Help Halifax Account in Scotland cannot change to joint names??

2008nailah

Hi,

My partner and I are trying to change a Halifax Account into joint names, we have been into the BoS branch he always uses to both get the documents and hand them in. Now we are being told that this account cannot be changed into joint names and have offered a BoS account in joint names instead. My partner has had this account for over 25 years and we don't see why this cannot be done.

It would appear that there are no longer any halifax branches in Scotland.

We changed my RBS account into joint names with no problem.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks

mrmajika

2008nailah wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Not this exact problem, but something similar. It appears that Halifax and BOS have separated their branding and now offer completely different product ranges. I was unable to apply for a Halifax product in a BOS branch (I live in Scotland).

For the time being, you can still service your Halifax account in a BOS branch. I don't know if there's plans to change this either.

You could try changing it over the phone, by contacting Halifax directly. If there's no requirement to visit a branch, then you might be able to do it that way.

missile

As you live in Scotland(?) it might be easier, quicker and in the long run more convenient to open a new joint account with BOS.

Why do you want two joint accounts anyway?

jfh7gwa

Missile, you can't get some accounts if you move to the BOS branding.

I know this because the latest idiocy from their customer services, when I asked to upgrade my Reward Current (halifax) account from a single to a joint was either of these two options:

1) close the account and open a Bos one (basically getting rid of me as a halifax-type customer and losing my £5 every month)... (er... no, why do I care about how they draw the line at branding? an account is an account is an account to me - any internal issue is theirs to solve)

or

2) travel from Scotland to England and attend an appointment in person to sign a sheet to get the account upgraded to a joint one in a Halifax-branded branch.

When I suggested to the customer services rep that neither solution was acceptable, and that I question the customer service skills of anyone who thinks proposing the two options is "good service", the rep said he'd investigate further. I haven't heard anything back yet from them.

Honestly, I've long decided not to continue using my HBOS account as a proper main account - if they can't do something as simple as this, what, really, is the effing point of having the account?

jfh7gwa

2008nailah wrote: »

we don't see why this cannot be done.

Well, basically, because "computer says no".

That's literally the reason they've gave me, it "can't" be done. So I think it's a technical/IT issue.

I've certainly not been told that there's a policy or legal issue preventing them from adding people to a Halifax account if you live in Scotland.

I'll update if I hear anything back which might help you anyway.

2008nailah

jfh7gwa,

We got the same 2 options as you, 4 weeks after being advised that it was being dealt with! We have made a complaint to Hbos! who appear to only be BoS now!

I've never ever heard of this, they are definately trying to get rid of the old customers and on to new BoS accounts.

If we don't get a satisfactory response I think we may take it to the FO

opinions4u

Ring an English branch and ask them to send you a joint account form.

Then post it back to the English branch for processing.

Sounds to me like the BoS branch is trying to boost their sales figures.

jfh7gwa

Thing is - i'm a NEW customer! My account has only been open since January.

So because i wanted it as a joint the account has been almost useless to me. I'd applied online for the Halifax branded account and got their online sort code for it.

I'm not sure if this will be much use to you, but the guy dealing with my query was (is?) called A Jarved and he's in Customer Services. I don't have a number for him.

Once I told him that the two options (get lost as a Halifax customer or take a random trip to attend an appointment in England) weren't acceptable - he said he'd look into it.

In fact if I'm being honest I think I actually said "Are you joking?" when he said those two options.

That's no way to run a bank, IMHO.

jfh7gwa

opinions4u wrote: »

Ring an English branch and ask them to send you a joint account form.

I've done that, twice, and handed it in, twice, and twice it's got lost.

So when I went in to a BoS, the branch manager at my local BoS passed my "what the heck are you playing at" query to Mr Jarved, as above.

And then he called with his stupid 2 option suggestion.

jfh7gwa

Right - just an update for the OP - I've had a phone call from the Customer Service rep who was dealing with my complaint, the chap claimed on the phone that my account has been upgraded to a Joint one.

He's sending out a letter to confirm it in the post - I don't want to get my hopes up that they've done it properly so will just wait to see what happens when I walk into a branch (BOS branch, mind) and try to deposit a cheque in the new joint account holder's name.

Fingers crossed it's fine!

j2011

I also had problems with Halifax accounts because I live in Scotland.

I tried to open a second Reward account in my name only, we have a joint one, but was told it couldn't be done in a BoS branch so I gave up and opened a BoS vantage account instead.

I've been with the Halifax since 1985 when I got my first mortgage, now it seems they don't want me.

All my pensions go into my Halifax reward account for the £5 reward then straight into my BoS vantage account where all my DDs are paid from.