Switching current account - never again!

uk_moneyspinner

I switched my current account to the Halifax using their switching service and I am having real problems with direct debits being rejected.

I pay my full credit card balances each month by direct debit however this month Halifax has rejected both direct debit requests. This has resulted in late fees being applied to my account and I dread to think what it is doing to my credit score.

I would urge people to think very seriously before switching current accounts; I certainly don't want to go through all this stress again!

Archi_Bald

Why were the DDs rejected?

What were Halifax's responses to your complaints?

YorkshireBoy

You do know that Halifax are responsible for reimbursing any late payment fees applied elsewhere, and that they also have a duty placed on them to contact the credit card providers and arrange for the removal of any negative credit history posted by them?

Of course this assumes that none of your issues were self-inflicted.

So it's (hopefully) not the end of the world!

Paul_1977

That is Halifax for you.

I have switched three times never had any issues, with other banks.

jonesMUFCforever

I am wondering how close the direct debits were to the switching date? although in theory they should have passed on the debit to your new bank.

uk_moneyspinner

Well you can guess how this is playing out ... Halifax are blaming the credit card companies (Amex and Nationwide) and they are blaming Halifax.

Of course there is poor old me in the middle trying to sort it all out.

And they say that switching current accounts has been made easier...!!

colsten

uk_moneyspinner wrote: »

Well you can guess how this is playing out ... Halifax are blaming the credit card companies (Amex and Nationwide) and they are blaming Halifax.

No need to guess. You have a switching guarantee with Halifax. Any problems caused by the switch are the responsibility of Halifax. What have Halifax said when you asked them to sort the problems?

http://static.halifax.co.uk/assets/pdf/bankaccounts/pdf/bank-accounts-switching-brochure.pdf

meer53

The companies who claim the DD's have probably not updated their records with your new account details. Halifax will be able to give you the date the DD's were set up on your new account. If they were set up in time for the latest payments, it's not Halifax's fault but they are still the ones who should be dealing with this for you.

Bloomberg

uk_moneyspinner wrote: »

I switched my current account to the Halifax using their switching service and I am having real problems with direct debits being rejected.

I pay my full credit card balances each month by direct debit however this month Halifax has rejected both direct debit requests. This has resulted in late fees being applied to my account and I dread to think what it is doing to my credit score.

I would urge people to think very seriously before switching current accounts; I certainly don't want to go through all this stress again!

When I switched from HSBC to Barclays I changed all the direct debits myself. This is the best way to ensure a smooth transition. You should ask the Halifax for some kind of compensation, if they are not willing to do this then get the ombudsman involved. They will soon change their tune.


Just out of interest, did you change to get a switching incentive? If so was it a precondition that you used their switching service?

Anthorn

Agree with Yorkshireboy, reimbursement of out of pocket expenses if they are due to a failure of the bank and therefore the bank's fault. It's in the switch guarantee. Doesn't help if your credit report has been affected though.

colsten

Anthorn wrote: »

Doesn't help if your credit report has been affected though.

They must remove any defaults that have been added to your credit history as a result of their mistakes made as part of the switch.

If they do not do this voluntarily, you can take them to the FOS but it would be very highly unusual if you had to involve the FOS.

The key issue with the OP is what exactly caused the rejections of the DDs. We do as yet not know this as the OP has not told us.