Switching bank account?

donnajunkie

Zanderman said:

donnajunkie said:

If switching isnt possible what can he do? Is the answer to just open a current account with hsbc? How straight forward would that be?

Should be straightforward I'd assume - as they know who he is and his status (income etc).  Write or ring them up and ask.

I forgot to add, how simple is it to transfer the contents of his savings account to the current account. For him the savings account is now largely pointless, he needs access to his money and to not be forever transferring money from one to the other.

colsten

donnajunkie said:

If switching isnt possible what can he do? Is the answer to just open a current account with hsbc? How straight forward would that be?

HSBC are notoriously slow when it comes to opening current accounts, though they might be a bit more helpful with their existing customers. From my own experience, I must also say that their online and mobile banking is more complicated than it has to be. Just about every other UK bank has simpler online and app banking, and all of them are opening bank accounts faster than HSBC. Your father might have some allegiance for HSBC, or he might not care. His decision might also be influenced by access to bank branches, or to Post Offices providing certain services for banks. He should do what he feels is best for him.

donnajunkie

colsten said:

donnajunkie said:

If switching isnt possible what can he do? Is the answer to just open a current account with hsbc? How straight forward would that be?

HSBC are notoriously slow when it comes to opening current accounts, though they might be a bit more helpful with their existing customers. From my own experience, I must also say that their online and mobile banking is more complicated than it has to be. Just about every other UK bank has simpler online and app banking, and all of them are opening bank accounts faster than HSBC. Your father might have some allegiance for HSBC, or he might not care. His decision might also be influenced by access to bank branches, or to Post Offices providing certain services for banks. He should do what he feels is best for him.

He wants to do whatever is the most hassle free. He doesn't want to have to be phoning up places to rearrange direct debits etc. He will want a bank that has a local branch. I think most if not all of the big banks do have a branch here.

donnajunkie

colsten said:

donnajunkie said:

If switching isnt possible what can he do? Is the answer to just open a current account with hsbc? How straight forward would that be?

HSBC are notoriously slow when it comes to opening current accounts, though they might be a bit more helpful with their existing customers. 

How slow? So long as it was in place by the time of the change mid November it would be fine.

colsten

Could be done and dusted in a couple of weeks, but then it could take months. Who knows. Many people have reported weeks of wait time. I waited for a debit card for one of my HSBC accounts for over 2 years. I am sure I could have got it earlier if I had chased them more than once for it but since I didn't desperately need the card, I spared myself queuing on the phone for ages.

If your dad insists on HSBC, I reckon he'd best try and make an appointment with the local Branch, assuming they actually do take appointments at present.


If he would be happy to move to another bank, again, it might be best to try and make an appointment in Branch, to ensure he can tell them about all his requirements.

RG2015

donnajunkie said:

We are clueless on this. We are asking because my dad got a letter from hsbc telling him from November he will no longer have a debit card for his savings account and it is his only bank account. So what we need to know is how do you go about switching bank account and how easy is it. Also will everything transfer automatically  so he does not need to do anything, direct debits, payment of his state pension etc. I think he will just want a regular current account as he wants to be able to have a bank card where he can pay for things with his card.

You only mention the debit card expiring in November. I assume therefore that everything else remains in place, ie pension, direct debits etc. The existing account will continue so it is only the debit card issue that needs to be completed by November.

HSBC should be able to set up a current account in that time but even if there are delays, at least the pension and direct debits will continue. Transfers between the two accounts should be quite easy.

Alternatively, as previous posters have said, HSBC should be able to covert the existing account into a current account, keeping the same account number and sort code. In my opinion switching to another bank is unnecessary and not for someone wanting to avoid hassle.

donnajunkie

RG2015 said:

donnajunkie said:

We are clueless on this. We are asking because my dad got a letter from hsbc telling him from November he will no longer have a debit card for his savings account and it is his only bank account. So what we need to know is how do you go about switching bank account and how easy is it. Also will everything transfer automatically  so he does not need to do anything, direct debits, payment of his state pension etc. I think he will just want a regular current account as he wants to be able to have a bank card where he can pay for things with his card.

You only mention the debit card expiring in November. I assume therefore that everything else remains in place, ie pension, direct debits etc. The existing account will continue so it is only the debit card issue that needs to be completed by November.

HSBC should be able to set up a current account in that time but even if there are delays, at least the pension and direct debits will continue. Transfers between the two accounts should be quite easy.

Alternatively, as previous posters have said, HSBC should be able to covert the existing account into a current account, keeping the same account number and sort code. In my opinion switching to another bank is unnecessary and not for someone wanting to avoid hassle.

Yeah all issues are to do with the card as he pays for expensive things with it which is even more important in the current climate. He also does not want to have to walk in and upto the counter every time he needs money especially as he tends to get money as and when he needs which is very regular(a number of times each week). 
I think converting the existing account into a current account is preferred. Is this as straight forward as starting a new account?
we only queried about switching because we are that peed off with them that we thought it would be nice to tell them to stuff it and take the money elsewhere.

RG2015

Is it easy to convert the existing account into a savings account? Only HSBC can tell you as that is quite an unusual action.

It should be easy. I hope you are able find someone with a bit of common sense at HSBC. 

Once the account is converted into a current account, switching using the CASS system should be easy.

https://www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

colsten

RG2015 said:

Is it easy to convert the existing account into a savings account? Only HSBC can tell you as that is quite an unusual action.

It should be easy. I hope you are able find someone with a bit of common sense at HSBC. 

Once the account is converted into a current account, switching using the CASS system should be easy.

https://www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

There does not appear to be any reason to convert the account to a current account before it can be switched to Natwest (or RBS or Ulster), as I have already described earlier.

RG2015

colsten said:

RG2015 said:

Is it easy to convert the existing account into a savings account? Only HSBC can tell you as that is quite an unusual action.

It should be easy. I hope you are able find someone with a bit of common sense at HSBC. 

Once the account is converted into a current account, switching using the CASS system should be easy.

https://www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

There does not appear to be any reason to convert the account to a current account before it can be switched to Natwest (or RBS or Ulster), as I have already described earlier.

So you did, but you also said; "I don't know whether they would transfer all the SOs and DDs (which are highly unusual to have on a savings account). Best to ask them directly."

@donnajunkie's Dad  wants to avoid hassle and even a conversation with NatWest involves hassle. Additionally, their customer support people can not always be relied upon (apparently).

If the account is converted to a current account they would not need to switch. However, they may wish to switch, as HSBC have messed them around and not been very supportive to date.