Santander £130 switch offer

2357

Fingerbobs said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

2357 said:

Called santander just now and the advisor is saying that it is not possible to switch a current account with no direct debits on it. 
He says that it’s the rules of the CASS system that mandates must be in place or the switch will be rejected as there’s nothing to switch.

I explained that I have switched accounts in the past with no DDs, he put me on hold and spoke to a colleague and came back to say it’s definitely not possible to switch accounts using CASS unless they have direct debits. 

Not quite how I expected the call to go. 

I suspect you've just lost the customer service lottery and they've gotten confused with their own offer which requires DDs (not that they appear to actually needed on the account switching in anyway). You are completely correct that you can switch an account without any DDs set up (or SOs or even any balance in the account!). You could always tell them that there are DDs on the account - not like there's any way they'll ever know.

I'm currently in the process of switching an account completely devoid of any Direct Debits or Standing Orders, into my existing Santander account. Due to complete on Friday. I'm expecting to qualify for the £130 bonus.

The only thing I will do it, post switch but within 60 days, is create two new Direct Debits on the Santander account. I believe this isn't necessary and existing DDs on the Santander account would suffice, but it's the only thing that has a slight element of ambiguity in the published qualification criteria.

That was my understanding too. I wasn’t even sure it is ambiguous, the Ts and Cs say after 60 days have two DDs, it doesn’t say they have to be new or created after the switch date.
Regarding the switching of an account with no DDs, I’m very surprised to be told by a representative of the bank that something I’ve done many times is completely impossible and contravenes the rules of the CASS system. 

Fingerbobs

2357 said:

Fingerbobs said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

2357 said:

Called santander just now and the advisor is saying that it is not possible to switch a current account with no direct debits on it. 
He says that it’s the rules of the CASS system that mandates must be in place or the switch will be rejected as there’s nothing to switch.

I explained that I have switched accounts in the past with no DDs, he put me on hold and spoke to a colleague and came back to say it’s definitely not possible to switch accounts using CASS unless they have direct debits. 

Not quite how I expected the call to go. 

I suspect you've just lost the customer service lottery and they've gotten confused with their own offer which requires DDs (not that they appear to actually needed on the account switching in anyway). You are completely correct that you can switch an account without any DDs set up (or SOs or even any balance in the account!). You could always tell them that there are DDs on the account - not like there's any way they'll ever know.

I'm currently in the process of switching an account completely devoid of any Direct Debits or Standing Orders, into my existing Santander account. Due to complete on Friday. I'm expecting to qualify for the £130 bonus.

The only thing I will do it, post switch but within 60 days, is create two new Direct Debits on the Santander account. I believe this isn't necessary and existing DDs on the Santander account would suffice, but it's the only thing that has a slight element of ambiguity in the published qualification criteria.

That was my understanding too. I wasn’t even sure it is ambiguous, the Ts and Cs say after 60 days have two DDs, it doesn’t say they have to be new or created after the switch date.
Regarding the switching of an account with no DDs, I’m very surprised to be told by a representative of the bank that something I’ve done many times is completely impossible and contravenes the rules of the CASS system. 

Agreed, the T&Cs are clear and unambiguous, but the main "How to switch your current account" page says the following:

"To qualify for the offer, within 60 days of telling us to switch your account, you’ll need to:

[ ... ]

• set up at least 2 active Direct Debits"

That implies that two new ones must be set up within 60 days of requesting the switch.

RetSol

I wasn’t even sure it is ambiguous, the Ts and Cs say after 60 days have two DDs, it doesn’t say they have to be new or created after the switch date.

Agreed.  And confirmed to me by Santander. 

eskbanker

GTR_King said:

thanks mate I am just inpatient

Hopefully they'll discharge you soon and you can go home again....

flawia

Me and my husband switched to Santander. If we switch our joint account will we also receive a cashback for this joint account if we got it for our personal ones?

GTR_King

eskbanker said:

GTR_King said:

thanks mate I am just inpatient

Hopefully they'll discharge you soon and you can go home again....

Hope so mate, everything should arrive tomorrow if not will give them a call as per what they told me on email & 1st letter 

soulsaver

:Whoosh...:

paulie1234

90 days to receive the switching bonus? Is that correct??

Switch date is today and everything has gone smoothly. No issues at all. Account set up quickly, card & pin received and transfer from Halifax to Santander done with no hiccups.

RetSol

90 days to receive the switching bonus? Is that correct??

Broadly, yes. Could be nearer 60 days, if Santander hurry it up. 

"Cashback Payment 

3.1 We will assess the Qualifying Account 60 days after the switch has been instructed to decide whether you have qualified for the Switcher Offer and the Cashback Payment under these Terms. If you qualify, we will make the Cashback Payment to you within the next 30 days following our decision.".

PRAISETHESUN

Having just got access to my monthly credit report updates, I can confirm that there was a hard search from Santander on my Experian report for opening a second current account as an existing customer.