First Direct switching (& wages)

JustAnotherSaver

Has anyone here experienced this side of a switch?

I've switched in the past with another bank which brought over most of my standing orders & direct debits (annoyingly it didn't bring them ALL over!) but not wages.

So do First Direct somehow locate your employers contact details, write off to them & tell them to not pay into that account any more pay in to this one instead?

Just wondering how the process goes & whether everyone reading this who's experienced it found it to be smooth or bumpy.

binaryuniverse

I'm pretty sure, if you do a full switch, it will close down your old account and any payments made to that will automatically be redirected to your new account.

I believe your old bank will inform your employer of the change, and it is up to them to change the account they pay in to.

Tbh, Any time I've done a switch from an account my account my wages are paid in to, I tell my employer of the change myself.

LuSiVe

When I last switched my employer told me I should tell them the new details. (Which I could update myself on the HR system so it went as smoothly as it could.)

Shakin_Steve

Your old bank should forward any payments made to them straight to your new account for 36 months. But, being honest, I’m a bit surprised that you didn’t let your payroll know your new details. I certainly would.

JustAnotherSaver

I did wonder if telling payroll dept would lead to them changing the details manually themselves and whether this would be some get out for First Direct paying up the £100 switch bonus (whether the wages need to be brought over automatically as part of the switch).

A text came through today from the old bank to say they were aware of a switch request and a letter will be sent in the post.

badger09

There is no requirement from First Direct, or for that matter, any other bank, that your wages must be 'brought over automatically as part of the switch'.

meer53

Salaries are redirected as part of the switch, no need to notify employers. Employers banks are given the new account details (electronically) so they can update their info with the new account number.

JustAnotherSaver

I wasn't 100% how it worked. I didn't know if they collected the details at the start (so noted all the SO's, DD's & wages etc) and then these would need to match come switch day or what.

As if you could do stuff manually, you could just set up some standing orders, apply for the account & then cancel it & move your wages via payroll so that nothing would actually be getting 'switched' at all & I couldn't see that being allowed.