Halifax £225 switching offer 25/7/23 to 31/8/23

kaMelo

boingy said:

kaMelo said:

I too think the reference to financial services as an excluded payment would mean deposits into savings accounts.

It's worth asking them.

Not really, the last time I called Halifax was because my debit card had failed to turn up. After realising I had three reward accounts all the call handler wanted to do was ask why I needed three and wonder if it was even "legal" to do so.  

No matter what answer a call handler gave it carries absolutely no weight. The true arbiter is the person(s) who designed their automated system to determine whether spending qualifies for cashback, and they will not be answering the phones.

StevenGude

Both me and my wife opened accounts yesterday 

Got acc numbers and texts to say our switch was confirmed 

Then got texts at midday today saying ring them to complete our application within 14 days or they'll withdraw the application 

Looks like it's their fraud prevention line, only open during working hours....

worriednoob

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

So if you are an existing halifax customer and have a standard (non-reward) current joint account, you just need to upgrade?  Also would it be better or even possible for joint account-holders to open a sole account each instead?

You'd need to open a new reward current account to qualify for the offer so upgrading an existing non-reward current account won't work.

I'd say it's certainly better for those who have an existing joint account with Halifax to open a sole reward account each as provided you each meet the terms of the offer you can get £225 each, rather than £225 between you.

Thank you very much.  Apologies, but do you mean open another burner sole account with another bank and then switch to the a sole reward account?  I'm asking this because I've already switched from Chase, Monzo & Santander to Natwest, RBS and Ulster and my credit rating has taken a significant knock, so trying to avoid further credit checks.

Are there any other current accounts that don't do hard credit checks and does halifax do a hard credit check?

Bridlington1

worriednoob said:

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

So if you are an existing halifax customer and have a standard (non-reward) current joint account, you just need to upgrade?  Also would it be better or even possible for joint account-holders to open a sole account each instead?

You'd need to open a new reward current account to qualify for the offer so upgrading an existing non-reward current account won't work.

I'd say it's certainly better for those who have an existing joint account with Halifax to open a sole reward account each as provided you each meet the terms of the offer you can get £225 each, rather than £225 between you.

Thank you very much.  Apologies, but do you mean open another burner sole account with another bank and then switch to the a sole reward account?  I'm asking this because I've already switched from Chase, Monzo & Santander to Natwest, RBS and Ulster and my credit rating has taken a significant knock, so trying to avoid further credit checks.

Are there any other current accounts that don't do hard credit checks and does halifax do a hard credit check?

You don't need to open another burner sole account with another bank so you can switch an existing burner account to Halifax.

However you do need to open a brand new Halifax reward account and switch into it in order to get the switching offer. You won't be able to get the switching offer if you simply upgrade an existing Halifax current account into a reward account and switch into it, it has to be a brand new Halifax account.

EDIT: As for which current accounts do hard checks @pecunianonolet has compiled a list:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6422051/list-of-banks-with-hard-vs-soft-searches-for-current-accounts/p1

Halifax only do a hard search on the first account you open with them, so opening a second, third etc Halifax account will not result in a hard check.

worriednoob

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

So if you are an existing halifax customer and have a standard (non-reward) current joint account, you just need to upgrade?  Also would it be better or even possible for joint account-holders to open a sole account each instead?

You'd need to open a new reward current account to qualify for the offer so upgrading an existing non-reward current account won't work.

I'd say it's certainly better for those who have an existing joint account with Halifax to open a sole reward account each as provided you each meet the terms of the offer you can get £225 each, rather than £225 between you.

Thank you very much.  Apologies, but do you mean open another burner sole account with another bank and then switch to the a sole reward account?  I'm asking this because I've already switched from Chase, Monzo & Santander to Natwest, RBS and Ulster and my credit rating has taken a significant knock, so trying to avoid further credit checks.

Are there any other current accounts that don't do hard credit checks and does halifax do a hard credit check?

You don't need to open another burner sole account with another bank so you can switch an existing burner account to Halifax.

However you do need to open a brand new Halifax reward account and switch into it in order to get the switching offer. You won't be able to get the switching offer if you simply upgrade an existing Halifax current account into a reward account and switch into it, it has to be a brand new Halifax account.

EDIT: As for which current accounts do hard checks @pecunianonolet has compiled a list:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6422051/list-of-banks-with-hard-vs-soft-searches-for-current-accounts/p1

Halifax only do a hard search on the first account you open with them, so opening a second, third etc Halifax account will not result in a hard check.

