Switching to First Direct. Will any old current account do?

Band7

MrCreaky said:

  I had one that closed about 12 years ago - surely they can't keep personal information for that long?  

They can, and do.

As above, though - try it, may be you strike lucky.

Katiehound

eastcorkram said:

WillPS said:

Katiehound said:

I would be inclined to put some more money in so it looks like a 'real' bank account!

I tend to put an odd amount of pence to the old account (in addition to the amount required to satisfy the switch requirements, if any) so I can see at-a-glance that the switch has completed.

Nowt to do with looking 'real' though. Any bank account which has progressed to the final stages of a CASS switch out process is real.

Do you think if there's £1000 in the account being switched, that qualifies as having paid in £1000?

Or maybe I just just have a transfer balance of a few pounds, and then manually transfer £1000 in.

No, that's what I answered before, and I still stand by that.
Just have a few £s at transfer.
Far better to pay in the £1000 (even in dribs & drabs) and then you can be sure you have met the t&cs

I have done loads of switches and never had one refused or 'welcome handshake' with held. If it says pay in £xxx by a certain date that is exactly what I have done

Katiehound

MrCreaky said:

  I had one that closed about 12 years ago - surely they can't keep personal information for that long? 
Thanks anyone for helping.

First Direct have exceedingly long memories.
You may not get the welcome bonus- but you would get access to the regular saver....

eastcorkram

Katiehound said:

eastcorkram said:

WillPS said:

Katiehound said:

I would be inclined to put some more money in so it looks like a 'real' bank account!

I tend to put an odd amount of pence to the old account (in addition to the amount required to satisfy the switch requirements, if any) so I can see at-a-glance that the switch has completed.

Nowt to do with looking 'real' though. Any bank account which has progressed to the final stages of a CASS switch out process is real.

Do you think if there's £1000 in the account being switched, that qualifies as having paid in £1000?

Or maybe I just just have a transfer balance of a few pounds, and then manually transfer £1000 in.

No, that's what I answered before, and I still stand by that.
Just have a few £s at transfer.
Far better to pay in the £1000 (even in dribs & drabs) and then you can be sure you have met the t&cs

I have done loads of switches and never had one refused or 'welcome handshake' with held. If it says pay in £xxx by a certain date that is exactly what I have done

Ok. Thanks. I've just moved money around. I'm going to attempt to start this switch tomorrow. After last time, I've no confidence in it being successful! I'll report back either way.

I also have a savings account with Nationwide. I can't see any way of closing this down on the app. 

Nebulous2

eastcorkram said:

Katiehound said:

eastcorkram said:

WillPS said:

Katiehound said:

I would be inclined to put some more money in so it looks like a 'real' bank account!

I tend to put an odd amount of pence to the old account (in addition to the amount required to satisfy the switch requirements, if any) so I can see at-a-glance that the switch has completed.

Nowt to do with looking 'real' though. Any bank account which has progressed to the final stages of a CASS switch out process is real.

Do you think if there's £1000 in the account being switched, that qualifies as having paid in £1000?

Or maybe I just just have a transfer balance of a few pounds, and then manually transfer £1000 in.

No, that's what I answered before, and I still stand by that.
Just have a few £s at transfer.
Far better to pay in the £1000 (even in dribs & drabs) and then you can be sure you have met the t&cs

I have done loads of switches and never had one refused or 'welcome handshake' with held. If it says pay in £xxx by a certain date that is exactly what I have done

Ok. Thanks. I've just moved money around. I'm going to attempt to start this switch tomorrow. After last time, I've no confidence in it being successful! I'll report back either way.

I also have a savings account with Nationwide. I can't see any way of closing this down on the app. 

I don't think you can close Nationwide accounts on the app, but you can on their website. 

surreysaver

Katiehound said:

eastcorkram said:

WillPS said:

Katiehound said:

I would be inclined to put some more money in so it looks like a 'real' bank account!

I tend to put an odd amount of pence to the old account (in addition to the amount required to satisfy the switch requirements, if any) so I can see at-a-glance that the switch has completed.

Nowt to do with looking 'real' though. Any bank account which has progressed to the final stages of a CASS switch out process is real.

Do you think if there's £1000 in the account being switched, that qualifies as having paid in £1000?

Or maybe I just just have a transfer balance of a few pounds, and then manually transfer £1000 in.

No, that's what I answered before, and I still stand by that.
Just have a few £s at transfer.
Far better to pay in the £1000 (even in dribs & drabs) and then you can be sure you have met the t&cs

I have done loads of switches and never had one refused or 'welcome handshake' with held. If it says pay in £xxx by a certain date that is exactly what I have done

You don't need any money in the account at transfer. You could even have an overdraft if First Direct have agreed one

Katiehound

Re the Nationwide savings- you may need to move the money out to/ through your current a/c- that's what often happens and the if current account is switched the savings are stranded! (This might not be the case with NW - just get the money out!)

eastcorkram

eastcorkram said:

Katiehound said:

eastcorkram said:

WillPS said:

Katiehound said:

I would be inclined to put some more money in so it looks like a 'real' bank account!

I tend to put an odd amount of pence to the old account (in addition to the amount required to satisfy the switch requirements, if any) so I can see at-a-glance that the switch has completed.

Nowt to do with looking 'real' though. Any bank account which has progressed to the final stages of a CASS switch out process is real.

Do you think if there's £1000 in the account being switched, that qualifies as having paid in £1000?

Or maybe I just just have a transfer balance of a few pounds, and then manually transfer £1000 in.

No, that's what I answered before, and I still stand by that.
Just have a few £s at transfer.
Far better to pay in the £1000 (even in dribs & drabs) and then you can be sure you have met the t&cs

I have done loads of switches and never had one refused or 'welcome handshake' with held. If it says pay in £xxx by a certain date that is exactly what I have done

Ok. Thanks. I've just moved money around. I'm going to attempt to start this switch tomorrow. After last time, I've no confidence in it being successful! I'll report back either way.

I also have a savings account with Nationwide. I can't see any way of closing this down on the app. 

Well, I'm not sure that went well. Despite me trying to use the switch to us option. At no point was switching mentioned during the joining process. They didn't ask me about account I want to switch from. They didn't ask about a switch date.

It almost looks as though, I've just set up a new current account, but the last thing just said more checks needed, and if all is ok, we'll open your new account and send your welcome pack. 

Also mentioned that due to backlog, and strikes, it can take 15 days for them to respond. So not sure how the 7 day switch is meant to work.

Oh well, if it just opens as a new account and switching isn't offered, I'll just close it down.

Also, people who switch , what do you say when asked will your salary be paid in? I said no (it isn't a requirement), but think that may be the stumbling block?

flaneurs_lobster

Let the FD account open and then request a switch, the two operations do not need to be contiguous. The only problem might be that FD withdraw the switch bonus offer before you get the request in, but, hey-ho.

Every bank will have their own eligibility criteria for a particular account, when I opened a FD account I answered that salary question "No" and it wasn't an issue. Of course YMMV, they do a hard check for their new accounts. 

eastcorkram

flaneurs_lobster said:

Let the FD account open and then request a switch, the two operations do not need to be contiguous. The only problem might be that FD withdraw the switch bonus offer before you get the request in, but, hey-ho.

Every bank will have their own eligibility criteria for a particular account, when I opened a FD account I answered that salary question "No" and it wasn't an issue. Of course YMMV, they do a hard check for their new accounts. 

Ok. Will sit back and wait to see what happens. If it's going to take 15 days between communications, there's a good chance they'll pull it before I get in! Oh well, my fault for not doing it earlier.