Halifax Student Current Account Reviews

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Halifax Student Current Account
★☆☆☆☆
1.2
11.0% of users recommend this
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  • Customer Service

  • Ease of Use

  • Overdraft Facility

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“As far as i knew i had a Halifax Student Current...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 05/06/2009

As far as i knew i had a Halifax Student Current Account but got charged a ridiculous £93 for being £20 overdrawn when i don't have an overdraft!! They have no right taking my money. They should of at least told me through letter, there were not enough funds in my bank for any direct debts!!So i'm looking for a new student account with someone else.

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“Highstreet bank offering overdraft facility, online...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 14/04/2009

Highstreet bank offering overdraft facility, online banking, banks in most highstreets and towns and cities. Halifax Student Current Account has an interest free overdraft as a student or so I thought!! This overdraft is on a time limit and although the HBOS authorized this facility, failed to inform me of a 6 year limit ( I am carrying out a 2nd degree)and I am now paying charges on an overdraft I thought was interest free.

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“So when I went to university I thought that the most...”

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written by sc86 on 14/04/2009

So when I went to university I thought that the most logical thing to do would be to change my account to a student account with my current bank Halifax. How wrong was I! After I left uni they began charging me interest onmy account each month of £20 and a further £39 for being over my arranged limit due to them charging me interest on what is supposed to be a interest free account. So I just rung Halifax and the man on the phone expresses that I am in deep dept and we need to come to an arrangement to pay off my over draft immediatly. He then asked me to pay off the amount immediatly. I explaained that this would be immpossible. I was then 'advised' to seek help from a financial advisor. I am not impressed with this company and next month will be paying them off so that I no longer have to deal with them.

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“Opening a Halifax Student Current Account was quick...”

★★☆☆☆

written by mattaius86 on 03/03/2009

Opening a Halifax Student Current Account was quick and easy once you pay the £100 opening deposit. I banked with HSBC for the first 3 years of university and they gave me a £1250 overdraft, in my final year I decided this was not enough in the final year so I made the switch to Halifax who were offering £3000 to students in their first year..................................so naive! I went into the branch quite disgruntled when I got my card, cheque book etc and found I only had £500 overdraft. After a lot of wrangling they bumped it up to £1000 ( £250 down on HSBC) and over the last 6 months I have been to the branch 5 times and made loads of phone calls and written two letters they just wont shift it, even though I have had happy dealings with Halifax in the past and I have waved the advert at them on many occasions.

Last week I made a fatal mistake, I bought something on my debit card which unbeknown to me took me overdrawn. My other bank would not let me go overdrawn in this way (it should just decline the payment like at a cash point) but halifax were more than happy too, and more than happy to send me a letter charging me £20 going over overdrawn fee, + a £28 fee for going out of my arranged overdraft + another £20 fee the next day because I bought something else still not knowing I was overdrawn. So basically Im being charged £62 for going £41 ovedrawn with my debit card!

Time to get a better bank I think, Halifax is not exactly student friendly in my experience!

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479292_Ehsanulhaq's Response to 445261_mattaius86's Review

Written on: 25/08/2009

First of all i hade been with Halifax since 2006 and i never found anything done with me like this. If they gave you a limit then why you exceed your limit, that's your fault no the bank's fault. Next time be limted in life.

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“I had an account with halifax while working full time...”

★★★★☆

written by phoebe51 on 25/11/2008

I had an account with halifax while working full time on a gap year. No problems. Then I decided to go to uni, and they changed from a normal account to student now problem. My first year my overdraft was £1250, since then in the past 3 years I have increased it a number of times, now at £2750, no problems.

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“I applied for a Halifax student account at the end of...”

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written by shristinlea on 15/10/2008

I applied for a Halifax student account at the end of August. Two weeks later I hadn ' t received any communication through the post so I went into the branch and asked why. They then informed me that you have to put £100 in the account in order to action it (very silly under the circumstances that its a student account!). One week later I went into the branch and put in £100. They said everything had been actioned and I should receive a cheque book and debit card through the post. One week later my cheque book arrived but there was no sign of the debit card. I was patient and waited another week (taking into account the fact that I was almost ready to leave for university) still no sign of the card. I then rang up Halifax and said I still haven't received the card and I was then to be told that they haven ' t even actioned it yet. They said they would action it for me and it would take 7-10 working days. Two weeks later (and by this time I was already in university) I phoned home to ask if it had come and still no sign of any post. I then rang up again asking for it to be posted out because my accommodation needs to be paid for in three days and I have no debit card to do it. They then replied saying that I have no overdraft (which I find difficult to understand due to the fact its a student account!) and I said I need an overdraft and they then offered me £1000 (a very pitiful amount compared to other banks). In a matter of urgency I then demanded them to transfer the money from my account to the student accommodation office, and I finally got that problem resolved. A week later I am now still waiting for my debit card but once it comes I am closing that account and going to RBS. I am still without a debit card to this day and will never use Halifax again.

