Martin Lewis reveals how to make up to £200 before Christmas by switching bank accounts – but warns that certain people shouldn’t try it

The money expert from Manchester told This Morning about credit scores
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Martin Lewis has revealed how you can save up to £200 before Christmas – by simply switching banks.

The money-saving expert, 51, from Manchester, told This Morning viewers how they can take advantage of firms which are ‘willing to legally bribe you for your service’ – but warned that anyone looking to take credit out should hold off.

The savvy spender was answering a question from an audience member who asked ‘Is it a good idea to switch bank accounts to claim the benefit?

‘I’m looking to change my bank account to take advantage of the money offered to swap. I’ve done this before.

‘Do the banks do everything for you or will I have to contact my direct debit companies. What will I need to do regarding my benefit payments?’

Martin Lewis , 51, told This Morning viewers how they can take advantage of firms which are ‘willing to legally bribe you for your service’

Martin said that for the most part, you don’t need to do anything at all, and encouraged people to get their ‘free money’.

‘When I’ve done polls on this in the past, 80 per cent of people tell me switching is easy and hassle free,’ he advised.

‘The system changed years ago. We now have this seven working day switch service, so the switch will take around 10 days on average from the time you apply assuming you’re accepted to the time that you get through.’

The expert explained that the new bank who takes care of all this, including moving over all standing orders and direct debits.

‘They will close your old bank account and all payments to the old bank account number will automatically be forwarded to the new bank account.’

He recommended those who receive benefits payments make sure they’re not doing the switch in the ten-day period around when the payment is due in ‘just in case’.

‘It’s also worth getting in touch with a benefits agency to tell it the new bank account number,’ Martin said.

The financial expert said he’s known people to be ‘serial switchers’ who make ‘thousands’ by swinging between bank accounts – but said you need to be careful if you’ve got upcoming credit commitments.

Martin said that for the most part, you don’t need to do anything at all, and encouraged people to get their ‘free money’

‘People in my office, in my team have made over a grand doing this, people have made over two grand doing it,’ he said.

‘It can have an impact on your credit score though, doing that, so it’s only for people who aren’t about to apply for anything for credit.

‘It is free money but you can only be a new customer – because these are new customer switch deals – normally you then have to wait at least a couple of years before you’re counted as a new customer again so that’s where it gets difficult.

‘It takes a little bit of work to do it serially – just to do it once is very easy.’

Martin said he even has a guide on how do it, and teased that one element includes a ‘mule account’.

‘You make yourself a bank account you don’t really use and then you just use it as a mule from one to the other, making sure you meet their minimum criteria when you do it,’ he explained.

In terms of making a switch just to take advantage of the benefits, Martin said it’s ‘absolutely worth it’.

‘You’ve got Nationwide at the moment it’ll pay you £200 and has a linked 8 per cent regular savings account you could put up to £200 a month in.

‘First Direct will give you £175 for switching to it, it’s got a 7 per cent linked regular savings account, a fee-free international card and has top rated for service so if service is important for you that’s a good one.

‘Club Lloyds will give you £175 quid and a year of Disney Plus as part of the switch.

‘I mean they are paying for your custom so unless your current bank account makes you really happy, gives you a massage and tickles your feet you may as well go get paid, make some easy money just in time for Christmas.’

He also addressed credit scores in further depths while answering another viewer question about whether bank switches affect it.

‘The new bank account will do a credit search as long as its a bank account that has an overdraft facility,’ he said.

However, he explained that this doesn’t have to be a big deal.

‘Let’s just go back to basics – you don’t have a credit score. Nobody in the UK has a credit score,’ Martin added.

‘You may have been given one by a credit reference company but that is just its loose indication of what it thinks the average lender – how they would see you.’

He revealed that small changes on credit scores ‘don’t matter’ – as ‘every lender treats you differently based on its own wish list’.

Some may see closing down an account as a good sign because it means you’ve got less available credit.

However, others could see it as ‘evidence against longevity’.

‘If you did the serial switching it can affect your credit score,’ he advised. ‘Switching bank account will only likely have a small effect.

‘I wouldn’t do it if you were one month away from a mortgage application or from applying to an important balance transfer credit card.

‘But if you don’t have any plans in the next three to six months of anything you really need to do that’s important with your credit then I’d get on and do the bank switch.’

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