Problem of linking accounts by submitting Alliance and Leicester Cheques

horatio_2

I have just opened a HiSave account, and as with many savings providers, they verify your application and linked account (they only accept deposits by Direct Debit) by getting you to send them a cheque for £1.

The difficulty I have encountered is that Alliance and Leicester print their internal sort code and account number on the cheque, so it will not tie in with the details I had to submit for the direct debit and will be rejected (according to the HiSave "help"desk). I am aware that for some reason A&L add a single additional digit for internal use, which changes both the sort code and account number - but it does not solve the problem.

Has anyone found a way around this? As it stands I cannot join. Am having a similar problem with Kaupthing who need an original statement from your linked bank, but my A&L account is online statements only...

Steve_xx

It will tie in.

A&L use the first digit of the account number as the last digit of the sort code. Lord knows why they do this.

When setting up the linked account you give ICIC Bank the last 8 digits as the account number. The first digit is added to the sort code and becomes the last digit of it.

horatio_2

I realise they tie in but I hope HiSave recognises that.
Afterall they are expecting:
72-50-03
xxxxxxxx

and the cheque says
72-50-00
3xxxxxxxx

Steve_xx

It'll be fine, don't worry.

Newly_retired

I'm having the same worry, so I e-mailed them. I'll let you know if I get a reply, or maybe someone else will beat me to it.

MarkyMarkD

I must have opened my account with an A&L cheque, so obviously it's not a problem.

They don't use the cheques to check the sort code and account details; they use them to check that someone has an account in the name of the account they are seeking to open with ICICI.

Newly_retired

I have now had a reply from ICICI but ( like the politicians) they did not actually answer my question. They just repeated previously given instructions about sending a cheque - so am doing so today, for a smalll amount to check it works OK .

horatio_2

Mine has been accepted - thank you everyone.