Switching to Halifax current account

Charlottte

Hi,

I applied online to switch to a Halifax Reward Account last Wednesday. I haven't had any kind of acknowledgement from Halifax - i would've expected an email to confirm that the application was received.

I called Halifax and they couldn't see my application, but said that it might be being processed. They didn't know if I should have had an acknowledgement email/text.

I was just wondering if anyone else has applied to switch to Halifax - and how long before they heard anything?

Thanks all!

Mulligan1

Charlottte wrote: »

Hi,

I applied online to switch to a Halifax Reward Account last Wednesday. I haven't had any kind of acknowledgement from Halifax - i would've expected an email to confirm that the application was received.

I called Halifax and they couldn't see my application, but said that it might be being processed. They didn't know if I should have had an acknowledgement email/text.

I was just wondering if anyone else has applied to switch to Halifax - and how long before they heard anything?

Thanks all!

I opened a Halifax Current Account online a few weeks back I didn't get so much as a confirmation email. A few days later an A4 envelope came with the account details and a specimen signature mandate.

I think I applied on a Thursday and the letter came the following Tuesday.

tidesendtown

I applied on Thursday last week and it displayed a confirmation on screen that my application was received and was being processed. Today I received an SMS saying that the switching team is working on the switch and that they will contact me shortly.

Charlottte

Thanks both. I guess I'll see if I get anything tomorrow and then try calling again..

Sensory

I hate it when applications ask for your email address, but then don't even bother to send a confirmation email for your records. A confirmation screen isn't enough.

The first indication I had was the account appearing in online banking (I already had the Clarity), then I received a text regarding the switch being initiated, and then the letters eventually came (welcome pack and signature mandate, debit card, PIN).

Gromitt

Sensory wrote: »

I hate it when applications ask for your email address, but then don't even bother to send a confirmation email for your records.

But then, a month later, send you an email saying you have been pre-selected for a 5% loan offer, subject to status and credit check.

Then you have to find out what check box you checked or didn't check correctly, as some like to use double negatives.

tidesendtown

Logged into my Halifax account today (I have a credit card with them) and noticed that they opened my Reward bank account and also paid the £100 incentive. No direct debits set up as of yet.

Charlottte

Still nothing from Halifax so called them - no sign of an account for me on their system. They said that my application must've been unsuccessful, but couldn't say why (I'm sure it's not my credit score) and suggested I try opening the account in the branch. How annoying. Doesn't bode well - maybe I should stick with Natwest!

purplestar133

Sensory wrote: »

The first indication I had was the account appearing in online banking (I already had the Clarity), then I received a text regarding the switch being initiated, and then the letters eventually came (welcome pack and signature mandate, debit card, PIN).

Thanks for mentioning this - I too have the Clarity CC but didn't think the Reward acct would show in internet banking until I got a letter so hadn't looked 'til now - and it's there!

Charlotte, I applied for the Reward current acct on Sun 12th May, got a text on Tues 14th to say they've started the switch request and the account showed in my internet banking with £100 credited yesterday, 15th. No DDs or SOs have been transferred yet. I remember a box you had to tick if you wanted text updates - did you tick that box?

Surprised to see the £100 incentive so soon. The last time I switched a current account for an incentive was quite a few years ago with Alliance and Leicester and I had to operate the account for months before getting the incentive.

I wouldn't want to put too much confidence in what the call centre staff said, they sometimes try to give reasons for things but really are only guessing, as they just don't know. Does it seem reasonable to you that you may have been rejected? I would try the branch route before giving up. So far, dare I say it, the setting up has been quite quick for me so if they approve you in branch you'll be up and running quickly.

Let's hope I haven't spoken too soon!

Charlottte

Finally heard from Halifax - a letter saying that they needed more info to process my appllication.

Rang them and they needed more of my address history than there had been room for on the online form (I've moved about once a year for the last few years) so I gave them those details. Hopefully it'll get sorted now.

Yes, I did ask for text updates - I don't think it's great that the first I heard from them was a letter about a week after I made the application - I've never found an account opening to be so slow before!

Still - progress

Sensory

If I'm opening an account with a new bank for the first time, I usually prefer to do it in branch if possible, as it's generally much faster than relying on the postal system.