Halifax down? any thoughts?

GingerFurball_2

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Why?

Steady on. If the OP tried at half past five on a Sunday morning and couldn't log in, they should be trying again a bit later. For all we know, the OP might by now have been able to log in.

The OP did manage to log in, he was told 'you have no accounts which can be viewed in Internet Banking.' This means the account doesn't exist. Anyone on this forum who used to have accounts with Halifax and who can remember their log in details will get the same message.

He then phoned telephone banking. They can't complete security if there are no open accounts, so can't actually verify him to tell him anything. Hence why the OP has been referred to branch with ID.

Paul_1977

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Could you elaborate a bit on how you have come to conclude that? What criteria did you use, which banks did you compare, when did you do your study, what account(s) do/did you have with Halifax for how long?

Of course.

I have held accounts with many banks, over a number of years.

My experience with Halifax was the WORST. I held a current account and savings account for around two years. I had another current account with them which I had for about eight months this year.

Even before the account was open, I was greeted with rude staff at my local branch, I went to open account, I was TOLD, not advised, that I could do this online. In an arrogant tone, by miserable staff.

At that point I would have told them to stick it, but I really wanted to hold an account as it was my local bank at that point, so I went online an opened the account. That all went well to be fair.

So I begun using the account, then came the point when I needed to pay cash into the account, off to the local branch I went. I was again greeted by a large stoned faced woman on the front desk, I went up to the counter to pay the cash in, to be told I "should not use the counter to pay cash in", I told her it was MY CHOICE if I used the machine, and that I would be using the counter. Again this person was stoned faced.

As I pay cash in quite a bit, notes can be folded etc and the machine does not work well, so I use the counter. Every time I went to the counter, I was told I should use the machine. Never greeted with a smile, not even asked how I was doing. It was all "what do you want" type attitude.

I also witnessed this happening to other customers in multiple branches. Even elderly customers who had trouble seeing, they were told to use the machine. Even when the customer explains their problems, the staff don't want to know.

And then there is the one desk open in the middle of the day, queues out of the door.

There was the other time I went in to withdraw cash from my savings account, I asked to withdraw £800, I had ID, giving me a dirty look, the casher refused to give me my money, demanding to see a bank statement.

Then there is the general attitude of branch staff, to use an American saying, it sucks, it stinks, its trash.

Now if I go into somewhere like Barclays, or EVEN Santander (most of the time), they might ask how I am, do I need help with anything, say hello mr XXX, how are you, are you doing anything for xmas etc. Its the small things that count, and Halifax is meant to be the bank that gives extra?????????

Paul_1977

Katiehound wrote: »

It works fine for me! I have had my accounts for 5 years and not had problems..... But I avoid banking online if at all possible.

Sounds to me like a stiff letter / e-mail required stating the inconvenience etc and expecting a small donation from them as a sweetener! Always worth a try since they are messing you about.

Many letters were sent.:D

Ed-1

brisk wrote: »

When I try to access internet banking after successfully entering my security information, I receive the following message:

"We’re sorry, but you don't have any accounts that can be accessed through Online Banking."

I called them but they say something like there's not enough information on their system to be able to check my account (i.e they cannot see my accounts either) and that I should visit a branch. Obviously quite inconvenient as I work regular hours.

I have not received any letters from them and my account was working fine 2 weeks ago.

It's not the first time i've had to visit a branch and i'm honestly fed up with Halifax. I'm thinking I should write a letter asking for my account to be closed and a cheque posted to me.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

GingerFurball wrote: »

Your account's been closed.

When did you open the account? Did you have any other accounts open at that time?

Halifax, like Lloyds, Natwest and Barclays operate the practice where the system does a 'surface' stage 1 credit check and then opens the account straight away before the application has got through stage 2 checks which are a bit more in depth. If the application fails at stage 2 (which happens the next day) the account will be blocked and sent to the Account Closure Unit for closure which happens a couple of working days later. They don't need to give notice of closure when the account hasn't been fully opened and approved.

