change my bank account

That took longer than I expected, and required a spot of brain power to jiggle payments – I didn’t realise that some of my monthly payments, like my Virgin wine account, are paid on my card rather than by direct debit. But it’s done now, and a standing order is set up into my old account so my loan is covered each month. Though I think I might just pull money out of my ISA and pay that damn thing off in one go, it’s losing me more money than my ISA makes, easily.

..that if I have to keep my account open with my old bank just so that they can take money out of it to pay my loan, they get to keep on charging me £6 a month for the privilege of having an account with them! Cheeky robbing bastards – over the course of the year that amounts to a whole extra loan payment!

Something must be done about this. Surely it’s not legal to force someone to keep an account open and charge them to do so.

I shall have to call them tomorrow. I need to call my new bank too, as I noticed my wages, although I arranged for them to be transferred on (I think) May 29th – I am responsible for making sure everyone gets paid at work – didn’t arrive in my account until several days later, so my mortgage, bills etc were all paid out of my overdraft facility rather than my positive balance. Annoying.

I’ve just spoken to a very rude woman from my old bank. Apparently, because I have a loan with them, I can’t completely close my account as they can’t take loan payments from another bank. Which is stupid. So I need to arrange with my new bank to put money in my old bank each month to cover the payments, and move the loan payments forward in the month to be on the safe side that the money’s gone through. Ridiculous. I am considering pulling some savings money out and paying the damn loan off in one go. It would seem wiser and probably save me money in the long run.

Other than that, it’s nearly all done. I’ve stopped using my old Switch card and changed my Paypal account to the new card. Still to do:

• Arrange payments as above
• Change Amazon one-click settings
• Change any other automatic payment thingy I can think of (none at the moment)
• Rearrange KES payments
• Move all remaining money (less car and insurance money) into savings account

Next stop – a freedom fund?

I have an account number, a PIN number (but no card as yet) and a shiny silver new chequebook. Apparently they switch everything over themselves, but the idea still makes me feel a little shaky. How will I know when the switch is complete? What if, in the interim period, I accidentally arrange to pay my salary into a bank account that no longer exists? Does the money disappear?

Old bank are still in denial. Ha ha ha.

That was easy. I’ll check this off when I see it in writing from both banks.

I always thought that it would be a faff to do this, but apparently the banks liaise and change over all your direct debits themselves, so it’s not as hard as it sounds. I’ve been with my current bank for 13 years, and I can’t even remember why I joined them. They’re not even situated conveniently or anything, and they certainly haven’t treated me particularly well.

I’m awaiting the results of some legal wranglings at the moment, and a few one-off payments that would be knacked up by my changing my bank details right now. But once they’re over and done with, I’ve got a refuge picked out (that pays 8% interest!) and I’m flying the coop.

so this is a fairley bland goal but i hate hate hate my bank! they are awfull and have been nothing but a pain in my beeeehind this last few years :-*
so im now in the position where im starting a new job on Monday morning and starting uni in september and i really want a change. probably should have done it before now but theres not an evil bank managers chance of getting in to heaven im sticking with them all through uni
any reccomendations will be greatly appreciated :D