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“Be aware of the high overdraft offer. Whilst they did...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by scott1707 on 27/08/2008

Be aware of the high overdraft offer. Whilst they did offer me UP TO £3000 I think it is very unlikely I will get that in year 1 or even in future years. Out of all the banks I spoke to they actually offered me the lowest. I have an average credit rating; I ' m 22 and have been employed for 6 years. They told me the only way you would get that high overdraft is if you already banked with them and had a proven track record.

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“I chose to open my student account with Halifax, as...”

★★☆☆☆

written by emma louise on 06/12/2007

I chose to open my student account with Halifax, as knew i would be tight for money at universty, and figured that the 2750 overdraft could come in helpful as oppose to the free gift other banks were offering. However, i have been informed that i cannot increase my overdraft above 1000. Therefore i would recommend people read through the small print or opt for the free gift instead!

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“What is the point of a bank account with a cheque...”

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written by Angrystudent on 13/11/2007

What is the point of a bank account with a cheque book(who takes cheques these days) no cheque guarentee card and no debit card how do I access the money? And had to open with 100.00!

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“Customer since baby, now 18, opened student account...”

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written by gellie on 14/10/2007

Customer since baby, now 18, opened student account online, took 3 weeks for them to answer, they sent me a cheque book, 4 weeks later still no card, still no pin number. Thankfully I have an other account or I would be at uni with no access to money. Very disappointed with Halifax. I really will have to think about changing Banks. Lovely helpful people in local agency, shame about the rest.

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“Halifax are grabbing the headlines, drawing in...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by yvonnecrowle on 19/09/2007

Halifax are grabbing the headlines, drawing in applications from students with promises of a £2,750 interest-free overdraft. However, this is very subtly qualified during the application process, and they end up offering individuals far less, and less than banks which practice straightforward honest advertising - viz:

Halifax - come to us and get £2,750 interest free overdraft for up to 5 years - sub-text (never made explicit) - er, only if you have previously had a well-maintained credit account with us (pretty difficult for most 18 years olds to aspire to)

Compare NatWest - offers £1,250 - but you can apply to extend this once you have a track record, and that too will be interest free.


It is not clear what the hidden agenda is, but it is certainly there. They will imply that they are declining because your Experian score is below par; puzzled, you spend £5.98 to find out that your score is good, as you would expect. They are then extremely coy about why they have declined you. They seem to miss the point that someone with a good credit record, of stable background, and about to embark on a degree course is a potential investment in the future.

We are going to NatWest.

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“I went to my local halifax branch in sheffield to...”

★★★☆☆

written by claracluff on 29/08/2007

I went to my local halifax branch in sheffield to change my current account over to a student account. I was advised by staff this was possible, but when I went to actually do this I was advised it wasnt possible. You are not allow to just upgrade your current account to a studnet account (which meant i would only not pay interest on my over draft nothing else!) I HAD to open a new student account. I said this surely wasn't necessary as i have an existing account. They filled in my application and wrote to me 3 days later declining my application due to my credit score?? i have no idea why or how they do this when i am an existing customer and they wont discuss their decision with me either?

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“With my Halifax Student Current Account they told me...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by tew on 01/06/2007

With my Halifax Student Current Account they told me my overdraft limit was £1000 max this week, even though I've already got £1500!?! Last month they told me I can have £2700!?! They try and sell you loans and credit cards left right and centre but don't like helping in the areas that most student need help. Been with Halifax for years and now I'm jumping ship!

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“My main concern with Halifax is that they advertise...”

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written by tillywho on 28/11/2006

My main concern with Halifax is that they advertise the availability of a £2700 overdraft, when in reality they actually offered me £500. I agree with other points made on this page. Considering they offer no 'incentives' such as MP3 players or a Railcard (neither of which I need), and advertise a generous overdraft (don't misunderstand me - I was never expecting the full amount from day one - more around the half way mark) but £500? And to access I needed to pay £100 at the time of opening and £400 per quarter (I am a research student and my finances can be a tad erratic).

