Do Direct Debits need to have collected before a switch counts?

For some offers, yes. Most banks only require the Direct Debits to be active, but several want at least one to have actually taken a payment. That adds a full Bacs collection cycle — about five working days — to how early you need to start. Where an offer's terms are ambiguous, assume a collection is needed: being a week early costs about £1, being a day late costs the bonus.

Should Direct Debits be set up before or after starting the switch?

Before. The Current Account Switch Service moves whatever Direct Debits already exist on the old account; ones created after the switch starts may not be counted towards the bonus requirement, and the switch itself completes in seven working days, which is faster than a new Direct Debit can be confirmed and collected.

When do your Direct Debits need to be set up?

To switch to Barclays on Tue, 20 October 2026, your 2 Direct Debits need to be set up by Tue, 13 October 2026 — 5 working days earlier, because a Direct Debit Instruction takes three working days to be confirmed by the paying bank. The switch itself then completes on Thu, 29 October 2026.

Set them up today

Today is the last safe day for this switch date. Set them up today and the timings work; leave it until tomorrow and push the switch back.

1
Set the Direct Debits up by this date
Tue, 13 October 2026
The last safe day. Everything below follows from it.
2
Instruction confirmed, visible in your banking app
Fri, 16 October 2026
Three working days for the paying bank to lodge the Direct Debit Instruction.
3
Start the switch
Tue, 20 October 2026
Apply to the new bank and request a CASS switch.
4
Switch completes
Thu, 29 October 2026

Set up Direct Debits now — £3 each per month

No account needed

How many do you need?

2 separate Direct Debits from one setup — they appear as 2 distinct debits on your statement, which is what banks requiring 2+ DDs are checking for.

For how long?

Covers the switch and the wait for the bonus, then cancels itself — you will never pay more than £24.

We email you when your bonus lands and it's safe to cancel
Genuine Bacs Direct Debits — not card payments, so they count
Ends automatically after 4 months — cancel sooner any time

Planning more than one switch? Get a dated Switch Plan — £4.99

Get these dates as emails, on the day

Direct Debits, the requirements deadline, when the bonus is due, when it is safe to cancel, and when you can switch again. No account needed.

Switching toStarting on

Why early beats late, asymmetrically

A Direct Debit set up a week too early costs you about £1. One set up a day too late costs the whole bonus, because the bank checks the requirement at a fixed point and there is no appeal. Where an offer's wording is ambiguous about whether the Direct Debit must have collected or merely exist, assume it must have collected.

The other trap is ordering. CASS moves the Direct Debits that are already on your old account, and it completes in seven working days — faster than a brand-new Direct Debit can be confirmed and collected. Set them up first. See what counts as a Direct Debit and which offers need none at all.