Vote with your feet and switch

BARCLAYS customers who are unhappy with the plan to cut off their Post Office cash access can hit the bank in the pocket by taking their business elsewhere.

Most banks, including Barclays, have signed up to the Current Account Switch Service (Cass).

This means they agree to transfer your account and payments, including all your direct debits and your salary, to another bank within seven working days.

First, pick the bank to which you want to move. Every week, Money Mail publishes a table of the best accounts, which is a good place to start. Savings Champion and MoneySavingExpert also list top deals on their websites.

Ask your new bank or building society to switch your account using Cass. You can do this online, over the telephone or at a branch.

You will need to sign a ‘Current Account Switch Agreement’ and ‘Current Account Closure Instruction’ form, which will both be given to you by the new provider.

Remember to have the details of your old account to hand — sort code, account number and debit card, plus details of any overdraft. You may also need to provide ID and proof of address.

Your account should be opened within seven working days. You can choose the switch date as long as it is at least seven working days from your application date and does not fall on a weekend or bank holiday.

If there are any problems, speak to your new bank. You will be covered by the Cass guarantee which means any charges incurred as a result of errors will be refunded.

You cannot use Cass to switch savings accounts or Isas. Joint current accounts can be switched with permission from both customers.

A number of banks also offer switching bonuses if you use Cass.

HSBC pays £175 — the most generous incentive on the market — if you switch to its Advance or Premier account. You’ll get £75 to move to a basic account.

NatWest offers £150 if you move by December 6. Lloyds pays £125 to switch to Club Lloyds or Club Lloyds Platinum by November 5.