£100 Ulster Bank NI switch offer - ends 19 November 2020

fenwick458

ok, so aside from whether or not it's morally right to claim offers that the banks are offering...
I've applied to switch to ulster bank. (already had NW & RBS offers recently, so just trying my luck)
just had a form in the post which I've to sign and send back, it seems to mention supporting documents or proof of ID a lot but doesn't actually say in black & white that I need to enclose these?
I'm sure RBS & natwest used a digidocs system online, thought ulster would be similar...?

Tragen

fenwick458 said:

just had a form in the post which I've to sign and send back, it seems to mention supporting documents or proof of ID a lot but doesn't actually say in black & white that I need to enclose these?

I'd like to know if this is the norm when applying? I'm not currently in the UK and my mail is handled by a relative, so while it's possible I could send docs back, I'd rather they did not have the hassle. Digital only would be preferable.

I'm surprised there isn't as much chat about this offer, is there a reason that I'm missing that makes this offer less appealing?

gsmh

fenwick458 said:

ok, so aside from whether or not it's morally right to claim offers that the banks are offering...

My local supermarket is offering free cheese and wine. The aim is to encourage customers to buy the product. Should I pile a whole load of cheese into my carrier bag and wine into a spare bottle or two since there are no T&Cs to say I can't? Sometimes we refrain from doing certain things not because there is a law or a T&C in place to stop us, but because we just know it's wrong. It's interesting teaching moral education in school when students discuss why they don't shoplift - there are two answers. The first is 'because I might get caught' and the second is 'because it's wrong'. It is very interesting. The students who have the latter point of view tend to be the students you would trust most, and were you their age, would want as a friend. The others are often chancers.

Tragen

When you start to have a moral dilemma when playing by the rules and taking up a banks switching offer, I think you have to consider if they feel the same way about you.

Do you think banks dont know that a %age of applicants will switch just for the money? do you think they dont know that sites like MSE encourage this behaviour? Well, it's been going on for what, 5 years or more. of course they know and yet they still *choose* not to apply simple conditions to the incentive terms which could easily mitigate the "loss" that you perceive. 

By taking up these offers purely for the incentive, you have zero to feel bad about. The banks want you to do it, they have their reasons, and you dont need to understand why.

crumpet_man

I am definitely not going to switch main bank account unless I am completely satisfied with the new account.  These switch incentives mean I can try a new banks service (including app, online banking, customer service) and be compensated for my time. 
If the new bank meets my needs I am more than happy to use it as my main account.

RG2015

Morality has nothing to do with rules or what the rule maker thinks or does.

It is subjective and can be binary irrespective of the views of others.

In either case, both views are valid.

I have heard it said that there is no absolute right or wrong, only what does or does not work.

colsten

Tragen said:

fenwick458 said:

just had a form in the post which I've to sign and send back, it seems to mention supporting documents or proof of ID a lot but doesn't actually say in black & white that I need to enclose these?

I'd like to know if this is the norm when applying? I'm not currently in the UK and my mail is handled by a relative, so while it's possible I could send docs back, I'd rather they did not have the hassle. Digital only would be preferable.

I'm surprised there isn't as much chat about this offer, is there a reason that I'm missing that makes this offer less appealing?

I didn't need to sign any form, so it doesn't appear to be a general thing. But you will get an activation code for online banking in the post, as well as your card and your PIN. You need the card & card reader to set up a payee. The card reader can be from other banks - Nationwide, Barclays, Natwest, RBS - or you can request one from Ulster.

They will also send you a paying in book. Cute.

gsmh

RG2015 said:

Morality has nothing to do with rules or what the rule maker thinks or does.

This is where we clearly disagree. Morality is what raises us above most other animals. We have an ability to assess rights and wrongs regardless of laws. Where there has been genocide, or atrocities committed against others, backed up by the laws of the state concerned, humans have the ability to refuse to obey orders in such circumstances. Please don't attack me by saying genocide and switching bank accounts is a ridiculous analogy, I'm just trying to make a point that rules, T&Cs and laws do not always result in actions which are morally correct. I post my views just to remind those reading that there is an alternative point of view than grabbing free money wherever possible. Reading this forum would otherwise suggest there is only one way to do things. I would remind users that this is 'Budgeting and Bank Accounts', not 'Free Money' so my comments are completely valid and on track.

colsten

Tragen said:

I'm surprised there isn't as much chat about this offer, is there a reason that I'm missing that makes this offer less appealing?

It's essentially a carbon copy of the RBS and Natwest switch offers. Perhaps people are just quietly getting on with the offer as they don't want to get embroiled in irrelevant discussions.

RG2015

gsmh said:

RG2015 said:

Morality has nothing to do with rules or what the rule maker thinks or does.

This is where we clearly disagree. Morality is what raises us above most other animals. We have an ability to assess rights and wrongs regardless of laws. Where there has been genocide, or atrocities committed against others, backed up by the laws of the state concerned, humans have the ability to refuse to obey orders in such circumstances. Please don't attack me by saying genocide and switching bank accounts is a ridiculous analogy, I'm just trying to make a point that rules, T&Cs and laws do not always result in actions which are morally correct. I post my views just to remind those reading that there is an alternative point of view than grabbing free money wherever possible. Reading this forum would otherwise suggest there is only one way to do things. I would remind users that this is 'Budgeting and Bank Accounts', not 'Free Money' so my comments are completely valid and on track.

Surely this means we agree.

I said that morality has nothing to do with rules. This means that no rule can supersede what someone thinks is wrong.