halifax removing my interest free overdraft on student account (i'm a postgrad)

rosiem_2

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone had advice on this... Basically i've had student account with the Halifax over the past 8 years (!). The first four years were on an undergrad course. Then i worked for a year (but you got an extra year of student account after graduating anyway), then i went back to do an MSC and now i'm two years into a PhD. My overdraft was authorised to £2200, and i was using approx 1600 of it. I got a letter saying that i would have to reapply for my overdraft within the next two weeks, so i phoned up the bank and the lady said my new application had been refused - the lady implied i had been a student too long (i guess thats a fair point). Has anyone else had this experience? My worry is that if I apply for a student account somewhere else i won't get as big an overdraft (£1000 seems to be the most likely) and then i'll have to make up the shortfall somehow (!!). Do you think halifax could be persuaded to keep me on a student account so i don't have to move?

Thanks a lot,
Rosie

Poppy9

I doubt the halifax will fight to keep you as you don't seem a good prospect at the moment

They normally only give 'free' overdrafts to students for 3 or 4 years as after that they expect them to be depositing regular money with them for the rest of their life.

I think you should shop around but may have trouble getting even a £1000 o/d at this stage.

sockospice

Abbey do an account for postgrads, could be worth giving them a go. Don't try Lloyds, as they won't give you any kind of student account if you've already had one.