Thanks very much for the info and links.  Really appreciated.  I've gone ahead and successfully opened a Metro bank account because the list by pecunianonolet shows they don't do a hard check. 

Natwest tend to ask for the debit card number when completing their application - is this also the case with Halifax?  Just thinking whether I can go ahead with immediately switching from Metro even before the debit card arrives.

Also sorry if this is a silly question, but when opening a new Halifax Reward Account, how do I tell Halifax that I am already a customer? Do they ask this question or does Halifax automatically recognise it when I'm completing the application?

Bridlington1

worriednoob said:

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

Bridlington1 said:

worriednoob said:

So if you are an existing halifax customer and have a standard (non-reward) current joint account, you just need to upgrade?  Also would it be better or even possible for joint account-holders to open a sole account each instead?

You'd need to open a new reward current account to qualify for the offer so upgrading an existing non-reward current account won't work.

I'd say it's certainly better for those who have an existing joint account with Halifax to open a sole reward account each as provided you each meet the terms of the offer you can get £225 each, rather than £225 between you.

Thank you very much.  Apologies, but do you mean open another burner sole account with another bank and then switch to the a sole reward account?  I'm asking this because I've already switched from Chase, Monzo & Santander to Natwest, RBS and Ulster and my credit rating has taken a significant knock, so trying to avoid further credit checks.

Are there any other current accounts that don't do hard credit checks and does halifax do a hard credit check?

You don't need to open another burner sole account with another bank so you can switch an existing burner account to Halifax.

However you do need to open a brand new Halifax reward account and switch into it in order to get the switching offer. You won't be able to get the switching offer if you simply upgrade an existing Halifax current account into a reward account and switch into it, it has to be a brand new Halifax account.

EDIT: As for which current accounts do hard checks @pecunianonolet has compiled a list:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6422051/list-of-banks-with-hard-vs-soft-searches-for-current-accounts/p1

Halifax only do a hard search on the first account you open with them, so opening a second, third etc Halifax account will not result in a hard check.

Thanks very much for the info and links.  Really appreciated.  I've gone ahead and successfully opened a Metro bank account because the list by pecunianonolet shows they don't do a hard check. 

Natwest tend to ask for the debit card number when completing their application - is this also the case with Halifax?  Just thinking whether I can go ahead with immediately switching from Metro even before the debit card arrives.

Also sorry if this is a silly question, but when opening a new Halifax Reward Account, how do I tell Halifax that I am already a customer? Do they ask this question or does Halifax automatically recognise it when I'm completing the application?

It's been about a year since I last did a switch into Halifax but when I did it they asked for the last 4 digits of my debit card number. Though with timing there's no real reason to rush, it doesn't matter if you start the switch today or this time next month so long as you start it within the offer period you'll be fine.

You can apply for a new Halifax account when logged into online banking, it will recognise it's you applying and the account should appear in your existing online banking as soon as you complete the application.

pecunianonolet

To add on, I would be careful with LBG as some of us have burned their fingers by switching out too many of their "additional no hard search accounts" and by opening a lot of current accounts anyhow. 

Bridlington1

pecunianonolet said:

To add on, I would be careful with LBG as some of us have burned their fingers by switching out too many of their "additional no hard search accounts" and by opening a lot of current accounts anyhow. 

Don't I know it.

worriednoob

Thanks @Bridlington1 and @pecunianonolet -

When you think about the offer, it's not anywhere as good as Natwest/RBS/Ulster because just to get the £150, you have to open accounts which charge you a monthly fee, whereas with others there's no fee and a £200 incentive. Am I okay to open the Reward (£3) Account, switch to it and once I've got the £150, to close it down or downgrade it to a standard current account even though I already have a standard current account?

boingy

worriednoob said:

Am I okay to open the Reward (£3) Account, switch to it and once I've got the £150, to close it down or downgrade it to a standard current account even though I already have a standard current account?

Yep, that's fine. I've done the same in the past. And whilst you are waiting for the bonus you can avoid the fee by dumping £1500 in the account and taking it straight back out again once per month.

I seem to recall they blocked my outgoing payment so it was yet another phone call to unblock it. It's a shame their AI is not "I" enough to see a payment coming in and going back out to the same account as OK - that would be a rubbish scam.