Santander £130 switch offer

Fingerbobs

dggar said:

Has anyone seen it stated by Santander that calling  0800 085 2202 will satisfied the conditions of this offer.

When I went to the branch, I was told that I cannot initiate a switch in-branch, and I had to phone up to do it. I was given the 2202 number above by the branch staff, and was sent away. I reiterated twice that the Web site says the switch can only be initiated in-branch, and was told that the web site was in the process of being updated. 
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has successfully initiated a switch in-branch? 

crumpet_man

inspectorperez said:

To be clear on this point re exisiting Santander customers - I completed the switch by online application without problem. No need to visit branch or make a telephone call based on my experience.

That's fine if you want to open a new account but if you want to switch into an existing account this cannot be done online.

PRAISETHESUN

dggar said:

Zanderman said:

kensiko said:

Regarding the 2 DDs there have been various claims during the thread including:
1.  You need to transfer 2 DDs from the donor account.
2.  You need to setup 2 new DDs on the qualifying account.
3.  Any DDs already on a qualifying account will be OK.

I found this page https://becleverwithyourcash.com/santanders-bank-switch-offer-get-130/#What_are_the_requirements_for_the_Santander_switching_offer

This one states "If you are an existing account holder and already have Direct Debits on there then you don’t need to set up new ones. I’ve had confirmation from the Santander press office on this."

How true this is I do not know but it mentions the author has had this confirmed so point 3 above seems to be true for people transferring into to a qualifying account already being used.

But also to point out this page also states "This is a bit annoying – to switch to an existing Santander account you need to visit the branch" which many people have said is incorrect as this can be done on the phone.

I suppose take what you can from this website.

You take what you can from any website that is reporting on a third party offer.

Only the organisation making the offer can give definitive answers (sometimes not even them).  Indeed our very own MSE (sorry MSE team) often give slightly odd advice that either oversimplifies or overcomplicates offers.

On the current Santander offer the need to go to branch (for an existing account) that you refer to is a need that has changed since the offer began - Santander are now saying it can be done by phone. 

A third party account of a procedure is only as good as the day it was written as procedures can change, or be clarified. 

Which is where a forum thread like this is useful as it reports on reality, not assumptions. 

For instance the specific issue of branch visit v phone was explained yesterday in this thread.

I have just looked at the Santander web site and as far as I can see it is still stating that existing account holders need to visit a branch (and possiblly make an appointment  before hand) to initiate a switch. 

Has anyone seen it stated by Santander that calling  0800 085 2202 will satisfied the conditions of this offer.

I have found this document from Santander but I assume it pre dates the present offer.
https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/documents/switching_your_account_factsheet_jan21.pdf

The terms of the current offer are linked in the OP.

No-one knows for sure how the terms will be applied, and no-one will until Dec at the earliest, but I would be very surprised if Santander refused to honour the switch incentive for an existing customer just because someone initiated it over the phone instead of in branch. The terms only refer to "You need to have instructed us to start a full switch", which as far as I'm concerned means any instruction to switch should qualify for the offer.

adindas

inspectorperez said:

To be clear on this point re exisiting Santander customers - I completed the switch by online application without problem. No need to visit branch or make a telephone call based on my experience.

Did you open a new Santander account and then using the switching Services during the account opening process to switch your non-Santander AC?? If so then this is what some people have been doing so far.

What the people are saying is that, you will need to call them (or visit the branch) if you just want to switch (and close) your non-Santander account to existing Santander Account you already have. So to close the non-Santander and switch all of automated payments to your existing Santander AC. In this case no new Santander AC will be opened.

Some people do not want to open a new Santander Ac as it will trigger another credit search.

adindas

kensiko said:

Regarding the 2 DDs there have been various claims during the thread including:
1.  You need to transfer 2 DDs from the donor account.
2.  You need to setup 2 new DDs on the qualifying account.
3.  Any DDs already on a qualifying account will be OK.

kensiko said:

The person I spoke to also confirmed if moving to an account that already has DDs then you don't need to add new ones.
Just 2 active DDs need to be on the account when they do their checks in 60 days.I suppose take what you can from this website.

Also do not forget, you will srill need to pay in £1,000 into the new account, log on to Online or Mobile Banking to qualify for switching incentive.

If I undertand correcly, if you already switch a non Satander account with 2DD+ active during the new account opening no need to set up another new 2DD? This makes perfect sense as othewise what is the point of doing switching with active DD in it.

The problem here is that you could only argue with them using their own T&C that you could refer to them  ??

Is there anything wirten on T&C that we could refer later when something is going wrong in the future ?? or has anyone else got the same confirmation ??

kensiko

Does anyone know if you NEED a mandate in order for a switch to be processed?

I have done many in the past (even from brand new temporary accounts with nothing ever been touched in them) and never had an issue but the person I spoke to on the phone today asked if there were funds in the account and if any mandates were setup.

I questioned why and they advised a switch may not go through is there is no mandates to switch.
I did ask them to confirm if a mandate could be a SO or a DD and they said either.

Seemed a bit odd to me but I just put £2 in the old account and then set a standing order up for a £1 monthly transfer to another account which will go out tomorrow. 

I probably didn't need to do this but just letting people know this is what I was told so if you have a completely empty account it may or may not go through. 

Personally I would expect it to be fine as you are closing and switching the account so having a mandate within it shouldn't matter?

Daliah

SOs are not mentioned in the T&Cs, so whilst you can set up as many SOs as you like, none will make you eligible for the switch bonus.

inspectorperez

adindas said:

inspectorperez said:

To be clear on this point re exisiting Santander customers - I completed the switch by online application without problem. No need to visit branch or make a telephone call based on my experience.

Did you open a new Santander account and then using the switching Services during the account opening process to switch your non-Santander AC?? If so then this is what some people have been doing so far.

What the people are saying is that, you will need to call them (or visit the branch) if you just want to switch (and close) your non-Santander account to existing Santander Account you already have. So to close the non-Santander and switch all of automated payments to your existing Santander AC. In this case no new Santander AC will be opened.

Some people do not want to open a new Santander Ac as it will trigger another credit search.

To answer your question - yes. I did open a new Santander account in my own name. Existing Santander account held for many years is a joint account.

It took 1.5 hours from receiving application acknowledgement email to receipt of new account details email so whatever checks were carried out by Santander can only have been of a "soft" nature.

adindas

I have the following products with Santander. Two of them are 10+ years,

-Santander Zero Current AC

-Santander Lite Ac with active DD which are mainly utility bills for Cashback

-Santander Zero Credit card with generous credit limit. Balance is cleared each month using DD.

Sofar have not got anything bad on my credit file such as late payment, default, court ruling, bankruptcy, etc.

I applied for a new Santander everyday account last night with no request for OD and at the same time ask for switching of the non-Santander account. I am expecting to get the new account open immediately like many experiences reported in here. But the just the opposite, it got referred with reference number. Still waiting …

This is another evidence how wonderful and accurate the credit check, the robot to make the decision!!

I applied outside the working hours. Does it make any difference if you apply during the working hours or not ??

swanfan02

adindas said:

I applied outside the working hours. Does it make any difference if you apply during the working hours or not ??

I applied for the everyday account on Monday night, accepted straight away & showing in online banking the next day. I already have a 123 lite account