New Natwest / RBS / Ulster Bank £200 Switch Incentive

ccdorset

Thank you both. I don’t anticipate any significant applications coming up until around October 2024, when some of my balance transfers are up on my credit cards. Mortgage is on a fixed rate for another 4 and a half years.

The only thing that could come up is needing a loan for a new car, but I’m hoping it will last a little longer. 

Yellowman

I applied for the NatWest Select current account today using the online switch service but could not provide the correct photo ID and so could not complete the process.

However, I have been given an account number, reference number and sort code - will these be required (or not) when I eventually re-apply with the correct Photo ID?

Can I start again?

dealyboy

Hi @Yellowman ... it's possible they will continue your switch anyway, considering you have received the account details. I remember I couldn't get one of my application's photo ids to work, but when I phoned I was told my application had passed the checks. I believe they perform other checks e.g. address and electoral roll.

I would give them a call, NatWest agents are UK based and quite capable. The fact that you have account details suggest to me that your application will complete and you will receive a debit card. Did you complete the details of the account and debit card you are switching?

Yellowman

dealyboy said:

Hi @Yellowman ... it's possible they will continue your switch anyway, considering you have received the account details. I remember I couldn't get one of my application's photo ids to work, but when I phoned I was told my application had passed the checks. I believe they perform other checks e.g. address and electoral roll.

I would give them a call, NatWest agents are UK based and quite capable. The fact that you have account details suggest to me that your application will complete and you will receive a debit card. Did you complete the details of the account and debit card you are switching?

Yes, I included my existing current account and debit card details in the online application.

DiamondLil

I've recently switched to NatWest and received the £200 incentive. Having read this thread, I had a look at both Ulster and RBS sites; both state that if already in receipt of the NatWest incentive, I'm not eligible for their offer.

I'm slightly concerned that if I do apply, they will view it as a fraudulent application. My thinking is that the worst scenario is that the accounts will be opened but I'll not receive the switch bonus. In which case, it'll be worth a try.

What do you reckon ?

dealyboy

@Yellowman said:

dealyboy said:

Hi @Yellowman ... it's possible they will continue your switch anyway, considering you have received the account details. I remember I couldn't get one of my application's photo ids to work, but when I phoned I was told my application had passed the checks. I believe they perform other checks e.g. address and electoral roll.

I would give them a call, NatWest agents are UK based and quite capable. The fact that you have account details suggest to me that your application will complete and you will receive a debit card. Did you complete the details of the account and debit card you are switching?

Yes, I included my existing current account and debit card details in the online application.

I think it is most likely that your application and switch is still in progress. I would wait for a communication (probably e-mail) and that will tell you the next steps. NatWest are quite efficient so I would expect that in the next couple of working days.

If the communication states that your application can't proceed they will tell you what to do next.

You still have the option to phone customer service to check on the status given that you have the account details and reference.

Fingers crossed 

dealyboy

@DiamondLil said:

I've recently switched to NatWest and received the £200 incentive. Having read this thread, I had a look at both Ulster and RBS sites; both state that if already in receipt of the NatWest incentive, I'm not eligible for their offer.

I'm slightly concerned that if I do apply, they will view it as a fraudulent application. My thinking is that the worst scenario is that the accounts will be opened but I'll not receive the switch bonus. In which case, it'll be worth a try.

What do you reckon ?

It's worth a try. More than that you should be able to apply and receive incentives from the other two banks ... there have been success stories just today.

I'm not aware of any stipulation that because you have received an incentive from one (Natwest) bank you cannot receive one from another of the NatWest group, unless they've changed the switcher terms and conditions since February. No, there is a condition that you cannot have received an incentive from one of the banks before Feb 14th 2023, but presumably yours was after that so doesn't apply.

Regarding your concern that it might be committing fraud to apply for a new account knowing that you might not be eligible for the incentive ... there is absolutely no chance of that.

The bank could turn down your application for an account and they don't need to tell you why, but if they accept your application and open an account for you and you have provided all the details of the account to be switched, they must comply with their terms and pay you the incentive. If for some reason they decide you are not eligible they will have to explain in writing and there are a lot of us here who can support your case.

You should read threads on similar subjects from the last couple of days and will find references to longer threads going back to February, we have a lot of experience.

One tip, RBS should be a lot more straightforward than Ulster.

Good luck  .

masonic

Dealyboy's analysis of the terms above (and a couple of pages earlier in the thread) is correct. As written, the terms are clear that only incentives paid between 2017 and Feb 2023 prevent you from benefiting from this offer. Anything received from this offer is not part of the eligibility criteria. They could have said any incentive since 01/10/2017, but they did not. The have a clause about only being able to benefit once, but as each bank's offer is differently named and comes with its own branded T&Cs, it is reasonable to suppose that each offer is separate.

It would certainly not be fraudulent when such a reasonable interpretation exists. One could reach this interpretation entirely in good faith.

boingy

DiamondLil said:

I've recently switched to NatWest and received the £200 incentive. Having read this thread, I had a look at both Ulster and RBS sites; both state that if already in receipt of the NatWest incentive, I'm not eligible for their offer.

I'm slightly concerned that if I do apply, they will view it as a fraudulent application. My thinking is that the worst scenario is that the accounts will be opened but I'll not receive the switch bonus. In which case, it'll be worth a try.

What do you reckon ?

I speak from experience. Just try it and it will probably work. If it doesn't then just shrug and move on. Nothing fraudulent about it. They make the decision to pay you or not and they can see your banking history with the group.

Middle_of_the_Road

boingy said:

Just an update to say that I've had the Ulster bonus today, despite having had bonuses from both NatWest and RBS accounts in the last few months (and despite both of those accounts still being open). I'm amazed (but happy) that they don't check. It took about 3.5 weeks in total. Chalk up another treble. 

ccdorset said:

keiran said:

A friend opened , switched and got £200 twice for Natwest and Ulster. (at more or less the same time)

But when he tried to open RBS (about the same time) they said they couldn't offer him an account.

Anyone had similar experiences or can explain?

(I do know, of course, that only one incentive is supposedly received, but we do know their systems aren't robust)

I've also received the RBS £200 switch offer today.   Despite having received a NatWest bonus previously.

Now I just have to decide whether to attempt Ulster. My credit reports have taken a hit recently with multiple applications, it's difficult to know when to stop!

I like switching bonuses, but with recent reports of 'commercial reason closures' wouldn't want to risk banks closing my accounts for taking advantage of their failure to check entitlement.
I do hope this doesn't come to that for those with multiple ineligible pay-outs.