary would be welcome.

I don't have any inside info, but it sounds to me like your problem is one of muddled info from Halifax, and the fact it is a joint account.

I think opening a joint account involves visiting a branch, and since we now don't have any up here, that will be a problem.

I know, having spoken to our BOS local staff, that they cannot open a Halifax account, but whether that totally precludes them from helping, I do not know.

I know you can service Halifax accounts in BOS branches, even get help if you have a problem, and someone who opened a Reward account was able to take their ID to a BOS branch without a problem, so it probably depends on the amount of involvement required of the branch.

As to travelling to England to do it, as IanManc said, the only requirement is to reside in the UK, so that should not exclude you.

I will be testing this soon, as I plan to visit a branch in England to attempt to open a Kids Regular Saver for my Grandaughter, who also lives in Scotland (we will be there on holiday anyway). Should they refuse because we live in Scotland, I will certainly be making a complaint!

Do you have a friend or relative who would be willing to try to open a Halifax Reward Account, a sole one, on-line, to see if they get refused due to living in Scotland? I already have several, so cannot help you there.

However, I do plan to open one of the 2.8% savings accounts, so will see how I get on and report back.

pqrdef

How ironic that when I phone the Halifax switching team, on their dedicated number, the phone is always answered by a Scottish accent.

jennifernil

I quite often get an Irish voice, I think they have call centres for different things in various locations.

opinions4u

I don't have any inside info, but it sounds to me like your problem is one of muddled info from Halifax, and the fact it is a joint account.

Bingo. And an excessive reliance on branches to do stuff that you used to be able to do online or by phone .

Lith

so what if you apply and use an English address? then one day.... you decide to move to Scotland? will they close it then?

lol... sure they will i call BS

That's like saying a english person cant have an RBS account .... w/e

jennifernil

Well, I have opened a Halifax Online Saver paying 2.8%, the very helpful Irish lad who did it was not at all concerned that I live in Scotland.

I did try to open the account on-line, but got a message that there was a problem and gave a number to ring. Apparently there is a problem with their on-line opening at the moment, so nothing "sinister"!

So savings accounts seem fine anyway.

I can't try a current account to see what happens there, as I already have several

Shona6540

Thank you for all your helpful posts.

I have contacted the Financial Ombusman today to see if they could help confirm any of the information given to me by the Halifax advisers, they are going to contact Halifax as they think it is something that should be looked into and they will have 8 weeks to reply. So I will let you know what their reply is and hopefully confirm who and where applications will be accepted.

The advisor at the Ombusman had never heard of that reason for rejection so I am increasingly suspicious of the Halifax advisors reason for canellation.

IanManc is right all 3 advisors since discovering my application could not be found have all told me something different. Since they have no record of our ID documents, I don't knnow if I would trust them with our money.

Shona6540

pqrdef wrote: »

How ironic that when I phone the Halifax switching team, on their dedicated number, the phone is always answered by a Scottish accent.

Ironically this is their Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ, and most of the advisors have either been scottish or irish.
I wouldn't care if they were from Timbuktu as long as they were giving me the correct information and preferrably decide wether you address would be an issue before letting you apply.