Leaving Santander

Bullet500

After at  least 15 years with Santander we are having to leave them, mainly as i want to use there banking App, but am having issues with them and my mobile phone details, they have the right mobile number but wrong country code, been trying for ages to get them to change it, i did go into the local branch a while back and they changed it, but they never did the country code, they seem to think i live in France ??. So we have decided to switch, i am not bothered on offers etc, and realise its not the best time to switch. 
Not sure who we will go to yet, we both have our own current accounts with Smile and don't want to mess with that, its the Joint account in Santander we wish to leave, we put £1100 in a month and that pays all our outgoings, as well as this we have a Santander Credit card, this is only used for the weekly food shopping and is paid off in full by standing order with Santander. 
If we move we would probably keep the Santander credit card till things are sorted and running ok and get another with the new bank, will we be able to pay the Santander Credit card off from our new Bank Account. Ant advice on banks etc would be appreciated, do we do this move our self or use the switch method

Thanks

Costabit

Bullet500 said:

. Ant advice on banks etc would be appreciated, do we do this move our self or use the switch method

Thanks

Almost always it is best to use the CASS method , your new bank of choice will do everything for you , switching DDs and S/Os , all your payees and will ensure any future payments will be redirected
Cant think of any reason to do all that yourself

Bullet500

I’ll look at the CASS method , just all the hassle we have had with Santander makes us unsure on trusting them and especially Santander.

colsten

Bullet500 said:

I’ll look at the CASS method , just all the hassle we have had with Santander makes us unsure on trusting them and especially Santander.

Sounds very unfortunate for you. I have held a Santander account ever since Santander started doing business in the UK, and I have switched around dozen other accounts to Santander. I have also used CASS on numerous other occasions to switch to other banks. I can't recall any problems ever. Around three quarter of a million CASS switches were carried out in 2020, and you hardly ever hear of any problems with the switching process.

PRAISETHESUN

To switch a joint account, you will need a new joint account with another bank - this may be problematic to open in the present environment as you may need to arrange a branch appointment, and most banks are not offering them at the moment. Outside of that using CASS is by far the easiest and safest way to move banks - the new bank will do all the work, and if something goes wrong they are obliged to sort it out, not Santander. 

Make sure the conditions of your credit card don't require you to also hold a Santander current account, or else you may find that unexpectedly closed as well.

xylophone

i did go into the local branch a while back and they changed it, but they never did the country code, they seem to think i live in France ??.

Have you made a formal complaint in writing?

• Write to us at: Complaints, Santander UK plc, PO Box 1125, Bradford, BD1 9PG. Please include as much detail as possible about what's gone wrong, along with your name, address, account number, contact number and a convenient time for us to call you to discuss your complaint.

Eco_Miser

Costabit said:

Almost always it is best to use the CASS method , your new bank of choice will do everything for you , switching DDs and S/Os , all your payees and will ensure any future payments will be redirected

Except that they won't switch internal transfers, such as to a savings account at the same bank, or maybe between sole accounts and a joint account, or two sole accounts.

pbartlett

Open your new account first, check it is working OK, that you have your new cards etc. Then switch, not before.

enthusiasticsaver

If you are not going for a switching bonus I would open up the new account first and gradually move everything over.  We have been with Santander for 12 years ever since they took over Alliance and Leicester and never had an issue with mobile banking or online banking so you have been unfortunate.  I am surprised something as trivial as the phone number could be such a problem. 

[Deleted User]

enthusiasticsaver said:

If you are not going for a switching bonus I would open up the new account first and gradually move everything over.  We have been with Santander for 12 years ever since they took over Alliance and Leicester and never had an issue with mobile banking or online banking so you have been unfortunate.  I am surprised something as trivial as the phone number could be such a problem. 

Keep it as a backup account for credit applications - if fee based, downgrade to their everyday account.

Most providers will let you change Direct Debit details over the phone or on-line with minimal fuss. 

missile

You can apply on line for a joint account with bank of your choice. I would suggest you pick one of those you know and already have single account with. Then switch your Santander account.