Arghh I've lost my Halifax Rewards accounts, 14th April setup must have been correct

bristolleedsfan

socrates wrote: »

The guy I spoke to was adamant that people who held more than one sole Reward Account had done so by means of a glitch or loophole and that was now being closed

/QUOTE]

I visited a branch today with a query, experienced branch staff were very adamant that there will only be 1 reward payment and that if not already sent letters will be going out from Halifax alluding to this.

Halifax clearly were not anticipating that Direct Debits would be set up and paid in respect of anything other than proper domestic bills.

socrates

bristolleedsfan wrote: »

socrates wrote: »

The guy I spoke to was adamant that people who held more than one sole Reward Account had done so by means of a glitch or loophole and that was now being closed

/QUOTE]


I visited a branch today with a query, experienced branch staff were very adamant that there will only be 1 reward payment and that if not already sent letters will be going out from Halifax alluding to this.

Halifax clearly were not anticipating that Direct Debits would be set up and paid in respect of anything other than proper domestic bills.

Thats why I have moved on

bristolleedsfan

socrates wrote: »

Thats why I have moved on

I still have 3 Reward Accounts which all paid on 5.00 on 1 May, if they close any of my accounts or stop paying any of my monthly payments I will complain with aim of costing Halifax 500.00 fee at Ombudsman stage, hopefully should it become a widespread problem everyone will do the same, this might at least deter that Banking group from attempting to do the same thing with 3% Vantage accounts

System

The only cause for complaint that I can see is if people met the DD requirements, deposit requirements and 1 single/ 1 joint restriction but were still downgraded.

As for your Vantage accounts; they are bringing in similar restrictions later in the year apparently.

I personally closed my Reward account as whilst it was being used on a regular basis, I didn't want to use it for my DDs and without the fiver it wasn't worth keeping.

bristolleedsfan wrote: »

I still have 3 Reward Accounts which all paid on 5.00 on 1 May, if they close any of my accounts or stop paying any of my monthly payments I will complain with aim of costing Halifax 500.00 fee at Ombudsman stage, hopefully should it become a widespread problem everyone will do the same, this might at least deter that Banking group from attempting to do the same thing with 3% Vantage accounts

Maranta

Both my husband's and son's Reward Accounts have been downgraded. They both they both have 2 direct debits but due to delays by the organisations :mad: setting up the direct debits, they missed the 14 April date mentioned in the letter. If Halifax haven't included that date in their T&C I think they should complain.

YorkshireBoy

Maranta wrote: »

Both my husband's and son's Reward Accounts have been downgraded. They both they both have 2 direct debits but due to delays by the organisations :mad:

That's some delay, bearing in mind the letters went out in January!

On a positive note, I've seen a report on another forum that, when challenged via a formal complaint, Halifax have reinstated multiple Reward accounts which were downgraded due to late DD set up.

Maranta

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

That's some delay, bearing in mind the letters went out in January!

Point taken in respect of my husband, (getting action on finances is not easy!) but in respect of my son, he only had 1 valid DD that could be transferred. To get a 2nd DD I applied for a credit card, then got him on as an additional user and then he requested the DD. As the card provider would only put him on after hard copies of documentary evidence - how old-fashioned is that! - that created a substantial delay. Unless you are a householder, direct debits are not that easy to come by!

If he doesn't get his account re-instated as a reward account, going to the Ombudsman will be good experience for him!

YorkshireBoy

Maranta wrote: »

Unless you are a householder, direct debits are not that easy to come by!

All my Halifax Reward DDs are to savings accounts (3 each with Tesco and Egg [YBS] Savings).

Sometimes you have to get creative.

innovate

Maranta wrote: »

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Unless you are a householder, direct debits are not that easy to come by!

It's actually surprisingly easy: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4168667

Though I suppose it's a little late for you now. Shame you didn't come here earlier, but such is life.

pfpf

my OH's account was paid £5.00 on the 1st May but has since been downgraded to a "current account".

2 DD's left her account today and £750.00 was paid in. I am not sure how the downgrade could have kicked in before the 31st May (for June £5 reward), how would they know May's criteria would not be met.?

I accept one of the DD's was not active on the 14th April but was set up, for the 1st payment to leave today, the other has been running for months.

is there any likelihood of the account auto upgrading again come 1st June as the criteria has been met during the month where the new T&C's were active?

p.s does anyone know what Halifax's policy is on speaking to non account holders over the phone? if my wife passes security can she hand the phone to me to sort the issue?