Bank Switching - How Blatant?

M4rkOne97One

I have a main bank account with Nationwide, together with a regular saver that qualifies me for their fairer sharer annual bonus (when awarded). I have a 2nd current account with Virgin Money, that enables me to have a VM Regular saver and Easy access ISA. I opened a 2nd VM current account a few years ago that I then used to switch into Nat West, then First Direct, then into my main Nationwide account to earn their £175 switch bonus. Then 2 years ago I opened a 3rd VM account to switch to TSB, stayed with TSB for a year to use a Regular saver and qualify for a loyalty monthly bonus, then switched to Lloyds, then Barclays, then Santander last year, and now finally Co-Op this year. Will stay with Co-Op for a year to utilise a Regular Saver and hopefully 3 months loyalty bonus. Then maybe simplify my banking a little next year by switching into my Nationwide account.

Lindadnil

I've had issues with 2 bank switches this year and I'm getting suspicious.

First Direct- sent me a PIN that didn't work with my card. They kept asking me to try different atms and store machines unti i was outside the time criteria for using my card to qualify for the bonus. Refused to pay bonus.

COOP are now sending out my 3rd letter containing my PIN, the other 2 have not arrived. Again I am reaching the end of my qualifying period for using my card.

Has anyone else experienced this PIN scam?

subjecttocontract

I haven't and I've done a lot of bank switches this year tsb to barclays, barclays to bos, bos to co-op, all as smooth as silk.

PRAISETHESUN

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143755#Comment_82143755

It's not a scam. Never attribute to malice something that can be explained by incompetence.

Raise a formal complaint for the value of the switch incentives and present your case to them. There's also the option to use your card online or via Google/Apple pay, to potentially sidestep the PIN issue.

friolento

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143755#Comment_82143755

The PIN issues you experience seem to be quite unique to you as nobody else has reported such problems. It doesn’t sound like a scam, just a number of very unfortunate incidents.

If you have a smartphone, you can use ApplePay / GooglePay instead of waiting for PINs.