I don’t think it’s that. They’re not going to be sharing any secrets.
I think it’s more that the views and opinions of those who work for finance related companies will likely be very different to the views that the majority of people have as they don’t have the same background in-depth knowledge of the industry.
I think the point of the ‘community’ is to understand the general customer and how they think.
But because you work in a call centre for Aviva doesn’t make your opinions any less valid. You aren’t getting the NatWest CFO.
Seems a very backward process as some joe public probably wouldn’t be interested in communities and whatever else, the more likely want a product that just works out the box.
I’m sure many opened the account and either left it for dead or closed it because of no direct debit support or CASS, and possibly aren’t interested why.
Same for any other bank.
Are we sure this email is genuine? Anyone else got one?
It’s definitely not genuine. I contacted Chase about beta testing DDs and they like “lol wot?”.
Customer support may have no knowledge or not be able to disclose the beta testing. Some beta testing involves NDA’s. I’ve had to sign a few in the past.
Chase was in closed internal and partly external beta testing before the UK launch. They could have easily kept the same testers to test new features. They could also be doing what Monzo sometimes do, blind test features with groups of users before a full roll out.
I’m saying it now. The wording of that email is CLAPPED. Fake news bye everyone 
It’s genuine but just to those customers who are able to test out the feature.
Who would want to be a beta tester for Direct Debits??
It’s not some innovative banking feature like Flex, or magical budgeting, it’s paying your mobile bill. And the beta testing; if it works, big deal, and if it doesn’t work, I’d rather someone else’s credit report rather than mine got messed up due to some ‘testing’ thanks very much.
Come on Chase. And stop sending links in emails too.
I mean to be fair Monzo has had testing for equally strange features so I don’t think that’s particularly fair. Ensuring it all works.
Don’t get me wrong I’m still not exactly sure why they weren’t there at launch; unless they are doing something different with them (which I doubt) but it’s a little unfair to scoff when Monzo have labs (which is essentially beta testing) for things as well.
DD is not a strange feature to be honest, its like beta testing bank transfers, who would want to risk testing that. You just make it work and launch it when its a very fundamental requirement of accounts, you have internal/private testing until it works. They will no doubt get it sorted but it perfectly normal to criticise their messy approach.
Like I said Monzo and Starling were at the start of a big fintech movement so they had more leeway. They were not trying to claim they were big banks and anyone launching now need to be a lot more feature ready to properly compete.
Starling did launch with Direct Debits on day 1, but had been in private testing for about a year.
Metro launched with everything on day 1 (including a branch) but that was a bit different as they were looking to be a high-street alternative, so it was more of a big-bang launch. They were also the first truly new bank authorised in over 100 years - so had a lengthy pre-launch process to get everything in place and heavy regulatory scrutiny.
Monzo obviously didn’t because it was initially only a prepaid card, but I think Direct Debits could be set up from day 1 of the current account preview.
It’s unusual, although not unheard of, for a serious banking product to launch without them.
Revolut, Dozens and the Wise Borderless account all support Direct Debits now but didn’t at launch. That’s arguably due to a shift in focus from the initial offering, though, at Wise and Revolut especially.
I suppose while technically a current account I view this currently as a prepaid account that I can have funds transferred into which means I don’t get too caught up in the outrage they don’t have direct debits right now.
Chase aren’t making a big song and dance about this, it’s clear and upfront and the testing is a small group that we wouldn’t even know about had it not been on here.
If it’s not for you, fair enough, go about your day! Even without direct debits, it’s by far the most rewarding banking I’ve ever had - if it’s only for a year so be it.
Ahh fair enough. DDs can’t come quick enough, so I’m glad it’s a genuine test.
Is Direct Debits beta test covered by DD guarantee?!
Is the guarantee not a condition of just offering them? I actually don’t know.
Yes it will be, it’s part of the payment scheme
Just to add to this as well:
When Monzo launched the current account preview, a big part of the testing was specifically to try setting up Direct Debits using the new sort code to test which merchants rejected the sort code or had errors in the setup.
This was to ensure that all the biggest and most common companies to use Direct Debits were tested and verified as working, so the launch could go smoothly once everyone’s new account was rolled out. The testing period allowed Monzo to directly engage with those merchants that had out of date sort code databases, and help them update their processes to ensure they could accept Monzo accounts. There was even a thread here on the community to track it.
So it’s not like Chase wanting to test Direct Debits with a subset of customers is crazy at all, it makes lots of sense.
It wasnt testing, it was a problem with merchants not updating (aka outside Monzo’s control) and if I recall Chase are using an existing sort code JP Morgan had not a brand new one that wont exist?
It will be interesting to see how it goes I guess, they may have more beta things that are separate from normal bank DD use.
Chase are using a new sort code which has been allocated to JP Morgan Europe (the legal name of the company which operates Chase UK). With any new sort code, or even an existing sort code being switched on for a new payment scheme, there is a period where you need to wait for merchants to update their databases in order to accept it (most only update with a frequency of, at the most, monthly).
My guess is (although I don’t know, obviously) that Chase want to try and get this bedding-in period sorted as part of the beta and then only launch Direct Debits when they are confident that the vast majority of merchants will accept the sort code.
Otherwise, imagine how bad it would look if they promoted that they now have Direct Debit support, “normal” (non bank-enthusiast) customers went to try and set them up at various businesses, and then they all failed! It would not go down well.
Far better to start in this limited capacity.