Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I closed an account with Santander and they sent the remaining monies in it to another bank account.

Then they accepted a charge on the account from a subscription I had forgotten to move, even though the account was closed, and because my account was then in deficit decided to reactivate my account without letting me know. Then they charged me an overdraft fee and daily penalties, and then eventually sent me a bill with like £120 of charges.

I challenged it and had to speak on the phone to people for ages. Eventually they took the charges off as a "one-off gesture of good faith" which annoyed me, because it still implies that it was my mistake and not theirs.




Did you close the account manually or via the Switch Guarantee service? https://www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk

If signed up to the scheme (most are, including Santander), your old bank is responsible for passing on any deposits directly to your new bank account and the new bank is responsible for processing any transactions made using your old details. This carries on for, I believe 12 months.

I found the Switch Guarantee service to be excellent and believe it's a significant driver of innovation and competition in UK banking (which is far ahead of many other European countries in my experience).

My payees from my old bank were even transferred over to my new one.

(Current account = checking account to any non-UK readers.)


Ah, that's good to know for the future - I closed it manually. I wasn't told about this and didn't know about it - mind you it was a few years ago so not sure if this is a newer service.


Since 2013 although I don't know if Santander was in it from the start. I'd guess yes.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: