Yorkshire & Clydesdale Banks offering £150 for switching

MARTYM8`

mozzy10 wrote: »

I have an appt in branch to switch, and I'm going to try for 2 accounts. What are my chances? I was thinking of asking for a basic account for "spending money" and a current account for "bills". Does this sound ok to you peoples who have already been throgh this process? Should I try for 3 accounts?

I think it depends on the member of staff at the branch. I rang up my nearest branch to make an appointment to see a banking advisor and when I mentioned about opening another account the receptionist was very abrupt!

I decided to go for a phone opening in the end - its easier (although takes longer to process) and my second account phone application only took 15 minutes as my first one was already fully operational. Yorkshire have a freephone number 0800 20 21 22 - I got through there in a minute second time but first time didn't get connected at all.

You may also get a lot of questions in branch if you try to open two accounts at once - one poster on here said his wife was asked to provide statements for her switch account, explain where the funds were coming from and show in effect it was being used regularly. Over the phone I had none of that!

YorkshireBoy

MARTYM8` wrote: »

I think it depends on the member of staff at the branch. I rang up my nearest branch to make an appointment to see a banking advisor and when I mentioned about opening another account the receptionist was very abrupt!

I decided to go for a phone opening in the end - its easier (although takes longer to process) and my second account phone application only took 15 minutes as my first one was already fully operational. Yorkshire have a freephone number 0800 20 21 22 - I got through there in a minute second time but first time didn't get connected at all.

You may also get a lot of questions in branch if you try to open two accounts at once - one poster on here said his wife was asked to provide statements for his switch account, explain where the funds were coming from and show in effect it was being used regularly. Over the phone I had none of that!

On the other hand, I had more of a grilling on the phone than I did in branch when I was opening two at a time...may have been something to do with the fact I'd opened another account just 2 days earlier!

At least in branch you have the opportunity to try and establish a face to face rapport* with the advisor and gauge how the meeting is going before dropping the "how about two accounts?" question into the mix.


* I admit I was fortunate in that for one of my branch appointments it was snowing really heavily and we'd both struggled to get to branch, so we had something in common to chat about in general. And for one of the others the advisor was heavily (and I mean very heavily!) pregnant, so we were joking about whether she could even reach the keyboard, let alone the printer for the switching forms!

MARTYM8`

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

On the other hand, I had more of a grilling on the phone than I did in branch when I was opening two at a time...may have been something to do with the fact I'd opened another account just 2 days earlier!

At least in branch you have the opportunity to try and establish a face to face rapport* with the advisor and gauge how the meeting is going before dropping the "how about two accounts?" question into the mix.


* I admit I was fortunate in that for one of my branch appointments it was snowing really heavily and we'd both struggled to get to branch, so we had something in common to chat about in general. And for one of the others the advisor was heavily (and I mean very heavily!) pregnant, so we were joking about whether she could even reach the keyboard, let alone the printer for the switching forms!

Yes - its luck of the draw. My call centre person was friendly too.

Personally - given the awful cold weather now - 15 minutes on the phone seems easier than trekking in to the branch during their opening hours (after having to book a time days in advance at a time when they could slot me in - as my branch appt would have required).

Maybe it just depends how confident you are face to face in presenting fictitious reasons for opening up multiple accounts when the only reason is you are after the £150 incentive!

Paul_1977

Wow they have a branch in London, Seems like a nice bank, had a look at the reviews which are not very good at all but people only tend to post when something goes wrong.

Anyone in London with an account?

YorkshireBoy

MARTYM8` wrote: »

Maybe it just depends how confident you are face to face in presenting fictitious reasons for opening up multiple accounts when the only reason is you are after the £150 incentive!

Personally, very confident!

mozzy10

Thanks for the replies.
I made a branch appt because I know there isn't much time left on the offer and I have seen some people have taken weeks to recieve their pack. So I thought filling in all the forms in branch would be quicker. (i hope that's what they do)

I have been asked to take in last 3 payslips, ID, utility bill and switching debit card.

It seems like a complete lottery as to whether you get a grilling or not.
I'm going for it!!!WHOOOOO

anoncol

SevenOfNine wrote: »

It won't be much of a delay, it only took Nationwide 2 days to get the new card & pin to me. I'm not so quick to chop things up now! :T

You didn't even need the pin.

xxdeebeexx

SevenOfNine wrote: »

It won't be much of a delay, it only took Nationwide 2 days to get the new card & pin to me. I'm not so quick to chop things up now! :T

Had you started the switch when you asked for a replacement card?


dx

thebritishbloke

Just as an update, I already have my Plus and Direct account, applied for 2 more Plus accounts on friday and both applications got referred. Got a phone call yesterday saying they've been accepted and the switch packs are in the post.

If all 4 pay out I'll be amazed. Not going to bother with anymore though, no more donor accounts for me! Too much paperwork :P

SevenOfNine

xxdeebeexx wrote: »

Had you started the switch when you asked for a replacement card?dx

No, the 'hints & tips' on the website gave the impression I'd need the debit card so I waited for it to arrive before ringing. Only discovered during that process that I wouldn't need it until the paperwork from Yorkshire actually arrives.