Questions on Halifax Current A/c

L

laus99

Registered User
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Re: Best Value Current Accounts (Personal Banking)

I'm thinking of switching current a/c to Halifax
because of their 10% credit interest rate,
and since I have never switched accounts am wondering
what aspects to think about beforehand,
like what might be the difference between their debit card (visa)
and my existing lasercard;
if online transfers can have reference numbers attached to them
(this used to be impossible with my existing ulsterbank,
now it is but i wouldn't want to have the same problem again..
(i had to post cheques to transfer money to an external savings a/c !);
for IBAN (foreign) transactions i still have to go to my ulsterbank branch,
might this be possible online with Halifax..?!
these and further considerations, can anyone contribute their own relevant experiences?!
 
Re: Best Value Current Accounts (Personal Banking)

laus

I would suggest using normal punctuation in your posts on Askaboutmoney.

For example, you should use capital letters to indicate the start of a sentence and full stops to indicate the end. Maybe what you wrote is one long sentence, in which case you should split it up.

This would increase your chances of getting an answer and would not detract from the quality of posts on Askaboutmoney especially in the Best Buys area.

Brendan
 
Re: Best Value Current Accounts (Personal Banking)

laus99 said:
I'm thinking of switching current a/c to Halifax
because of their 10% credit interest rate... can anyone contribute their own relevant experiences?!
Click to expand...

I just completed the on-line application to switch to Halifax - inspired by this thread. Painless. [broken link removed] is written in plain English. No debit fee for Euro transctions, so for me there is no difference between the Visa debit and my BOI Laser. I'd like to know what the on-line banking service is like, too.
 
Re: Best Value Current Accounts (Personal Banking)

I am wondering if the VISA debit card acceptance is about the same as the LASER one.
 
Re: Best Value Current Accounts (Personal Banking)

laus99 said:
I am wondering if the VISA debit card acceptance is about the same as the LASER one.
Click to expand...

Most brickl & motar shops in Ireland that take Laser card take also Visa Debit Card. I have not noticed any problems.

ATM's the same story.

But if you use your Laser card for billpay.ie, than your Visa card is useless, they don't take Visa card, only a direct debit might work there.

if online transfers can have reference numbers attached to them
Click to expand...
Yes

IBAN (foreign) transactions
Click to expand...
Not possible online, but via the phone for free!
 
It's accepted anywhere that takes Visa Credit cards as it uses the same tranasaction network and is processed exactly the same way as a normal Visa card.

So, other than a few oddball places like Aldi which only accept Laser, you'll be fine!

You can also use it online with anywhere that accepts Visa, although I'd suggest being careful as it's leaving you open to fraud on your current account, it's often easier to deal with it on a credit card account as the fraudsters will have put you into debt rather than cleared out your wages !
 
Can you get cashback with the Halifax Debitcard? just like you do with the Laser when paying for something.
 
I've been told the cash back facility will be available very soon, the bank is awaiting the retailers to update their systems.
The card is currently not accepted in M&S but will be soon.
You automatically get signed up to the online banking which is great, you can make foreign payments and also control your standing orders.
Vodafone are not recognising Halifax as a bank for setting up D/D's but I've been told that this will be a short term issue!
 
Halifax 10% interest on the first 2k is great. They pay the interest monthly so u can see ur money grow.

I lodge €1,500 in each month then transfer the €1,500 directly to my Rabo saving account(5% interest). This system was working great for a while however this month Halifax has sat on my €1,500 and not transfered it to Rabo. The call centre people just say that they are investigating the non-transfer and its just a "technical fault". They also advise that the fault is unique to my account.

I suspect the fact that I keep a balance of €2k and immediately transfer the €1,500 each month to Rabo has p***ed Halifax off. I have been requesting that Halifax transfer the €1,500 for the last ten days. The money is still stuck in Halifax. I know i can still with-draw the money at a branch but i wonder if the financial regulator would investigate this form of indirect discrimination.
 
In answer to the cashback question, I shopped in Dunnes Stores with my VISA debit card today and was asked if I wanted any cash back...so it's working in at least one premises!

I opened the Halifax current account last month, no difficulties so far, and have found the online service easy to understand and use.
 
Sorry for dragging up an old thread...

I have just opened a Halifax Current a/c online.
I didn't want an ATM card as I already have one because I already have one which I intend to keep.
However there was no option to decline the card.

Does anyone know if you still have to pay the government levy if you don't use the card?
 
Not according to this:

[broken link removed]
Any other exemptions?

 There are a number of exemptions to stamp duty in relation to ATM cards, debit cards and combined cards:
  • If the card is not used during the year
  • Where the card is issued in respect of a deposit account, the average daily positive balance of which does not exceed €12.70
  • If the card has only been used to request a chequebook, a balance statement, to establish a customer identity or to establish a correct customer account number.
Click to expand...
At least it's only a tenner for a combined ATM/debit card this year - it was €20 last year.
 
John J said:
Sorry for dragging up an old thread...

I have just opened a Halifax Current a/c online.
I didn't want an ATM card as I already have one because I already have one which I intend to keep.
However there was no option to decline the card.

Does anyone know if you still have to pay the government levy if you don't use the card?
Click to expand...

I opened the same current account 6 months ago and didn’t want an ATM card. The card was not used. I did NOT get charged the government levy on the card.
 
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