Halifax closing saving accounts

Zilversmid

As an ex-patriot born in Liverpool in 1945 and now living in the Netherlands, I have been presented with an ultimatum by the Halifax Bank. My saving account will be closed shortly. Their option of being sent a cheque is not valid in the Netherlands.
Attempts at contacting their EU designated help line has ended after hours of heated discussions and having a Complaints Manager hang up on me.
Please help, I am not the only one concerned and something must be done about this situation. Help and suggestions would be much appreciated.

xylophone

As an ex-patriot 

Expatriate?   Or expatriate and no longer a patriot?

Do you mean that your bank in the Netherlands/ any bank in the Netherlands cannot negotiate a sterling cheque?

Zilversmid

xylophone said:

As an ex-patriot 

Expatriate?   Or expatriate and no longer a patriot?

Do you mean that your bank in the Netherlands/ any bank in the Netherlands cannot negotiate a sterling cheque?

My inquiry was made at the ING bank I believe her to have said that all cheques will be rejected at the end of December.

Albermarle

Cheques are hardly used at all in many countries anymore .

xylophone

My inquiry was made at the ING bank I believe her to have said that all cheques will be rejected at the end of December.

Last December?

EU designated help line 

It seems very surprising that the operatives have not been made aware that a sterling cheque (any cheque?) cannot be negotiated in the Netherlands.

I think that you are going to have to write to the Halifax explaining that banks in the Netherlands do not accept cheques and asking what they are prepared to do to facilitate a transfer in euros to ING.

colsten

Don't you have a UK current account into which Halifax, or you yourself, could transfer the balance / into which you can deposit a cheque? Depending on the amount, you might even be able to use the mobile cheque deposit.

If you don't have a UK current account, you should be able to easily open one at Ulster Bank. They don't offer mobile cheque deposits though.

Thrugelmir

Zilversmid said:

 Their option of being sent a cheque is not valid in the Netherlands.

Do you hold a current account in the UK? 

planteria

i assume that Zilversmid doesn't have a UK current account, but if i was them i'd like to have one, and to maintain an account here, if possible.
either way, Halifax should be able to arrange payment by transfer somehow, and if you had a cheque payable to yourself in your hand you'd be able to find a way to get a bank in The Netherlands to let you pay it in, even if you have to open a new account to do so and pay commission/spread to change the currency.

RSNut

Could you consider opening a Transferwise account for Euros and Sterling Pounds and then request electronic transfer of funds?  It would then be simple to convert the currency at a reasonably favourable rate and then transfer across to ING.

Zilversmid

During my 2 day heated discussions with the " designated leaving EU helpline" one of my many suggestions was to open a current account this was rejected immediately. We have on a few occasions had money transferred from this savings account which was possible by posting a request to the Lloyd's banking comp. I was told that the rules have changed ! 

[Deleted User]

Can you not get a cheap flight back to the UK and open another current/savings account if it's so important?

Not to be unkind but you chose to relocate - Lloyds Banking Group / Halifax decided it's not worthwhile to retain the overseas business. Same as it seems that Netherland's ING don't want to process GBP/Sterling cheques for business reasons.