Took advice to change banks.

P.Pea

I took advice from MSE to change banks but it took nearly 3 months to open an account with M&S Bank. In the end we gave up and never bothered. It's too much hassle. Best advice is don't bother.

eskbanker

Although I'm not one of them myself, I believe that many thousands have opened current accounts with M&S and switched - perhaps it would be useful to others if you put a bit more flesh on the bones than just 'slow, avoid'? Did they give you conflicting information? Demand lots of ID proof? Documents go missing perhaps?

Does your "don't bother" advice apply specifically to opening an M&S account or are you assuming that's representative of the whole current account switching service?

jonesMUFCforever

P.Pea wrote: »

I took advice from MSE to change banks but it took nearly 3 months to open an account with M&S Bank. In the end we gave up and never bothered. It's too much hassle. Best advice is don't bother.

A Million or more have switched quite successfully over the last 12 months or so.

tempus_fugit

The OP doesn't say whether it was the switch that took ages or if it was just that it took M&S ages to open the account, although the post alludes to the latter. If so, we have no idea why this was, there could have been unusual circumstances that delayed the opening of the account. Also, it doesn't say if the switching service was used, so it doesn't necessarily reflect badly on that and in my experience it is very good most of the time. So I wouldn't be put off by the OP's opinion especially if the switching service with the switch guarantee is being used.

msallen

Looking at the OPs posting history, I would not take any notice of this at all (especially as I have opened an M&S account twice over the last few years without issue - once for the switching bonus, then went back again after they started the regular saver).

Zanderman

P.Pea wrote: »

I took advice from MSE to change banks but it took nearly 3 months to open an account with M&S Bank. In the end we gave up and never bothered. It's too much hassle. Best advice is don't bother.

Best advice is to be patient!

JuicyJesus

I've done switches using CASS multiple times this year. All gone through fine and on the schedule the bank outlined.

Don80

You didn't say what the problem was, but did you use the CASS? If so it should take 7 days. If you just opened an account and it has taken 3 months, this would suggest an issue with M&S Bank. Usually your sort code and account number is created instantly (I opened an account with the Bank of Scotland and used CASS to transfer an RBS account to Halifax recently, had both accounts open in minutes).

If you have a sort code and account number, is the problem waiting for cards? If you don't have the account information, then I'd chase them up. Based on your other posts, you have seen your credit file, does it show a search by M&S Bank? 3 months is definitely too long, something has gone wrong. I'd echo what others have said, I've never been with M&S Bank, but I've seen lots of posts from others who have, and they seem to be okay so definitely follow up.

gingerdad

I've done it several times and a few delays but so far had over £600 in free money so i'll keep doing it whilst they keep giving money away - M&S where one of the worst and about to switch away from them for the new clydesdale one

DCFC79

I expect the same response that was posted in the previous thread will be forthcoming.

System

Don80 wrote: »

You didn't say what the problem was, but did you use the CASS? If so it should take 7 days. If you just opened an account and it has taken 3 months, this would suggest an issue with M&S Bank. Usually your sort code and account number is created instantly (I opened an account with the Bank of Scotland and used CASS to transfer an RBS account to Halifax recently, had both accounts open in minutes).

M&S are definitely much slower than LBG at opening accounts.

Whilst the actual switch time-frame is uniform, the actions around it vary from bank to bank.