switching banks is easy say's Martin

N9eav

Switching is easy you say? A few months ago i took up the idea of switching banks as i was unhappy with Nationwide service.

I went for the Nat West deal promoted here. Filled in the forms and sent in the ID and all the other proof of identity and address. I had a welcome pack and some contact, then nothing... I waited and called and was told it was being progressed and still nothing. I called and complained.... again nothing. I cancelled it all after several weeks as I figured if that is what i will expect with customer service forget it.

So I tried the new HSBC deal. Same deal. Sent in the ID and proof of address, they lost it, I did it again. Got a letter 3 weeks later asking for proof of ID or address before they could open an account. I replied I had done this and they eventually found it. Several weeks later still nothing....

I give up...... Easy to switch? I don’t think so

penners324

I'd suggest you're doing something wrong.
I've switched accounts for the deals 6 or 7 times in the last couple of years.
Never had to send any form of ID over and the accounts are open immediately with switches taking place as requested.

[Deleted User]

Yup it's easy to switch - done it multiple times (well into double digits) without any issues

Robin9

N9eav - are you perhaps opening accounts rather than using the switching service ?

eskbanker

Circa 1m people per year manage to use the switching service, according to https://www.bacs.co.uk/DocumentLibrary/Monthly_CASS_data_2019.pdf, which would clearly suggest that it's not fundamentally broken.

That's not to say they all found it as easy as expected, but there's always the possibility for admin-intensive processes to have hiccups, although experiencing this twice with different banks is unusual....

soulsaver

Switching is mostly easy. However, opening an account into switch to is not that easy for everyone.

N9eav

Robin9 wrote: »

N9eav - are you perhaps opening accounts rather than using the switching service ?

Nope it's a switch and I have no credit issues. Maybe it's just bad luck

PRAISETHESUN

It might be worth pointing out that the account opening and account switching processes are separate and different things - it sounds like you are having issues opening the accounts rather than with the switches themselves? Even if you elect to switch as a part of the account opening process, the switch itself is a separate thing that happens once the account is fully open.

Ben8282

Obviously the banks are having problems verifying your identity. It should not be necessary to send ID as this can normally be done electronically. Are you on the ER? Are you using the address where your present bank account and credit cards etc are registered? Is there anything unusual about your situation?

tempus_fugit

Switched loads of times, never any issues. Bad luck I reckon.

colsten

N9eav wrote: »

Nope it's a switch and I have no credit issues. Maybe it's just bad luck

A switch needs an account to switch into. It sounded as if you had neither a Natwest nor an HSBC account, thus your problems seem to lie with opening the accounts and you didn't get as far as switching.