Halifax closed my account & then rejected my switch?

suchiexxx

I received a letter in the post from Halifax last week, explaining that they had to close my account that I’ve had for 6 years, after I failed an annual review, but they couldn’t tell me why. I immediately attempted to switch to NatWest, sent off my ID, set up online banking, had my card & pin sent out to me in the post, & everything got accepted. Then on the 7th day, I received a letter stating that Halifax had rejected my switch! I rang them today & they told me I had to go into the branch, & then hung up on me. I can’t get to the bank as I have no money whatsoever, I got paid today & was told my Halifax that all my bills would go out automatically as my account won’t officially close for 60 days. However, a few hours after my bills were supposed to go out, I’ve had texts & emails from the companies telling me my payments have been declined! I should have money in my old account!? Have they potentially closed the account sooner than 60 days? Where will my wages go? I am really struggling as I can’t even afford to get to work, I just can’t believe I don’t have a bank account as I desperately need one!

DCFC79

Leaving all your eggs in 1 basket isnt wise, the eggs being your money and basket being an account.

Send a letter of complaint, maybe the direct debits were stopped as the account has been closed. 

So what have you been using the account for ?
Could someone lend you some money to get to work ?
Try and open up an account with Monzo or Starling, you get a card with both accounts, can make direct debits and check the account online via the app.

But before you do that Id be checking your credit files x 3.

Tragen

A little confused.
You attempted a switch to Natwest, the switch was declined. But you must still have the Natwest account as you would have need to have been accepted for an account to be able to switch.

Based on that, surely you just need to get to a Halifax branch to find out what has actually happened and where you stand with them. You can also get them to transfer your money to your Natwest account, or you could withdraw it.

penners324

Speak to work payroll ASAP. Perhaps the salary bounced.
Get them to pay into your NatWest account today.
Then sort (pay them, then update the DDs) all the bills out at lunchtime.

Thrugelmir

Closed after annual review. That's unlikely. 

bradders1983

Can the OP confirm if she now has an open Natwest account or not? If so, just manually move the direct debits and wage payments over yourself, not tricky to do.

Ed-1

suchiexxx said:

I received a letter in the post from Halifax last week, explaining that they had to close my account that I’ve had for 6 years, after I failed an annual review, but they couldn’t tell me why. I immediately attempted to switch to NatWest, sent off my ID, set up online banking, had my card & pin sent out to me in the post, & everything got accepted. Then on the 7th day, I received a letter stating that Halifax had rejected my switch! I rang them today & they told me I had to go into the branch, & then hung up on me. I can’t get to the bank as I have no money whatsoever, I got paid today & was told my Halifax that all my bills would go out automatically as my account won’t officially close for 60 days. However, a few hours after my bills were supposed to go out, I’ve had texts & emails from the companies telling me my payments have been declined! I should have money in my old account!? Have they potentially closed the account sooner than 60 days? Where will my wages go? I am really struggling as I can’t even afford to get to work, I just can’t believe I don’t have a bank account as I desperately need one!

It sounds like your Halifax account has a block on it. Can you post the letter you received

Zanderman

suchiexxx said:

I received a letter in the post from Halifax last week, explaining that they had to close my account that I’ve had for 6 years, after I failed an annual review, but they couldn’t tell me why. I immediately attempted to switch to NatWest, sent off my ID, set up online banking, had my card & pin sent out to me in the post, & everything got accepted. .....
.............. I just can’t believe I don’t have a bank account as I desperately need one!

As others have said, if you successfully opened an account with NatWest you still have a bank account you can use.  With NatWest. Move your payments etc to that asap. And tell payroll.

jonesMUFCforever

One caveat to the OP if genuine.
If Halifax have closed the account due to perceived fraud and possibly put a CIFAS marker on - then there could be troubles ahead with the Nat West account too.

OP check with CIFAS to see if anything is on there. 

MalMonroe

jonesMUFCforever said:

One caveat to the OP if genuine.
If Halifax have closed the account due to perceived fraud and possibly put a CIFAS marker on - then there could be troubles ahead with the Nat West account too.

OP check with CIFAS to see if anything is on there. 

But OP said this "I immediately attempted to switch to NatWest, sent off my ID, set up online banking, had my card & pin sent out to me in the post, & everything got accepted". So it would seem that the NatWest account is good to go.

jonesMUFCforever

MalMonroe said:

jonesMUFCforever said:

One caveat to the OP if genuine.
If Halifax have closed the account due to perceived fraud and possibly put a CIFAS marker on - then there could be troubles ahead with the Nat West account too.

OP check with CIFAS to see if anything is on there. 

But OP said this "I immediately attempted to switch to NatWest, sent off my ID, set up online banking, had my card & pin sent out to me in the post, & everything got accepted". So it would seem that the NatWest account is good to go.

Indeed it is - but if there is a CIFAS marker on there in a few days he suddenly will not be able to log into his account and the debit card will start to be declined.
I don't know why banks open accounts first then check afterwards.