Considering the overdraft etc are incentives to attract future high earners like graduates, Halifax really need to reevaluate their offer.

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“As a loyal customer for years, with a current account,...”

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written by kweisberg on 14/09/2006

As a loyal customer for years, with a current account, savings account, and ISA's all in healthy credit, I was declined a student account, which I desperately need as I'm going to study for 4 years in London at great expense!!

I also claimed for 3 charges Halifax made to my account which they shouldn't have done. They acknowledged their mistake after legal action, and we signed a contract with them agreeing to pay back all the money, but so far they haven't. And they said it does not affect my statutory rights! But they won't give me an account!

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“I opened an account 2 months ago as it looked better...”

★★☆☆☆

written by kimkimbers72 on 04/09/2006

I opened an account 2 months ago as it looked better than most deals. However, I was only offered £1000 overdraft and not the advertised £1900! I asked why this was and I was told 'you only get up to £1900', I said well I've been mis-informed then. I left the branch and phoned them to see if the story was the same - I was told that a request would be put in for the full amount. Weeks later I got a letter saying it had been declined 'due to a review of finances.' I was in credit! ...I went into the branch again and the young guy I spoke to there said that it does take ages and id have to just try again and see what they say as it was 50-50. I thought ok!?? So I got the full amount re-requested last week and again I got the same letter - I'm not impressed! I'm going to go elsewhere because £1000 overdraft is at the bottom end of overdrafts from what I've seen.

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“I left school at 16 and opened a current account with...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by alby20002000 on 21/08/2006

I left school at 16 and opened a current account with Halifax, and I went to work full time for about half a year before I decided to go college. I have been at college for three years and have now finished (summer 2006), and I am now off to Salford University. Because of some problems with my student loan, which means I will receive it late, I decided to open a student bank account at Halifax (because on paper the account looks really good and offers a large fee free overdraft). It is vital I get a decent fee free overdraft to cover my living expenses at University until my loan comes through. I went in with my course confirmation offer from UCAS and passport, and details of my current account I have had with them for four years. They asked me lots of questions about me and university (accommodation, employment, course name etc). They declined my application for the account, saying I had not built up enough of a credit rating. What does this mean? I've been a full time student for 3 1/2 years, and I have put at least £1000, if not more (some years £2000 or £3000) every year into my account. At the time of this review I have £530 in my current account, and this means I don't have enough credit?

The only thing that I have ever done bad with my current account is I have AOL coming out as a direct debit, and while I was at college I had to pay the £20 a month into my account to cover the direct debit. On three occasions I paid it in too late and got charged £39, plus my AOL did not get paid, and every time I paid off the charge and AOL within a month, so I was out of the red.

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“I have had a student account with Halifax for 3 years....”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by judz on 14/08/2006

I have had a student account with Halifax for 3 years. The customer service I have received has been terrible. They have repeatedly changed the status of my account to a non-student account without notification, and they charged me for the privilege of changing it back. They have no graduate plan at all, and interest on my overdraft upon graduation jumped from my 0% student rate to through the roof. I have found them to inconsiderate and uncooperative. They have repeatedly messed up my direct debit payments and charged me for their mistakes. Some, but not all of this was grudgingly sorted out by them at a cost of a lot of personal time spent in queues in their branches. I'm very disappointed with the service I have received from them.

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“I've paid about £10k over 2 years into my Halifax...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by Oby1 on 12/08/2006

I've paid about £10k over 2 years into my Halifax Student Current Account, and I have not received a penny in interest. The minute I went £15 in the red, they charged me £39. It is now illegal for banks to charge more than £12 unauthorised overdraft fee.

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“I have had an account with Halifax since 2003 (Current...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by rui001rui on 24/06/2006

I have had an account with Halifax since 2003 (Current account), and in all these years they did not give me any privileges, such as overdrafts. However, when a direct debit is paid in my account and the money is not there, they are too quick in charging £39. I have applied for an overdraft but they do not give it to me (maybe because they are getting more in not giving). So far (2006) I have paid something like £273 in charges. Last month I applied for a student account because I am off to university, but it was declined. I am going to HSBC because it seems that they are one of the best.

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