I currently have a cardcash account with Halifax Bank. As it's only for 16/17yr olds, and I'm now 18 and about to start Uni, I need a Student Account.
I was wondering if anyone knew whether switching between these two accounts would give me new sort codes or account numbers etc coz I am worried it will mess up my student finance applications, which have finally been sorted and I'm receiving the letters through.
I'm worried that changing accounts now might mean I have to make more changes to the financial support applications and I'm not sure how it all works really.
Any advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Assuming you stay with the same 'home' branch then your sort code will remain the same, your account number should stay the same as well with it just being an upgrade.
If it does change however then you can just log onto the student finance website and change it on there, that's all there is to it!
Assuming you stay with the same 'home' branch then your sort code will remain the same, your account number should stay the same as well with it just being an upgrade.
You'd think so wouldnt you?! But no, halifax have to be awkward!
i have had problems trying to upgrade my account from a cardcash one!
Apparently, if you want a full service account, which a student one is, then you have to have a credit check. I opened my first account with halifax when i was 11 and they cant do checks on 11 year olds! So, they say that they cant upgrade my account because i need a credit check and didnt have one when i originally opened the account. They cant do a credit check on me and then upgrade the account, because they can only do checks when accounts are being opened. I hope that makes sense! So, basically if you want the overdraft facilities etc that require a credit check then you have to have a new account, with new account numbers!
I had the same worries as you, that it would mess up loans/grants etc when it is so soon to going. But what they said is that i can keep my cardcash account open so my loans and everything will be paid into that account and then transfer it all into my student account.
I hope all that makes sense, it is quite complicated! Message me if you want any more info. Im really pissed off with halifax at the moment cos ive been trying to sort this out for ages and have numerous crap assistants! It will save you having to find it all out yourself!
You'd think so wouldnt you?! But no, halifax have to be awkward!
i have had problems trying to upgrade my account from a cardcash one!
Apparently, if you want a full service account, which a student one is, then you have to have a credit check. I opened my first account with halifax when i was 11 and they cant do checks on 11 year olds! So, they say that they cant upgrade my account because i need a credit check and didnt have one when i originally opened the account. They cant do a credit check on me and then upgrade the account, because they can only do checks when accounts are being opened. I hope that makes sense! So, basically if you want the overdraft facilities etc that require a credit check then you have to have a new account, with new account numbers!
I had the same worries as you, that it would mess up loans/grants etc when it is so soon to going. But what they said is that i can keep my cardcash account open so my loans and everything will be paid into that account and then transfer it all into my student account.
I hope all that makes sense, it is quite complicated! Message me if you want any more info. Im really pissed off with halifax at the moment cos ive been trying to sort this out for ages and have numerous crap assistants! It will save you having to find it all out yourself!
Han x
Thank you for all of that info!
Rather than having 2 accounts open though, do you think it would be at all possible to just keep my cardcash one? If i'll have my money paid into that one anyway, do you think they'd let me keep it open as my main account rather than opening another one, even though I am older than the limit now? I don't think I'd use an overdraft and my account that I have at the moment is just fine for me.
They'll have to upgrade your account if its only for 16/17 year olds. If they can't upgrade it to a student one without the credit checks and new acc. number, they'll probably give you a normal current account, and so your number should stay the same.
From the Halifax Website:
If you’re 16 or 17, Cardcash lets you take control of your money. After all, you’ve got more important things to worry about! Whether you’re getting gig tickets, shopping, or going out, this account will make life easier.
You only need £10 to open the account, and you’re off. Then when you’re 18, it's easy to move to one of our great current accounts.
They'll have to upgrade your account if its only for 16/17 year olds. If they can't upgrade it to a student one without the credit checks and new acc. number, they'll probably give you a normal current account, and so your number should stay the same.
From the Halifax Website:
Nope, to have a full service current account you have to have a credit check, therefore cant keep your numbers!
Lotte, if they are letting me keep my account open alongside my student account then i dont see why they wouldnt let you keep it. However, i would get a student account if i were you, you never know when you might need that overdraft! Or you could jsut have the account and not have the overdraft. What i am going to do is keep my cardcash open for another year so i can change all my direct debits/loan payment details throughout the year as a reapply for things. I just dont want to change thing now when were so close to getting payments, something is bound to get mixed up!
I'd ust ask them how long you can keep your cardcash open for. They might be ok with you having it for one or two years but when you get to 21 they might be a bit funny with you having a kids account!!
I went to my local Halifax branch today but they were busy and no one could see to me, so I have been given an appointment for 2pm this Thursday. I will ask them and see what they say!
I've just managed to close my old account and open a new student account with Halifax (so, same bank!) - the details are all different but I received a letter from the SLC which included a form to notify them of a change of bank details so isent that off today and sent my LA an email informing them of the change so everything should hopefully be ok now.
I found Halifax to be very friendly and helpful indeed! I'm glad I stuck with them, they're a good bank!