Santander Switching Swizz

rabbitjuice

I've been sat patiently waiting for the 90 days for my Santander Switch bonus to be paid into the account… only to discover I'm not getting one, because the Direct Debits on my account are eligible by their definition of "Household Direct Debits".

Turns out they have a list of companies you have to hold Direct Debits with. On the account I use for switching I have my mobile phone contract, and my car lease. Because the car lease company isn't on their list, it doesn't count.

So, time to move on and find someone else with a good switch bonus (thanks to the helpful advice on MSE). But look out for the small print this time, about what qualifies!

Zanderman

Not so much a swizz as not reading the offer terms then!

I understand your frustration, it was a new condition, not seen in most other bank switch offers, but it was discussed here on the forum and I'm sure the official MSE coverage of it also mentioned it.

As you say, always read the small print. But often the relevant terms are also stated upfront.

But… I thought the offer with the household debits condition was quite recent, not 90 days ago. Are you sure you're being told the right thing by santander if the switch was actually 90 days ago?

Edit: I'm wrong, that condition was in the offer back in November:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6639407/santander-200-switch-offer-10-11-25-tbc/

Isthisforreal99

Just because you fail to read things and therefore did not meet the switching conditions in no may makes it a swizz.

danny13579

This has been highlighted multiple times on here and yet people still fail (or don't bother) to read the offer T&Cs.

What you can do is have another go at the offer. You would need to switch another account into your Santander account (no need to open a new one), and then within 60 days of starting the switch move across the £1,500 again and set up 2 household direct debits.

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6664624/santander-switching-swizz

I have a degree of sympathy as I saw a post on reddit where someone used one of those "fake" direct debit sites to generate a couple of £1 DDs that meant their partner got the bonus but their legitimate ones were not eligible. For me a car lease or a gym membership is a household bill, but my gym chain at least is not on the list either. If I was to switch, phone and credit card bill would probably be the best to move, phone and gym are sufficient for the RBS rewards account!

eskbanker

For me a car lease or a gym membership is a household bill, but my gym chain at least is not on the list either

The offer doesn't relate to bills that could legitimately be categorised as household ones in a generic sense, but a very specific list, hence the offer applying to "selected" household direct debits:

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/AD_documents/Current_account_switch_incentive_Household_Direct%20Debits_list_COREMC0876NOV25PUBCD.pdf

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81967221#Comment_81967221

I am not saying the OP was treated wrongly, I am saying, to a layman, it's a household bill and the sympathy is from the fact Santander define the bill as household or not based on who issued it not what it's for.

I am clearly aware of the list as I stated in my post that my gym is not on the list, QED I must be aware and have checked it 🤔

Powershop is on the qualifying list despite the fact they collapsed in 2021 and the customers went to EON; credit card companies are not on the list but a TV package is. Havers’ Directories is on the list, which is a publisher that sells legal directories, hardly a household bill

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81967244#Comment_81967244

Yes, I was sharing the list for the benefit of those who haven't seen it and emphasising that what a layman might consider to be a household bill is irrelevant - I haven't spent any time going through the list but obviously anyone wanting to take them up on the offer can (and should) do so to ensure they qualify…

danny13579

Nasqueron

Powershop is on the qualifying list despite the fact they collapsed in 2021 and the customers went to EON; credit card companies are not on the list but a TV package is. Havers’ Directories is on the list, which is a publisher that sells legal directories, hardly a household bill

There are providers on the list that don't even operate in the UK! For example Bord Gáis Éireann which operates in Ireland.

Others are on the list that have exited the UK market, Electric Ireland exited the UK market a few years ago.

Others are on the list that have been dissolved, Gaelic Telecom, which dissolved 2 years ago.

dealyboy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6664624/santander-switching-swizz

I'm very sorry to read this and I can understand your disappointment after being patient for so long …

I did the round of switching bank accounts for incentives a little while ago, actually I think the last one was a couple of years ago now, because you can't switch, rinse, repeat … and I've seen the sums go up! I can't be certain but it seems all the big players are coming out with new offers all the time, especially Santander … what goes around comes around 🤞

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81967294#Comment_81967294

I did note a couple of Irish firms including one internet provider though the one I checked did seem to cover parts of NI. It's farcical either way to define household by a provider not what the man on the Clapham omnibus would understand and it would catch people out if they don't read the terms fully particularly when it's such a niche exclusion