Reversing current account switch

Alijay1983

Hi all, I recently switched my account from Barclays to first direct via their switching service. After a month of using first direct I'm really disappointed by their app and how it shows live and pending transactions. Taken 6 days for a simple transaction to be debited from my account or show in pending. I obviously keep tabs if my spending but find it odd that transactions reflect almost immediately on Barclays yet take so long on first direct. Understand the tranche system etc but strange how one bank can reflect immediately and others can't.

Anyway onto the question as Barclays customer service couldn't answer and told me I need to go to branch. Dies anyone know if you can simply reactivate your old account within a month of it being closed? Was hoping I may be able to just switch back and then I can still see all my previous transaction history.

Good learn to read more reviews before switching! Now seen this is a common issue with first direct accounts.

Thank you for any guidance

Zanderman

No, you cannot reverse a switch and re-activate an old account. Once it's closed it's closed! It's gone.

As you say, perhaps the lesson is to read reviews before switching (and, if you need to see transaction history, save it before switching).

If you don't like FD's app have a look at reviews of other bank apps and see what you think of those before switching out of FD.

18cc

You cannot get your old sort code and account no back from Barclays (as it is held in 'reserve' for 3 years so that any transactions on it can be forwarded to you new FD account).

What you can do of course is apply for a new Barclays account just like any new customer, and either keep the FD account as a backup or switch it into your new Barclays account.

Alijay1983

Thanks for advice. I have saved my transactions thanks. It was more a question if there was a reverse process. And the reviews I've previously read ffor fd focused on their customer service rather than their app. Wrong assumption that as they're an online bank they'd have an app that was on a par with such as Barclays.

Think in this case better the devil you know and sensible just to go back rather than try numerous banks.

Thanks for your time both of you

PRAISETHESUN

Unfortunately the posts above are correct - once you have completed your switch you are unable to reverse the process. You will need to open a brand new account with Barclays (assuming they'll accept you as a new customer under their current eligibility criteria) and then use CASS to move your FD account back to Barclays. You will get all new account numbers, etc.

With FD you can get a £100 "goodbye" leaving gift if you leave after 6 months but before 12 months, so it might be worth holding onto the account until then, calling them to confirm that you are leaving and would like the leaving gift, and then switching it back to Barclays.

EarthBoy

PRAISETHESUN wrote: »

With FD you can get a £100 "goodbye" leaving gift if you leave after 6 months but before 12 months, so it might be worth holding onto the account until then, calling them to confirm that you are leaving and would like the leaving gift, and then switching it back to Barclays.

You don't get £100 simply for leaving First Direct, it's not automatic. You have to tell them that you're unhappy with their service and give a reason. If you leave without doing that, you won't get the £100.

datz

Alijay1983 wrote: »

Think in this case better the devil you know and sensible just to go back rather than try numerous banks.

It is often easier not to switch your primary/main account if you are actually happy with the service - and the disruption that could be caused is often just not worth the potential hassle.

Instead, consider opening up additional/secondary accounts (with the same or different banks) and just switch/use those to chase incentives. Just don't excessively 'overdo' the account opening with any single banking group, and keep in mind that some institutions enable additional accounts to be opened far more easily than others (e.g. avoid the HSBC group for generating donor accounts).

Missus_Hyde

Alijay1983 wrote: »

Hi all, I recently switched my account from Barclays to first direct via their switching service. After a month of using first direct I'm really disappointed by their app and how it shows live and pending transactions. Taken 6 days for a simple transaction to be debited from my account or show in pending. I obviously keep tabs if my spending but find it odd that transactions reflect almost immediately on Barclays yet take so long on first direct. Understand the tranche system etc but strange how one bank can reflect immediately and others can't.

Sorry to hear that you're not very happy with the FD app; I've recently switched mine and husband's accounts to them and apart from a bit of a palaver to actually get the thing set up (FD do have a rather cloak and dagger approach ) I've been really pleased by the way the whole thing works and their customer service has been excellent, which I find most refreshing.

They are trying to improve their app; they have "fdesign" which you can join and help them to improve their app by various projects (it looked rather interesting so I've joined).

PRAISETHESUN

EarthBoy wrote: »

You don't get £100 simply for leaving First Direct, it's not automatic. You have to tell them that you're unhappy with their service and give a reason. If you leave without doing that, you won't get the £100.

Hence why I suggested that OP call FD to confirm they were eligible for the leaving gift before doing so...

PRAISETHESUN wrote: »

With FD you can get a £100 "goodbye" leaving gift if you leave after 6 months but before 12 months, so it might be worth holding onto the account until then, calling them to confirm that you are leaving and would like the leaving gift, and then switching it back to Barclays.

PRAISETHESUN

I do agree with OP though - the online banking/banking app are very basic and feel clunky. I have the same impression from M&S Bank which uses the same engine just with a different paint job. Their customer service is up there compared to horror stories I've heard from elsewhere, but personally I've found them a little too restrictive and the basic customer support people have limited power to actually do much apart from read from a script. But for the 5% regular saver and the fee-free £250 overdraft (probably the only things worth keeping) its worth hanging onto IMO.

EarthBoy

Missus_Hyde wrote: »

They are trying to improve their app; they have "fdesign" which you can join and help them to improve their app by various projects (it looked rather interesting so I've joined).

First direct have tried a similar thing before. A few years ago they had the First Direct Lab, where customers could discuss and vote on new ideas, but it was simply a sham to make it appear that they were listening to their customers, while actually taking no notice of them whatsoever. One of the ideas in the Lab was to redesign the debit and credit cards because they are almost identical and many customers got them confused. Despite lots of discussion and suggested ideas, First Direct did absolutely nothing and eventually closed the Lab down. So, the outlook for "fdesign" doesn't look promising.