First Direct Switch- Joint account problems

ShabbaR

Hi, my husband is trying to switch from Santander to First Direct. The Santander is a joint account, he wants a sole account with FD. When going through the application process online it states that if you are switching from a joint to a sole it may take longer than usual and they would send a form to get permission from the person who isn't switching.

Fast forward a few weeks he's received bank card etc. but when he phoned to ask about completing the switch they said under no circumstances can a joint account be transferred. This is not what they tell you during the application process

So my question is, does anyone know if they will allow a switch and how can I prove what they are saying now contradicts the info given out during the application? I cannot find info anywhere and it was part of the application process and I don't know how to access that.
Thanks for any advice

grumbler

ShabbaR wrote: »

...When going through the application process online it states that if you are switching from a joint to a sole it may take longer than usual and they would send a form to get permission from the person who isn't switching.

...when he phoned to ask about completing the switch they said under no circumstances can a joint account be transferred. This is not what they tell you during the application process

So my question is, does anyone know if they will allow a switch

A joint account can be transferred (switched), but to a joint account, not a single one.
What it allegedly "states during application process" sounds odd as they don't even have a sample signature of the second person to compare the signature on the form with. My guess is what they stated was about transferring a joint account to a joint, but your husband misunderstood this.
It's much more reasonable either to convert the account before switching or to transfer the joint account and then convert it.

and how can I prove what they are saying now contradicts the info given out during the application?
I cannot find info anywhere and it was part of the application process and I don't know how to access that.

Try a new fictitious application without finishing it?

http://www.paymentscouncil.org.uk/switch_service/faqs/

Q14

Does the Current Account Switch Service cover joint accounts?

A14

Yes, the Current Account Switch Service does cover joint accounts, but both named parties on the account will need to complete the relevant forms.

Please note it is not possible to use the Service to switch a joint account to a sole account.

ShabbaR

Thanks for your reply.
There is a whole paragraph about switching joint to joint then a bit about switching joint to sole so I don't think he misunderstood (although I agree it doesn't make sense!)

The problem of switching joint then converting to sole or indeed converting existing to sole before switching is the bank say they won't take a person off an account, they will only close account then reopen a sole one.
Either way it looks like I'll need to manually change 18 direct debit payments plus salary which is just a giant pita

colsten

ShabbaR wrote: »

Either way it looks like I'll need to manually change 18 direct debit payments plus salary which is just a giant pita

The obvious solution is to change the Santander account to a sole account and then transfer it.

meer53

"When going through the application process online it states that if you are switching from a joint to a sole it may take longer than usual and they would send a form to get permission from the person who isn't switching"

It doesn't say this anywhere as you can't switch a joint account to a sole account. I think your OH has misunderstood the information.

From the Current Account Switch Service FAQ's which apply to all banks :

Make sure your switch is feasible

The Current Account Switch Service covers joint account switches, if both named parties on the account authorise the move and provide their own individual personal and debit card details to the new bank or building society. It’s not possible to switch a joint account to a sole account, and you will not be able to use the service to switch a savings account or an ISA.