The old switcheroony (M&S account closure)

warner82

Morning all
This is me  trying to avoid spending half a day "on hold" but it may be inevitable, just thought I'd check with the MSArmy first.
In a nutshell:
Is there a way to "auto-switch" debits etc to an existing as opposed to new current account?
Context/details:
My M&S current account is closing; I'm probably currently ineligible for the perks associated with opening and switching to a brand new current account...
I just so happen to already have a "secondary" current account with Halifax...
Thanks in advance...

funkycredit

In Halifax just do a switch into existing account. Very easy to set up. Scroll down and fill in form here - https://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/switch-to-halifax.html

eskbanker

Yes, the Current Account Switching Service applies to existing as well as new accounts....

warner82

Massive thanks for prompt responses - I didn'y know this option existed.
I have provisionally gone with the Halifax link above but now I'm wondering if independent switching service would be preferable.
Forgive my ignorance, but when filling in switch form, the way I read it is that I still have to manually re-set up direct debits and standing orders from old account (money attempting to go in or out of old account will redirect but this excludes "recurring payments").
This is way prefereble to being on hold for 8 hours but just wondered if anyone more clued up than I can confirm my interpretation as correct.
Many thanks

eskbanker

warner82 said:

Forgive my ignorance, but when filling in switch form, the way I read it is that I still have to manually re-set up direct debits and standing orders from old account (money attempting to go in or out of old account will redirect but this excludes "recurring payments").

That'll mean Continuous Payment Authorities, rather than direct debits and standing orders, which are switched.

colsten

warner82 said:

 .
Forgive my ignorance, but when filling in switch form, the way I read it is that I still have to manually re-set up direct debits and standing orders from old account (money attempting to go in or out of old account will redirect but this excludes "recurring payments").
 

You do NOT have to manually do anything about your existing direct debits or standing orders.

Can you post a screenshot or a link for the information that made you think you do

warner82

Colsten - tried to supply requested screenshot but think I'd have to go through the form-fill process again, can't see it on first page.
However, revisiting Hfax site to try and get said screenshot I re-read the very first page that leads you to the switch form and it does clearly state that direct debits and standing orders will indeed be auto-switched.
Basically I've skimmed over the important bits then later been distracted by an irrelevant (to me) bit of small print.
Anyway, switch is in progress and I didnt have to put my phone on background speaker while completing a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and listening to "we are unusually busy" messages on loop for half the summer so mission accomplished.
Thanks all for your patience and advice - this forum is a wonderful resource!

gsmh

I switched to another account myself. It took a couple of hours to contact all the companies with whom I had direct debits and my pension provider. I was in control and didn't have to close the old account. I would do it myself the next time too. I have used the 7-day switch service several times before and it works well - the direct debits are in the new account right at the start of the 7 days, but then each company sends a letter or email to confirm and a fresh direct debit appears. I had four direct debits for some companies because each time you switch, another will appear and the previous ones have also switched over. I tried cancelling the spurious direct debits, but then the company contacts me to tell me the direct debit in their favour has been cancelled and it is in the terms of the contract that a direct debit is in effect and round in a circle we go. I like things neat and tidy and don't want to view my direct debits and see so many duplicates. Maybe others wouldn't care, but I do!

PRAISETHESUN

gsmh said:

I switched to another account myself. It took a couple of hours to contact all the companies with whom I had direct debits and my pension provider. I was in control and didn't have to close the old account. I would do it myself the next time too. I have used the 7-day switch service several times before and it works well - the direct debits are in the new account right at the start of the 7 days, but then each company sends a letter or email to confirm and a fresh direct debit appears. I had four direct debits for some companies because each time you switch, another will appear and the previous ones have also switched over. I tried cancelling the spurious direct debits, but then the company contacts me to tell me the direct debit in their favour has been cancelled and it is in the terms of the contract that a direct debit is in effect and round in a circle we go. I like things neat and tidy and don't want to view my direct debits and see so many duplicates. Maybe others wouldn't care, but I do!

The easiest way in my mind around that is to do a CASS switch and then wait until the DD mandate is used to make a payment and then cancel the rest. In your online banking it should say the date and amount of the last payment for each DD mandate, so it should be straightforward to identify the ones that are actually "active" following the switch. 

jimjames

warner82 said:

Massive thanks for prompt responses - I didn'y know this option existed.
I have provisionally gone with the Halifax link above but now I'm wondering if independent switching service would be preferable.
Many thanks

There is only one switching service, CASS and all banks are signed up to it. Each bank will have their own branding on their website but it's the same service that's used.

gsmh

PRAISETHESUN said:

The easiest way in my mind around that is to do a CASS switch and then wait until the DD mandate is used to make a payment and then cancel the rest. In your online banking it should say the date and amount of the last payment for each DD mandate, so it should be straightforward to identify the ones that are actually "active" following the switch. 

That’s exactly what I did. The bank then informs the company that their DD mandate has been cancelled even though I only cancelled the ‘inactive’ ones.  The company then warns you there is no DD in place even if you send them a screenshot showing the other three with the correct reference. I’ve argued, gone through complaint procedures, all to no avail. ‘Your bank says you cancelled the direct debit so we’re not at fault’ is pretty much how one loan company responded to a complaint.