I dont want a student account please! (Halifax)

Member Name: stacie17

Product:	Halifax
Date:	03/11/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good staff, no other problems with the bank

Disadvantages: I just wanted a normal account not a student one, but I shouldnt have to pay for it!

Honestly, I have mixed reviews on this bank. I took an account with Halifax many years ago (5 to be precise), and the main reason for this was becuase there was a halifax bank in my local village which made it great access. But of course this closed down not long after I opened the account typical!

Anyway as I was a student, I had a student account and I had a Visa Electron card, I had no problems at all with this card or the bank and never had to go in. The bank was still in a local town which meant it was just a bus ride away.

My card lasted me throughout my time at both college and university, and I still never encountered any problems. But as I was becoming more of an online shopper, and wanting to book hotels/holidays by card I was finding that not many places were accepting the Electron so it was time to update my card and get a Visa Debit card, this is where I have some queries with Halifax.

I went into the branch, armed with ID and asked if I could simply switch over from an electron card to a debit card. I also wanted to switch over from a student account, although I am still a student going back to university, I feel that I wasnt really benefiting from any of their student offers so I thought I may as well switch my account now, as next year I wont be a student anymore!

The woman took me through to another room where she took all of my details, she was a very polite nice woman who was helpful. It then came to the subject of switching my student account, she said that I should still have the student account as you get a free overdraft (or something along those lines) you may be shocked to hear that even though I am a student I am good with money! And have never been in my overdraft or have any intentions of doing so. So I asked if I could change to another account. The ONLY other account which she claimed I could move to was one where I had to pay around £12 a month for certain benefits, which again did me no favours so would just be money down the drain.

The only negative point about this woman was how she kept referring back to the student account having a free overdraft! Not all of us students are rubbish with money! Well, in the end I opted (well I didnt really have a choice) was for the student account! I cant complain about the account, it serves it purpose but I just wanted to get out of the 'Student' part of it!

If I have to (when I have to) go back in again next year when I am no longer a student, I will be interested to see what kind of account I will be able to open, as I wont be paying a certain sum a month for extra benefits! If this was the case then I have to say that I will definately be switching banks!

In the end I didnt manage to just switch my card from an electron to a debit, I had a whole new debit card with a whole new student account! Although as long as its got money in I'l be happy!

I do have to say that the staff in the halifax banks have always been helpful, friendly and polite.

Summary: Offer me another account thats not for students!