My Switching Bonus Didn't Arrive — What to Do

It's genuinely common to feel like a bonus is "late," when in fact it's still within the bank's normal processing window. Here's how to tell the difference between normal waiting and a genuine problem.

The realistic timeline

1. Days 1-7: Your CASS switch itself completes — Direct Debits, balance, and standing orders transfer
2. Following weeks: You meet the offer's conditions — minimum pay-in, card spend, active Direct Debits
3. Verification period: The bank checks you've genuinely met every condition — this alone can take several weeks
4. Payment: Once verified, most banks pay within 60-90 days of your original switch request, though this varies by bank

What to check if you're past the stated window

• Did you genuinely meet every condition? Re-check the exact pay-in amount, card spend requirement, and Direct Debit count against what you actually did — a small shortfall on any one condition can silently disqualify the whole bonus
• Check your statement description carefully — bonuses often appear under a specific label (for example, Barclays' pays as "Switch Reward") rather than something obviously labelled "bonus," so it's worth checking you haven't simply missed it
• Check for any bank communication — some banks email or text when a bonus is confirmed or if there's an issue with your application

If it's genuinely overdue

Once you're confident you've met every condition and you're past the bank's own stated payment window, contact their switching or customer service team directly and ask for a specific update on your bonus status. Have your switch date and the exact conditions you met ready, since this speeds up their ability to check your case.

General guidance based on published bank payment timelines. Always check the specific terms of any offer directly with the bank, as payment windows vary.