Switching my one and only main account

bambos

Hi,

As stated above this is what I would like to do. Going from co-op (I'm fed up of queuing up at the post office to pay in cash as the que is always massive and I really don't like their online facilities anyway) going to Halifax (mortgage is with them and they are doing to £100 plus £40 via Quidco.

I'm a bit nervous about actually doing it though, I have all my bills (dd only) wages and other payments going in/out and I'm scared tbh as never used a switching service before.

Can anyone offer a bit of moral or kind words of advice?

eastofeden

I was with Barclays for 38 years and recently switched to Halifax. Very smooth and easy, all my direct debits etc transferred etc. go for it!

GTR_King

The switch service should take 7 days and if there are any problems the bank will tell you so you can sort it out

YorkshireBoy

bambos wrote: »

Can anyone offer a bit of moral or kind words of advice?

If you really don't want to risk it (and I wouldn't either with my main account!), then open another standard account with Co-op, create a few bill payees, maybe use the debit card once, and then switch that one to Halifax.

Then, once Halifax is up and running, transfer all your DDs, SOs, and salary payment yourself, and close the original Co-op account. You still get your £140, but you remain in control.

bambos

Well I took a giant leap of faith and switched today. My actual switching date is 29th jan and I have already logged onto the Internet banking facility (restricted until my log on details come in the post) I opened an online saver and regular saver too. Seemed very straightforward and was no hassle at all, I really liked the online banking very clear and seems easy to use.

Husbands now going to switch too

Went via quidco so hopefully I will get the £40 :money:

Happytravelling

It may be worth getting some money out to tide you over just in case.

We recently switched from the co-op to Halifax- the switch all went through fine (except co-op told halifax about some direct debits that were cancelled ages ago, so watch out for this. Its easy to cancel them again though). However, we didn't receive pins for 4 weeks. It was probably bad timing with post for us, as we applied shortly after 'black friday' so the postal system was under a bit of pressure, but fortunately we have 'non-main' accounts that we had some funds in and could use.

colsten

bambos wrote: »

I opened an online saver and regular saver too.

If that's at Halifax, be aware that they are paying terrible interest rates and you can get some 3 to 4 times better interest elsewhere.

colsten

Happytravelling wrote: »

It may be worth getting some money out to tide you over just in case.

We recently switched from the co-op to Halifax- the switch all went through fine (except co-op told halifax about some direct debits that were cancelled ages ago, so watch out for this. Its easy to cancel them again though). However, we didn't receive pins for 4 weeks. It was probably bad timing with post for us, as we applied shortly after 'black friday' so the postal system was under a bit of pressure, but fortunately we have 'non-main' accounts that we had some funds in and could use.

I agree. It's pretty irresponsible really of the banks to accept switch requests before they have even sent customers all their online banking data, debit card and PIN.

OP, you can still ask them to put the switch on hold until you have full access to your new account.

bambos

Thanks happy travelling I will ensure I keep.a bit in reserve just in case. I hope my pin is not too long in the post.

Colsten I might just take your advice and ask them to hold the switch. I never even thought of that. Thank you.

bambos

Hmmm just a thought.

If my new card has tht contactless technology (I don't know how it works) will I be able to use this without my pin in the meantime?

Archi_Bald

Contactless will only work once you have made at least one chip & pin transaction. You can't use your card before you have received the PIN.