"We're making some changes to our T&C's " says Halifax!

Barney2

SydSnott said:

Anybody else find this particular change "unsettling":-

We've added a new condition that says if it's necessary, due to economic circumstances that affect the banking industry, we may restrict the amount you can have in your accounts  either by applying a limit or by imposing a charge. If we have to do this and it applies to your account, we'll write to you with more information

Yes, I did. Lloyds also sent this same update message today. When asked, the only reply I got was that they will write to account holders beforehand. No further info, supplied ! As seen in other forum replies, if law makes this applicable at some future point, then moving banks etc is pointless. Just wish a bit more info. would accompany these T&C announcements. 

callum9999

Barney2 said:

SydSnott said:

Anybody else find this particular change "unsettling":-

We've added a new condition that says if it's necessary, due to economic circumstances that affect the banking industry, we may restrict the amount you can have in your accounts  either by applying a limit or by imposing a charge. If we have to do this and it applies to your account, we'll write to you with more information

Yes, I did. Lloyds also sent this same update message today. When asked, the only reply I got was that they will write to account holders beforehand. No further info, supplied ! As seen in other forum replies, if law makes this applicable at some future point, then moving banks etc is pointless. Just wish a bit more info. would accompany these T&C announcements. 

What further information do you need? It seems very self-explanatory to me. 

And why would it be unsettling for the bank to not accept large deposits from you during an economic crisis? If they discussed the possibility of a run on the bank and how they'd restrict your access to your own funds I'd get it, but they are literally just saying they might not want your money.

oldagetraveller1

As Barney2, I received the same from Lloyds. That paragraph was near the bottom of the changes on the back of the "letter". Copied and pasted below.

"We've added a new condition that says if it's necessary, due to economi circumstances that affect the banking industry, we may
restrict the amount you can have in your accounts either by applying a limit or by imposing a charge. If we have to do this and it
applies to your account, we’ll write to you with more information."

born_again

S_uk said:

One thing I noticed when I scanned through the letter was something about having the right to close your account if you use abusive words in payment descriptions. Quite sad/concerning that some people would engage in that sort of behaviour.

It is amazing the descriptions some people think are suitable to put on payments. Guess they forget that bank staff (or someone picking up a statement) can see these... Still does give you a good insight into some customers 👀

miller

I noticed that new debit cards potentially wont be issued on expiry if the card has not been used in the last 6 months. I seldom use mine, so will need to remember to do a transaction in that window.

TheShape

miller said:

I noticed that new debit cards potentially wont be issued on expiry if the card has not been used in the last 6 months. I seldom use mine, so will need to remember to do a transaction in that window.

I've got letters from both Halifax and Bank of Scotland that state they won't be sending new cards when mine expire at the end of September but that I can request one in internet banking or the App prior to expiry.  You can also request one by phone or in branch at any time.

masonic

TheShape said:

miller said:

I noticed that new debit cards potentially wont be issued on expiry if the card has not been used in the last 6 months. I seldom use mine, so will need to remember to do a transaction in that window.

I've got letters from both Halifax and Bank of Scotland that state they won't be sending new cards when mine expire at the end of September but that I can request one in internet banking or the App prior to expiry.  You can also request one by phone or in branch at any time.

I suppose one consideration for those who don't use their card is whether it would hinder them using the 7 day switching service in the future. I don't know the answer to that, though there is an option to switch where there is no debit card associated with the account.

Notepad_Phil

masonic said:

TheShape said:

miller said:

I noticed that new debit cards potentially wont be issued on expiry if the card has not been used in the last 6 months. I seldom use mine, so will need to remember to do a transaction in that window.

I've got letters from both Halifax and Bank of Scotland that state they won't be sending new cards when mine expire at the end of September but that I can request one in internet banking or the App prior to expiry.  You can also request one by phone or in branch at any time.

I suppose one consideration for those who don't use their card is whether it would hinder them using the 7 day switching service in the future. I don't know the answer to that, though there is an option to switch where there is no debit card associated with the account.

Switching last year from Halifax to Nationwide without a card certainly wasn't a problem for us when our cards were taken away for lack of use. As you say, we just chose the option of no debit card.

Ergates

S_uk said:

Voyager2002 said:

S_uk said:

One thing I noticed when I scanned through the letter was something about having the right to close your account if you use abusive words in payment descriptions. Quite sad/concerning that some people would engage in that sort of behaviour.

Not sad at all. When the water industry was privatised I used to pay my bills using cheques made payable to "Thames Water Thieves".

I suspect that the sort of word that they deem as abusive can be a lot worse than the word 'thieves' e.g. racist abuse would be within this group of abusive terminology. And if some people are using online payment descriptions as a way of targeting and harassing an individual, then yes I think that is sad/concerning.

I've worked in transaction processing systems and I've see some of the payment references people have added and.... yeah, not just "thieves".  I don't recall anything racist, mainly what you might call "gendered insults".

From the words used, I suspect some of it was alimony payments (or something like that) to ex-partners - just a way to get a final kick in.

Daliah

masonic said:

TheShape said:

miller said:

I noticed that new debit cards potentially wont be issued on expiry if the card has not been used in the last 6 months. I seldom use mine, so will need to remember to do a transaction in that window.

I've got letters from both Halifax and Bank of Scotland that state they won't be sending new cards when mine expire at the end of September but that I can request one in internet banking or the App prior to expiry.  You can also request one by phone or in branch at any time.

I suppose one consideration for those who don't use their card is whether it would hinder them using the 7 day switching service in the future. I don't know the answer to that, though there is an option to switch where there is no debit card associated with the account.

I suppose it depends....I was trying to switch from Barclays to Santander. My Barclays debit card had just expired but as I had not used it for a long time, they had not sent me a replacement (like LBG, they are saving on issuing cards that don't get used). Santander would not let me request an online switch, and the switch team said they could not proceed without the card, either. So I just requested a new card and the switch went through without problems.

If the banks would provide a virtual card, at least to those who would like this instead of a plastic card, all could be much easier because we could use such cards for online purchases, with Applepay / Google Wallet and the like, and with switches. One day, perhaps....