'Re-Opening' my Halifax account without the need to show ID?

Jlawson118

In May, I switched one of my accounts over to Halifax as I was drawn in with the £100 incentive and £5 a month bonus. Though by November, I realised I'd only met the criteria for the bonus just once within 5/6 months so it didn't seem worth having the account. I had more than two direct debits but I wasn't meeting the £750 monthly income.

I applied online, and like with most banks, I needed to go into branch and provide ID, I did that and everything worked out.

Today, I decided I wanted to open the account with them again as my income has increased much more now but not just specifically for the bonus, I just want to hold a spare account with Halifax and hold money in there to save up.

Enough of the details though, once I signed up, I was automatically put back onto my internet banking account I had previously so I didn't have to register again, and then Halifax have said they'll send my card and pin within a few days. I then switched another account to them and I've had the text alerts saying it's been confirmed etc.

There's no mention of me going into branch and giving them identification again. Now don't get me wrong, this saves me a lot of time and patience if that's the case because my local Halifax are a little useless when it comes to processing it through. I know when I originally did it, it was a Saturday and a young girl on the cashier dealt with it for me. But since then, I've gone in with my girlfriend and witnessed this old lady there who everyone comes back after they've had alerts saying it hasn't gone through..

Is this normal practice when opening/re-opening an account?

YorkshireBoy

Yes.........

Dragonfly1

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Yes.........

Weirdly I have a similar situtation to the OP but the opposite ID problem.

I still have a log in for Halifax (but 0 accounts) as I moved away from Halifax approx 1.5 months ago as forced to switch an account for a Santander Student account.

Now trying to set up my Halifax reward current account back up, but the online application says I need to take ID into branch.

Even though I still have a username & password etc and memorable info that still works.

It's just hassle as it's a bit of a drive to get to Halifax.

Hmmmm

Jlawson118

Dragonfly1 wrote: »

Weirdly I have a similar situtation to the OP but the opposite ID problem.

I still have a log in for Halifax (but 0 accounts) as I moved away from Halifax approx 1.5 months ago as forced to switch an account for a Santander Student account.

Now trying to set up my Halifax reward current account back up, but the online application says I need to take ID into branch.

Even though I still have a username & password etc and memorable info that still works.

It's just hassle as it's a bit of a drive to get to Halifax.

Hmmmm

I was thinking of signing up for a Santander account a few months ago but due to me being in my second year, I had to switch an account and I didn't want to so I never did open it.
How long were you with Halifax for?

I'm reopening it to try and give them an idea of my finances so that they might accept me for one of their credit cards around Summer next year

Dragonfly1

Jlawson118 wrote: »

I was thinking of signing up for a Santander account a few months ago but due to me being in my second year, I had to switch an account and I didn't want to so I never did open it.
How long were you with Halifax for?

I'm reopening it to try and give them an idea of my finances so that they might accept me for one of their credit cards around Summer next year

I was with Halifax for maybe 2 years approximately.
I wanted that 4 year Santander Railcard and they wanted me to swap an account (in my 4th year of 5), no condition that I couldn't re-open my halifax account... The Id thing is a bit ridiculous as it's under 2 months since I left... I haven't changed any part of my application.

Santander were trying very hard to give me a credit card as well, although I was actually swapping from a standard 123 to a student 123 account so they already knew me (That's a whole different story whether you can swap a 123 current account into a student 123 current account when you are in year 2 or later....The short answer is you need to make a complaint for it to happen).

soulsaver

On an aside, you can comply with the £750 funding using the same £375 twice; Or £250 thrice etc by recycling it through account A to B to A to B to A.. (or ABCABCABC even a through second (&3rd if you can get it) one of theirs?

System

Can you even re-open a closed account?

Zanderman

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Can you even re-open a closed account?

No.

I assume OP is trying to open a new account entirely but isn't being very clear with their terminology!

20aday

I applied for the £100 bonus this time last year and closed my Halifax account down a couple of months later when Yorkshire Bank were offering an incentive.

I didn't need to confirm my I.D. back then and have just switched from NatWest to Halifax until another bank offers some money (I don't qualify for HSBC due to negative account conduct in the past with them).

Had all of the texts/emails to say I'd been successful with my switch and haven't been asked for proof of I.D. again either.

Sounds to me OP you won't need to visit your local branch.

Jlawson118

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Can you even re-open a closed account?

Zanderman wrote: »

No.

I assume OP is trying to open a new account entirely but isn't being very clear with their terminology!

I know you can't re-open an account as such, but the way I was trying to word it was that I don't even know if Halifax are just re-opening my old account because it hasn't been all that long, or if I'm opening a new account. That's why I used both 'opening' and 're-opening' in the original text

Jlawson118

Dragonfly1 wrote: »

I was with Halifax for maybe 2 years approximately.
I wanted that 4 year Santander Railcard and they wanted me to swap an account (in my 4th year of 5), no condition that I couldn't re-open my halifax account... The Id thing is a bit ridiculous as it's under 2 months since I left... I haven't changed any part of my application.

Santander were trying very hard to give me a credit card as well, although I was actually swapping from a standard 123 to a student 123 account so they already knew me (That's a whole different story whether you can swap a 123 current account into a student 123 current account when you are in year 2 or later....The short answer is you need to make a complaint for it to happen).

Hahaha yep, complaining gets you anywhere with banks sometimes.. :rotfl: I've had so much trouble with banks this year, and complaining has earned my quite a bit of money with them apologising and putting it in my account. Lloyds contributed to my trip being ruined when they cancelled the wrong credit card and I was left without use of my card.. My mum had to send me the new cards out abroad, they gave me £60 to cover the international postage, £15 to cover the international phone bills to them and £75 for the inconvenience. But they messed up too many times with my accounts after that so I ended up leaving them.

But that aside, I wonder why you do have to reapply and show ID again? I mean I thought I'd have to but other people have added here that they didn't need to either..maybe you should get in touch with them?