If this happens, they'll send you a letter saying your application has failed final checks to open the account and therefore they can no longer offer you the account.

brisk

Ed-1 wrote: »

When did you open the account? Did you have any other accounts open at that time?

Halifax, like Lloyds, Natwest and Barclays operate the practice where the system does a 'surface' stage 1 credit check and then opens the account straight away before the application has got through stage 2 checks which are a bit more in depth. If the application fails at stage 2 (which happens the next day) the account will be blocked and sent to the Account Closure Unit for closure which happens a couple of working days later. They don't need to give notice of closure when the account hasn't been fully opened and approved.

If this happens, they'll send you a letter saying your application has failed final checks to open the account and therefore they can no longer offer you the account.

I opened the account over 5 years ago.

jennifernil

Paul_1977 wrote: »

Of course.

I have held accounts with many banks, over a number of years.

My experience with Halifax was the WORST. I held a current account and savings account for around two years. I had another current account with them which I had for about eight months this year.

Even before the account was open, I was greeted with rude staff at my local branch, I went to open account, I was TOLD, not advised, that I could do this online. In an arrogant tone, by miserable staff.

At that point I would have told them to stick it, but I really wanted to hold an account as it was my local bank at that point, so I went online an opened the account. That all went well to be fair.

So I begun using the account, then came the point when I needed to pay cash into the account, off to the local branch I went. I was again greeted by a large stoned faced woman on the front desk, I went up to the counter to pay the cash in, to be told I "should not use the counter to pay cash in", I told her it was MY CHOICE if I used the machine, and that I would be using the counter. Again this person was stoned faced.

As I pay cash in quite a bit, notes can be folded etc and the machine does not work well, so I use the counter. Every time I went to the counter, I was told I should use the machine. Never greeted with a smile, not even asked how I was doing. It was all "what do you want" type attitude.

I also witnessed this happening to other customers in multiple branches. Even elderly customers who had trouble seeing, they were told to use the machine. Even when the customer explains their problems, the staff don't want to know.

And then there is the one desk open in the middle of the day, queues out of the door.

There was the other time I went in to withdraw cash from my savings account, I asked to withdraw £800, I had ID, giving me a dirty look, the casher refused to give me my money, demanding to see a bank statement.

Then there is the general attitude of branch staff, to use an American saying, it sucks, it stinks, its trash.

Now if I go into somewhere like Barclays, or EVEN Santander (most of the time), they might ask how I am, do I need help with anything, say hello mr XXX, how are you, are you doing anything for xmas etc. Its the small things that count, and Halifax is meant to be the bank that gives extra?????????

How strange!

Any time I have used a branch the staff have been very pleasant, chatty and helpful.

We have had several accounts with them for many years now.

Paul_1977

jennifernil wrote: »

How strange!

Any time I have used a branch the staff have been very pleasant, chatty and helpful.

We have had several accounts with them for many years now.

I can only talk for three branches in my part of London, but you have to go with what you know.

At first I thought it was me, but I observed with other customers getting the same dose of stone.

Ed-1

brisk wrote: »

I opened the account over 5 years ago.

That rules that explanation out then!

realaledrinker

We I agree with Paul - branch customer service at the Halifax in my opinion is rubbish. I have had several major screw ups with my daughter's JISA to the extent that three lots of compo in total exceeding £300 have been made.

Branch staff tend to be poorly trained and give out incorrect information. They make promises they can't keep.

They still have accounts that you have to service in branch rather than over the internet.

They issue more superfluous paper than any other bank I have dealt with.

That said they tend to have reasonable interest rates (at least until recently anyway) on FTDs which can be opened & serviced on line.

colsten

realaledrinker wrote: »

I have had several major screw ups with my daughter's JISA to the extent that three lots of compo in total exceeding £300 have been made.

Sounds a brilliant arrangement to get an extra £300+ into a JISA. Can you share details please?