First Direct Queries

CopperPlate_2

Also, if you live in Scotland you can pay cheques into a branch of any Post Office using the special cheque deposit envelopes fd supply you with.

I cannot fault them. I was with smile previously and although they started out well, their customer service left a lot to be desired sometimes and the general uncompetitiveness of their products also rankled a bit given their 'ethical' tub thumping and fairness policy.

Now I'm with them, they've given me no reason to consider leaving.

EagerLearner

I have been with FD for 10 years now, best bank as far as I am concerned - easy to post cheques, easy to talk to them, great internet banking.

nzseries1

My $0.02:

Their Internet Banking is awful. It's ugly, confusing, and you can't even do things like change your address online. HSBC and A&L have much better online banking.

Can't really fault their call centre, although I've only had to ring them twice.

KiKi

I love them. Changed over so I could speak to humans who can never do enough to help me.

I'm happy with their internet banking; I don't need a wizzy page that does everything short of ordering my shopping for me. I can pay bills on it, see statements and send messages. Plenty enough for me!

When I realised at 2330 one night that I had a bill due to go out the next day that I didn't have quite enough money for (by about £2), I called and they arranged a fee free, interest free overdraft there and then, so when the payment left half an hour later I incurred no fees.

I can't fault their service at all, and IMO speaking to actual people in the UK quite frankly makes up for the fact that the online banking might not be as pretty or useful as other banks'.

KiKi

Flamer

Mmm, good and bad. I guess I will have a scout around and just see if I can make a comparison. Interesting to see that they are either liked or disliked with no aveerage comments. People seem really pleased or cant wait to leave.

Thanks for all those who have posted.

nzseries1

Addition to my last post:

I'm trying to send a secure message through their internet banking, and after I type out a big long message, it says "The service is currently unavailable"!! Why couldn't it have told me that before I wrote my message ???

I'll definitely be leaving First Direct after 6 months and get my £100 "service guarantee".

sparklygemster

Ive been with First Direct for a couple of years now and never had any problems with them, always got through fine on the phone and they've always been really helpful and friendly, and in the UK too, no matter what time of day or night ive had to call.

Easy to pay cheques into too, can either nip into town after work to do it at HSBC, or post it in one of their pre-paid envelopes they send out.

I find the internet banking easy to use too.

Edited to add: The text message banking is pretty good too, very easy to keep track of things, and its free!

CraigDavid

I can't fault First Direct at all. Been with most of the major banks over the years and FD have been the best by far. Their customer service is first class.

Flamer

Despite the faults of FD, they do seem to get the thumbs up. Although after having a look around, my existing bank, the A & L seem to get the best feedback. Is it a case of staying with, better the devil you know ?

username

Despite the faults of FD outlined above, they offered me £25 compensation for the supposed missed delivery of the card when I brought it to their attention the other day. Can't say fairer than that, I guess.