Problems transferring ISA - roll number vs account number

markhod

Hello,

I have been trying to transfer an old ISA to a different banks ISA that I have opened, but their transfer form insists I provide an account number. My previous ISA provider has repeatedly told me I should only quote the "roll number" and that the new bank does not need an account number in addition. Furthermore the old bank says there is no concept of an account number for their ISA, and that only thing that defines it is a roll number.

Yet the new bank keep insisting a transfer is impossible without an account number, and that the "roll number" is an optional extra piece of information.

Does anyone know who is right on this about what is needed for an ISA transfer?

Thanks,

Mark

eskbanker

The ISA transfer process is entirely driven by the receiving provider so you need to do whatever they require. While ISA transfer processes do typically revolve around account numbers these days, there are still building societies using roll numbers so there will be a way of making this work, even if whoever you've spoken to so far doesn't know what that is.

Which providers are you referring to?

markhod

The receiver is Nationwide, and the old provider is Paragon.

eskbanker

If the form is the same as https://www.nationwide.co.uk/-/media/MainSite/documents/support/support-articles/Isa-Transfer-External-Transfer-In-3.pdf then it states sort code (if there is one) and account number, which to me suggests that it does cater for accounts identified other than by the usual sort code and account number, so I'd have thought that specifying the roll number in the account number field (while leaving the sort code blank) would work. In the context of Paragon receiving that paperwork, the roll number will uniquely identify an account to them in the same way that an account number (plus sort code) would, so using the roll number on the Nationwide form should work both for them and Paragon.

Nationwide say in https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/isas/overlays/overlaypage-which-providers-transfer-from-online that they do accept transfers from Paragon, so if Paragon only use roll numbers then Nationwide must have experience of this....

markhod

Thanks, but the account number can only contain numbers (the online form will not let you enter anything else). Whilst the roll number contains both numbers and letters.

AirlieBird

I transferred from Paragon to Nationwide recently. I left the sort code blank, put the roll number as the account number and left the roll number blank. All went through in a day.

markhod

I could try what you say on a paper version and take it into Nationwide. But I'd be worried the money will end up stuck in some kind of in-between limbo if it goes wrong?

markhod

AirlieBird wrote: »

I transferred from Paragon to Nationwide recently. I left the sort code blank, put the roll number as the account number and left the roll number blank. All went through in a day.

Ah ok - did you use the paper form or managed to use the online form?

AirlieBird

Did it online.

markhod

oh ok - which browser did you use? I wonder if its a problem with certain browsers not working properly with the form in that case. I tried several times and pressing letters in the account number field had no effect, whilst numbers did.

AirlieBird

Just given it a go. You're right it won't let you enter letters but if you copy and paste it in, it should work.