Santander 123

Stephen_C. · 9 June 2013 at 1:17AM

Do Santander force you to switch your current account to 123, or can you open it alongside another current account?

warwicktiger · 9 June 2013 at 1:31AM

They do not force you at all, just do not use their switching process and set up at least 2 DDMs to qualify.

I have done this and am still running my old one with First Direct in parrallel.

Stephen_C. · 9 June 2013 at 1:35AM

warwicktiger wrote: »

They do not force you at all, just do not use their switching process and set up at least 2 DDMs to qualify.

I have done this and am still running my old one with First Direct in parrallel.

Fantastic, and the Direct Debits can be anything? (I don't care about cashback on them) Right now I just have PayPal and my credit card via DD.

warwicktiger · 9 June 2013 at 1:40AM

Yes, can be anything, but might as well do utilities, council tax etc, any that give you the cashback, I did all my home ones and it more than covers the £2 a month fee.

Stephen_C. · 9 June 2013 at 2:05AM

warwicktiger wrote: »

Yes, can be anything, but might as well do utilities, council tax etc, any that give you the cashback, I did all my home ones and it more than covers the £2 a month fee.

Fortunately I don't pay any utility bills in my current situation, but I will try Quidco to get £55 cashback on opening the account which will more than cover the £2/month fee.

Although, reading the reviews, it sounds like you have to go through hell with Santander to get them to pay up!

warwicktiger · 9 June 2013 at 7:25AM

I did mine through top cash back, its showing on my account but with a 21 week delay period, presumably to stop bed and breakfasting.

Organist · 9 June 2013 at 9:32AM

I opened an account using TopCash which showed money pending for months but I never received any money from them. I wouldn't use them again!

Hominu · 9 June 2013 at 10:44AM

Organist wrote: »

I opened an account using TopCash which showed money pending for months but I never received any money from them. I wouldn't use them again!

TCB has always paid up for me, but obviously they can only pay up if they receive the money from the company concerned. Santander don't exactly have glowing reviews on Quidco, so I'd expect similar on TCB.

Did you ever contact TCB about the matter so that they could chase it up?

Organist · 9 June 2013 at 6:58PM

yes contacted them they said it was pending and then it was deleted from the Topcash site. They then said it was over their deadline for queries.

OnlyMe_08 · 9 June 2013 at 7:20PM

I recently applied for this account and now have it up and running.

I assume setting up direct debits to show up on the account as active will take around 10 - 14 days?

My question is can I fund the account with £20000 now and still qualify for 3% interest (I believe this also counts as funding the account with £500 for the first month?)?

They say 'your' month is not the calendar month but from the account opening date - is this the same date as your welcome email?

Also, how long does it normally take to receive welcome letter and card through the post?

ColdIron · 9 June 2013 at 7:25PM

The account should start paying interest once 2 direct debits show up on the DD tab on online banking. Your month will run from the date the account was opened