M&S Bank application

guesswho2000

MARTYM8` wrote: »

Try not to cry – you will probably start laughing when you see the design of their debit card with a woman’s leg sticking out of a coffee cup and then feel ill as its impossible to read your card number/details on the hideous background!:D

Also do you live near one of their stores with an M&S bank branch? If you do I would recommend you go in there to complete the process and do your switch – you will be seen immediately as they never seem to have any customers.

Far better than waiting for ages to get through on the phone – and you might even get a bottle of sparkling water and some chocolates too like me! They are all very nice and it gives you a far better impression of the bank – they have nice comfy settees too if you need to wait.

Like YB/CB they are much better to deal with face to face!

PS Of course you will also need to sort out your gift card – they regularly seem to send out £100 gift cards and then you have to ring up separately to get the extra £25 due if you applied via MSE/MSS before 31 March.

The debit card is hideous!

However, thought I'd chime in with our tale, both applications (OH & I) went through fine (within a couple of days), transfers went smoothly and joining incentives received quickly, including the full £125 on OH's application (I applied pre-increased offer).

We were both existing First Direct customers, so had a HSBC relationship, though not sure how much this matters! But I was impressed, given how much I'd read about issues being encountered in the process. I'll keep the account for the 0% £100 OD and 6% regular saver, but have no desire to use it as a main account, I hate the need for HSBC/M&S to use those key fob things with no alternative, even just to login, for online banking!

anoncol

I'd like to add some balance too. My wife and i both opened our accounts very quickly with no hastle.

In fact i'm just opening my second because i switch my first one before the launched the Regular Saver which i no want use of. Just receive the paper work 3 working days after applying online.

No_6

Well if they said a day or 2.... perhaps that's what they meant
6

Jsscmm

I agree with anoncol... Opening the account was similar to FD in the calls to CS to get online banking sorted, but beyond that went smoothly. My 6% RS opened on time and th switch from NW worked as promised (to allow a 'new' account next year @5% hopefully).

I'm not using this as a day to day account but I don't really have any complaints about what I've had from them.

Personally I just wish hsbc advance would be as easy!

Thrugelmir

MARTYM8` wrote: »

Then two days later I got a letter asking me to provide ID – similar to the requirements of First Direct (e.g. certified documents or HMRC letters etc) although you cannot use a First Direct, HSBC or M&S bank statement as proof of address??!!

HSBC is behind M&S bank.

MARTYM8`

Thrugelmir wrote: »

HSBC is behind M&S bank.

Yes - I am fully aware of that.

My point was they request ID to verify who you are for money laundering and credit check purposes - why on earth would they not accept address ID from other banks but not statements from other members of the HSBC Group?

Surely the best ID is to their own ID as they can immediately check its genuine via their internal systems.

Not that they could electronically verify me - despite me being a customer of HSBC for over 15 years and at the same address for over 10.

M0ney

I applied on a Thursday and received an approval via email on the Saturday, I'm working away from home atm so I will fine out next week if they have sent all the paperwork.

For anyone who's done this already, I assume they will ask for the account details I would like to switch from in the paperwork they send to me? I don't remember this being mentioned in the initial application.

anoncol

M0ney wrote: »

For anyone who's done this already, I assume they will ask for the account details I would like to switch from in the paperwork they send to me? I don't remember this being mentioned in the initial application.

Regardless, no account application has to switch from what they ask as your "main account". The switch is also entirely separate from the opening.

Jennifer_Jane

MARTYM8` wrote: »

Try not to cry – you will probably start laughing when you see the design of their debit card with a woman’s leg sticking out of a coffee cup and then feel ill as its impossible to read your card number/details on the hideous background!:D

Also do you live near one of their stores with an M&S bank branch? If you do I would recommend you go in there to complete the process and do your switch – you will be seen immediately as they never seem to have any customers.

Far better than waiting for ages to get through on the phone – and you might even get a bottle of sparkling water and some chocolates too like me! They are all very nice and it gives you a far better impression of the bank – they have nice comfy settees too if you need to wait.

Like YB/CB they are much better to deal with face to face!

PS Of course you will also need to sort out your gift card – they regularly seem to send out £100 gift cards and then you have to ring up separately to get the extra £25 due if you applied via MSE/MSS before 31 March.

Well, all that, at least gave me a laugh. Still no sign of the second lot of documentation they promised a week ago. Unfortunately, my nearest branch is 13 miles away, so 26 for a round trip. I may just do this, though, as I want to be away from the house a bit over the next couple of weeks (having my garden remodelled). I wonder if I did go there, if I could decline the chocolates in favour of something non-chocolatey, as chocolate gives me a migraine. Normally, I would consider that impolite, but I feel this has been rather a trial.

MARTYM8`

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Well, all that, at least gave me a laugh. Still no sign of the second lot of documentation they promised a week ago. Unfortunately, my nearest branch is 13 miles away, so 26 for a round trip. I may just do this, though, as I want to be away from the house a bit over the next couple of weeks (having my garden remodelled). I wonder if I did go there, if I could decline the chocolates in favour of something non-chocolatey, as chocolate gives me a migraine. Normally, I would consider that impolite, but I feel this has been rather a trial.

I just turned up on both occasions to finalise the ID for opening and do the switch. Both times the banking advisors were busy - so I got a bottle of M&S sparkling water while waiting - but I only had to wait 5 minutes (and that was at lunchtime).

The chocolates were on their desks as you did the interview - I got one at the start and two at the end. I think they were trying to get rid of them as they were on diets - presumably so they could fit into their M&S spring season outfits.

I can't guarantee you will get this at every branch - I went to what should have been one of their busiest branches in the country (and in 45 minutes I only saw two customers!).

So don't let the application experience, the debit card and the internet banking/lack of app put you off - their branches are a lovely oasis of peace and free water.

Not quite as generous as the Virgin money lounges - open up a savings account for £1 and get free coffee/nibbles and wifi in Piccadilly for ever - but not bad.