Alliance & Leicester Switching Solution!

ilovefreebies_2

I'm still waiting at the moment to see other peoples experiences

MarkyMarkD

I transferred to A&L from First Direct years ago, and have more recently upgraded from Current Account > Premier > Premier Plus.

I did the transfer myself and it was easy and fine. The A&L switching service is all very well if you are a numpty, but if you have any financial nous you can easily contact the companies yourself and get it sorted direct IMHO.

I find A&L's service (online and on the phone) fine as well for day to day matters. And our local post office is 100 yards away and never very busy - and it has an A&L ATM. So all in all, I'm pretty happy with the deal.

200RJH250

Hi everyone & thanks Martin for the great tips.
I have just changed my bank to A&L, sent application on 15th Feb and today still not completed the change over, A&L sent me all my DD'S/SO I wanted transfered, the same day I ticked what I wanted and posted back to them in their envelope, the next thing I know is a letter saying they've not received it so cannot transfer anything, I phoned them only to be told not to worry they probably have them by now, nope they still have not found them, used your special email address to them and got a reply asking only for my account number, I sent this to them by return just before Easter but still not had a reply or any thing from them as yet.
Also the cashback credit card, I've had there old one for years, they stopped the cashback a few months ago on it so went back to my Tesco visa, asked for a new card with cashback and to cancel my old one, they sent us one with a new a/c number but only the standard one BUT they CANCELLED the new one and left the old one activated, after changing my pin on the new one then trying to purchase goods with it I then found out this new one was cancelled, after a very long phone call I am now awaiting another new card from them, it has been over a week now and I've not received this but I'll give them a bit longer as it was the Easter weekend.

carl310166

My experience with switching is almost identical to the previous poster.

Emailed them yesterday,but 24 hours without a reply isn't long,so i don't know if they are sorting it out or not.

I have now started to do the switching myself,i completed about 4 or 5 yesterday,but some wanted to send me a new direct debit form for me to sign,i declined these,as i am hoping A&L are doing the switch soon?

I just hope it does not cause any problems when A&L eventually contact these companies to do the switch,as i have already done some.

carl310166

Just had a phone call from A&L in the last 30 seconds or so,they are telling me that everything is in hand,so the email does seem to work.

semi_artificial

Tarkus wrote:

I like the idea of a free £50, but don't really need the account. However I opened it just for the free £50.

My thinking is, just follow the T&C's (as I understand them) transfer £1k in for 3mths, then transfer it straight out, back to my existing current account, use their credit card once and 'hey presto' a free £50.

Anyone think of any reasons why this wont work?

This is what I'm planning to do - can someone (Martin even?) please confirm that this will be accepted by A&L. I don't want to transfer my salary, DDs etc and would appreciate confirmation that there is no fine print that disallows the £50 if you don't do this.
Thanks!

Paul_Varjak

theloft wrote:

You have got to be joking, surely! Due to the closure of so many branch post offices, there is a queue to the door at all times at all of the branches still open near us. Have you been to one lately? You have to queue behind everyone, using ALL of the post office services and if you are unlucky as I was recently, one person with a load of overseas mail kept the cashier busy for 10 minutes just by herself!

There are two Post Office nearer to me - both nearer than my current bank. Visit the Post Office quite frequently but am sensible and avoid the busy times. In fact, will be going in about half an hour to post a diamond wedding anniversary present!

200RJH250

Just had an email from A & L saying they have received my DD/SO forms and a date for the transfer will be on 18th April, so yes the email link does work, thanks again Martin.

Newway

Just fill in the A&L application online. I wonder if it's ok NOT to switch DD or close my band account by them? (haven't got any post from A&L

carl310166

carl310166 wrote:

Just had a phone call from A&L in the last 30 seconds or so,they are telling me that everything is in hand,so the email does seem to work.

UPDATE.....

I was told on the phone that all my DD's would change over on the 31st.

None of them have been done yet,so i have just finished ringing them to change the details myself,some were able to be done online.

They have paid in the wages to the account though.

To sum up,if you don't like things to drag out over months.

It is far easier and quicker change them yourself,even though 20 plus DD's sound a bit daunting,it can be done in an afternoon.