Balance Transfer - FAIL

pennypincher3562

Hi

I applied for a Halifax credit card last week, which I've apparently been accepted for, and should receive shortly.

During the application process, I was asked if I wanted to do a balance transfer from my existing credit card (for a smallish amount.) I said yes, that I would like to do a balance transfer, and provided the details of my existing card.

Anyway, I've just received an email from the Halifax, and it says Balance Transfer - FAIL. The email does not even explain why, and suggests that I should try again once I receive my new card from them.

Anyone else seen this, and what are the causes?

Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

Wrong card details or invalid card type.

ic

Is it an Amex? I've just had to jump through various hoops to complete one (transfer from one card to another, and then another which have issued the transfer as a cheque payment off Amex account).

pennypincher3562

Thanks for the replies so far. It's not an Amex, it's a Mastercard.

Of course wrong card details entered my mind, however most decent websites can validate card details as soon as you enter them, so I'm still a bit lost here.

All I can do I suppose is wait till I get the card physically, and try again. I wish the email informing me that the balance transfer didn't work was a bit more informative than FAIL!

jonesMUFCforever

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far. It's not an Amex, it's a Mastercard.

Of course wrong card details entered my mind, however most decent websites can validate card details as soon as you enter them, so I'm still a bit lost here.

All I can do I suppose is wait till I get the card physically, and try again. I wish the email informing me that the balance transfer didn't work was a bit more informative than FAIL!

Who issued the Mastercard?
Could it be Lloyds or any other Lloyds banking group card? If so they may not allow in house balance transfers.

pennypincher3562

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Who issued the Mastercard?
Could it be Lloyds or any other Lloyds banking group card? If so they may not allow in house balance transfers.

Not that I'm aware, I'm trying to do a balance transfer from Tesco Card to Halifax. Will receive card shortly and try again.

sjb76

Lloyds to RBS and Halifax are okay (and vice versa) but not between RBS and Halifax (just for info)

Edi81

I think you mean Bank of Scotland - no Royal.

RBS is not part of Lloyds Banking Group.

Bank of Scotland and Halifax are the same company just two different brands.

Ben8282

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

All I can do I suppose is wait till I get the card physically, and try again. I wish the email informing me that the balance transfer didn't work was a bit more informative than FAIL!

Something similar happened to me a while back with a different provider. I think that sometimes, for unknown reasons, the balance transfers requested at the time of application don't go through.
In my case as soon as I had the card and attempted the transfer myself online it went through ok. So as you suggest, wait until you get the physical card and try again. So long as the amount is within your balance transfer limit and is not to a LBG card, I think you will find that it will go through ok.

pennypincher3562

If it helps anyone else, my balance transfer went through after physically receiving the card.

Ditsydoris

This has just happened to me with Halifax and very frustrated as it took an age applying for it on line and having received an email stating that it had been approved, only days later I received another email stating that the balance transfer fail?
No other explanation.. I can only imagine it's to make sure the application is genuine