AIB £200 Switch & Stay Offer (NI Only) 6/10/25-TBC

Belfast1979

danny13579 said

I was really impressed with the customer service. The customer service I've received from the Irish banks is completely different than I've experienced with the British banks. 

Their customer service seems to be based in the South. All the pre-recorded messages had southern accents and the customer service agent had a southern accent. As soon as the pre-recorded messages ended, I was attended to. No wait time, no dreadful muzak, no inane "we are extremely busy, please hold the line, your call is extremely important to us" drivel. She was really helpful and took time to go through everything with me in a totally non-patronising way.

The account opening process is a bit long winded, the app is very basic, but the customer service was excellent.

I'm glad that's the case Danny, the bank I'm leaving has excessive wait times and a terrible app (part of the reason I'm leaving) but are helpful when you get through.

I think they are still based in the South, was directed to AIB card services in Dublin about 17 years ago regarding an old (select) account that they closed due to inactivity.
It's good that you got straight through. I hope the good quality service continues and the influx of new customers doesn't dilute it. 

I agree that the account opening process is a bit long winded, don't mind a basic app as long as it works, but as you say it's all about the service 😂 

Belfast1979

danny13579 

This is all normal. Your direct debits and standing orders all get moved over to the new account during the switching process. It doesn't all just happen on your switch completion date.

If your car tax is paid by direct debit, then that will update automatically with DVLA. They may email you to let you know that your direct debit details have changed, but the payment will come out as normal from the new account.

Thanks Danny, thought that was still the case but am getting paranoid in my old age 😂 
I don't have much faith in my old bank either so will be glad when it's all switched and closed. 

I have never switched a DVLA direct debit before as I only started paying my car tax by DD in September 2024 so that's good to know.

I think I will stay put with AIB now and keep my Danske that I switched into in May 2024 as the whole switching thing is getting harder than it was 5 years ago.

Aidanmc

Belfast1979 said:

danny13579 

This is all normal. Your direct debits and standing orders all get moved over to the new account during the switching process. It doesn't all just happen on your switch completion date.

If your car tax is paid by direct debit, then that will update automatically with DVLA. They may email you to let you know that your direct debit details have changed, but the payment will come out as normal from the new account.

Thanks Danny, thought that was still the case but am getting paranoid in my old age 😂 
I don't have much faith in my old bank either so will be glad when it's all switched and closed. 

I have never switched a DVLA direct debit before as I only started paying my car tax by DD in September 2024 so that's good to know.

I think I will stay put with AIB now and keep my Danske that I switched into in May 2024 as the whole switching thing is getting harder than it was 5 years ago.

Going to keep the AIB current account also, prob won't use it much, just so i can keep the 6% regular saver.
Been meaning to get that regular saver for a while now, just never been near a branch. 
Going to phone AIB tomorrow also as seemingly has to be done anyway to get PAC

danny13579

Aidanmc said:

Going to keep the AIB current account also, prob won't use it much, just so i can keep the 6% regular saver.

I have to say I don't really find the current account to be very useful at all. I've done a few faster payments (to satisfy the £1,500 cycle) and each one has taken around an hour to process. Longer again if you do it outside of banking hours. I may just keep it for the regular saver.

Belfast1979

Switch successfully completed yesterday and still hadn't received registration code so phoned just after 12 and after about 30 seconds was transferred to speak to someone.

I got pac set up and was given registration code (over the phone as Danny mentioned) so app up and running, all DD's were transferred during switch and £1500 (took about an hour to show) transferred to meet pay in requirement.
I have also opened regular saver with first payment set up for 1st November and even used debit card for a small purchase about an hour ago.

Belfast1979

Aidanmc said:

Going to keep the AIB current account also, prob won't use it much, just so i can keep the 6% regular saver.
Been meaning to get that regular saver for a while now, just never been near a branch. 
Going to phone AIB tomorrow also as seemingly has to be done anyway to get PAC

I have a few direct debits which I will keep running but think the regular saver is the main incentive to keep the AIB current account. 
I'm the same Aidan, closest branch is Donegall Square or University Road for me. 
Did you get access to the app sorted?

Belfast1979

danny13579 said:

I have to say I don't really find the current account to be very useful at all. I've done a few faster payments (to satisfy the £1,500 cycle) and each one has taken around an hour to process. Longer again if you do it outside of banking hours. I may just keep it for the regular saver.

I find the current account alright, pretty similar to the bank I switched from, even with the basic AIB app.
I just did the £1500 in one go, transferred from an account with another bank but transfers from them are usually quick anyway.
6% on up to £500 a month with AIB is hard to beat although Co-operative Bank regular saver is 7% on up to £250 a month.
Edit- must have a Co-operative current account (including Cashminder) for their regular saver.
I didn't think AIB customer service was anything to write home about either from speaking to the guy I spoke to, maybe I was just unlucky 😂 

danny13579

Belfast1979 said:

I didn't think AIB customer service was anything to write home about either from speaking to the guy I spoke to, maybe I was just unlucky 😂 

Unlucky with the customer service rep, like anywhere they have really helpful people and not so helpful people. 

Looks like you're all set now, just wait for the rewards!

I just have to set up the regular saver and put £100 into it, which I'll do on Monday.

Belfast1979

danny13579 said:

Unlucky with the customer service rep, like anywhere they have really helpful people and not so helpful people. 

Looks like you're all set now, just wait for the rewards!

I just have to set up the regular saver and put £100 into it, which I'll do on Monday.

I did find the service experience odd especially as I had a lovely lady phone me from AIB and left a message yesterday to tell me I'd need to set up a payment to someone myself as the payment couldn't be switched which was I thought was good service. 

Hopefully Danny, fingers crossed all DD's are collected first attempt 😂 

Regards setting up the savings account it made me set up a standing order which oddly only let me set the earliest date as 1st November (something about 48 hours to set up standing order), just something to be aware of incase it happens to you. I made a manual payment into regular saver this evening and all seems ok.

Aidanmc

Belfast1979 said:

Aidanmc said:

Going to keep the AIB current account also, prob won't use it much, just so i can keep the 6% regular saver.
Been meaning to get that regular saver for a while now, just never been near a branch. 
Going to phone AIB tomorrow also as seemingly has to be done anyway to get PAC

I have a few direct debits which I will keep running but think the regular saver is the main incentive to keep the AIB current account. 
I'm the same Aidan, closest branch is Donegall Square or University Road for me. 
Did you get access to the app sorted?

The registration code never arrived. I called yesterday and got the reg code and PAC set.
I'm not using the app, just online banking portal.
My DD's are showing, also opened the regular saver. 
Like yourself i had to set standing order. I went ahead afterwards and made a manual deposit for this month.
You can cancel the standing order if you wish, thats what i done as i prefer to do manual payments to Regular Savers. 
The manual payment you made to the RS today can you tell me if its dated today or Monday?