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FlexDirect Sort Code and Account Confirmation

Hi again guys!

In short: to all the FlexDirect account holders: were you able to access your account straight away after opening (i.e. online banking) or did you wait for your details to arrive by post? The following post text is just additional background info.

In detail: I'd like to start off by thanking everyone who voiced their opinions in my "FlexDirect and Credit Scoring" post. It really helped me gain more knowledge about the subject. I'm happy to say that I've decided to apply online for this account and everything went fine - well, almost everything.

I received a standard welcome email saying they'll either open the account straight away or ask for additional information. Surely enough they needed both proof of ID and address. I went in branch and they registered my documents, but I was told that there is no way to learn my account number and sort code except by waiting for the card to be posted to me....

As you all know the FlexDirect offers 5% interest only for 1 year from account opening date. I will be potentially missing out on a whole month of interest (because I will be out of the country from next week until mid-September) if I have to wait for the post to come through.

My question is to all the FlexDirect account holders: were you able to access your account straight away after opening (i.e. online banking) or did you wait for your details to arrive by post?

I'm asking this because NatWest does not limit your access by making you wait and istead you can register for online banking straight away (i.e. MyRewards Current Account). Please let me know if the bank clerk was correct in his advice or is there a way to access my account asap?

Thank you so much again.
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Comments

  • I had to wait for my customer number and a card reader before I could access by account
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,132 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I opened the one up below that, the branch staff gave me my account number and sort code when I went in with my customer number email, so I could set up transfers in, but I didn't have to wait long for the card and official letter.

    Just checked and it took me 7 days from opening to online access. But as I said mine was just the FlexAccount.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear it in 2026.
  • PRAISETHESUN
    PRAISETHESUN Posts: 4,488 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If the branch staff can identify you, they should be able to provide your account details in order for you to make a deposit - that said, Nationwide were pretty quick sending my account opening details once it all went through (and I also had a branch visit to show ID). You will need to wait for everything to arrive by post if you want access to online banking (eg. debit card, username, card reader, etc) but you can deposit into the account without them.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,498 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sort code and account number was on the confirmation screen when I opened the account but also came in the letter a few days after opening. I could access the account on line day after opening but that was because I already had NW on line access. My card reader came in the post today, just over a week after opening.
  • irelavv
    irelavv Posts: 74 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    Quick update guys: today I received my first letter saying I needed to sign the agreement and bring ID + proof of address. After I did that I got an email saying my application has been accepted! However, I'm still stuck behind waiting for the next letter which will contain my digital banking passnumber, debit card etc…

    So I was wondering if anyone has been successful in making a cash deposit in branch without their debit card at hand? I know my sort code and my account number which is good.

    Also, do you guys think a money transfer from my second account would be a good idea? The only thing I'm worried about is the money not getting to my account because I wouldn't have access to online banking to actually check it for myself. Any advice is welcomed!
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,132 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I paid in branch as per my previous post.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear it in 2026.
  • irelavv
    irelavv Posts: 74 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks MovingForward. Unfortunately, this is the reply I received after submitting a question to them online about this "you will not be able to pay cash into your Flex Direct without the card, however, you can transfer funds into the account using an online service. It will be the branches discretion as to whether or not they give you a balance".

    This is a real shame since - if I follow their advice and branch staff do not disclose my account balance - I would have no clue as to whether my FPOs have reached the account or not.

    All of this seems so complicated when it should not be. Furthermore, if all new Nationwide members are required to wait for their card in order to just see their account balance - it's effectively stopping you from taking advantage of the 5% interest rate circa 10 days....

    Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this?
  • irelavv wrote: »
    All of this seems so complicated when it should not be. Furthermore, if all new Nationwide members are required to wait for their card in order to just see their account balance - it's effectively stopping you from taking advantage of the 5% interest rate circa 10 days....

    Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this?

    Thoughts and advice?

    Complain to NW if you must and if you feel “hard done by” then close the account and go elsewhere.

    Seriously you’re pulling at straws here.
  • eskbanker
    eskbanker Posts: 35,261 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    irelavv wrote: »
    All of this seems so complicated when it should not be.
    With all due respect, you're making it more complicated than it should be!

    Unless I'm missing something, you're being driven by a desire to expedite an account opening process simply because (a) you're about to go on holiday and (b) you're desperate not to miss out on a few quid of interest.

    At the risk of stating the obvious, you could/should have started the process sooner, or deferred it until your return, or accepted that it might not be possible to optimise your total interest return on the money.

    However, given where you now are, you essentially have the choice of waiting or transferring your £2,500 without being able to validate its arrival immediately....
  • irelavv
    irelavv Posts: 74 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    I certainly don't feel "hard done by" and I'm not closing the account. My post wasn't created with a mentality to be "pulling at straws", I created the post to educate myself and others.

    If some people can directly deposit cash into their account without a card - like MovingForward wrote - and others like myself have been refused, then people need to know.

    If Nationwide have significantly changed their online registration processing (waiting for a card reader to register online like you said), then people need to know because it limits their ability to 100% confirm if their FPOs have been deposited into the account. Ultimately, this diminishes the value of the advertised 5% interest as you lose many days waiting for letters...

    Others like molerat could access online banking straight away but maybe he/she had already been a NW member: in any circumstance more people need to know and I enjoy conversing by sharing my personal experience with others.
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