Free M&S current account - £100 in M&S vouchers if you switch

innovate

Anyone not wanting to use the 0845 number for the switch: you can use 01244-879080. That's the number from the back of the debit card for international calls, and goes to card services but they will put you through to the switching team.

ceredigion

how did the conversation go innovate ?

just wondering if it was practically intrusive and long winded.

innovate

Nothing out of the ordinary really - you just have to listen to all the details about the switching process/guarantee, so it takes some 10-15 minutes if you have all your required details readily to hand (apart from your security details for M&S, you need your old debit card and the exact spelling of your name and address on your old account)

For somebody who is unfamiliar with the switching process, the information they give is quite helpful. I was also quite impressed that they did verify that I had online access, the debit card and a PIN for my new M&S account before they took my switch request (they should all do that). I also got asked why I wanted to switch, why I chose M&S and how long I had held the old account (not too happy with existing bank / thought I'd try M&S / quite some time). I was then asked whether I was aware of the voucher and where and what I was planning to spend it on - - but the latter must have been smalltalk rather than part of the switching process.

You will be sent some paperwork and then have to ring them again to confirm you actually want to go ahead. The 7 working days for the switch will start after that 2nd call, and you can choose a switch date later than the 7 days if that suits you better.

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

I'm thinking of opening one of these - would it be too soon/cheeky/risky to switch the very recently opened Co-Op account? They have paid the £100 bonus, just wondering if they might claw it back if I switch so soon?

I don't really have another account I could sacrifice for the switching at the moment.

Is anyone else risking switching the Co-Op acct?

Many thx.

YorkshireBoy

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

I'm thinking of opening one of these - would it be too soon/cheeky/risky to switch the very recently opened Co-Op account? They have paid the £100 bonus, just wondering if they might claw it back if I switch so soon?

I don't really have another account I could sacrifice for the switching at the moment.

Is anyone else risking switching the Co-Op acct?

No problems using Co-op, and they won't claw the £100 back.


They've sent out some new T&Cs last week, so when/if they ask why you're closing the account just say you don't agree with them so you're simply exercising your right to close the account.

waterwatereverywhere

Thank you very much YorkshireBoy! That's great news, I feel slightly less guilty now they are giving me a *reason* to leave them with the new T&Cs....:beer:

coollittlew

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

Thank you very much YorkshireBoy! That's great news, I feel slightly less guilty now they are giving me a *reason* to leave them with the new T&Cs....:beer:

I will be doing the same I think after the mess the co-op offer was!

innovate

The M&S account opening process is painfully slow. I was accepted quite promptly but after almost 2 weeks, I still haven't got their silly security key thingy, so can't operate the account online even though I can see it. I already had online access to M&S banking since I have an old M&S savings account - goodness only knows how long it takes for entirely new customers to get their online access info.

I have received a debit card quite quickly but am still waiting for the PIN. I phoned them to request the switch, but over a week later, I have not received the promised switching pack which I need to acknowledge I received before the actual switch will start. I had a call today from someone purporting to be from M&S Bank but since they couldn't prove their identity to me, I wasn't prepared to give them any of my details and now need to wait for them to write to me. Could be a very long wait if their performance to date is anything to go by.

This is not just any account..........

coollittlew

Hi innovate, good to know. I received my debit card quickly but no pin and this was over a week ago! I still need to activate my card so will ask today.

innovate

Had a bunch of post from M&S bank today. The PIN has arrived, hooray. Plus a bank statement for the new account with no transactions on it. Seems they produce these regardless. Then a big fat welcome pack, delivered in an embossed envelope.

The security key has still not arrived, even though they said they sent it week before last. Same for the additional switching information that they promised Friday a week ago.