First Direct - name and praise

Joannaclaire

Just got our offset mortgage approved - the application only went to them (via our broker) on Tuesday. Am most impressed at their promptness and customer service. I was expecting it would be several weeks!

Am hoping this is the way things will continue to be with them for the duration of our mortgage...

stanmoresaver

Joannaclaire wrote:

Just got our offset mortgage approved - the application only went to them (via our broker) on Tuesday. Am most impressed at their promptness and customer service. I was expecting it would be several weeks!

Am hoping this is the way things will continue to be with them for the duration of our mortgage...

First Directs customer service for banking is second to none! Not had a lot of experience of their mortgage though.

Do you mean approved in principle, or offered?

deepseadiver

Got to agree. Great service so far. No pushy credit card offers either. Just waiting to transfer my salary over to them prior to firts mortgage payment. Six years to go hopefully.

penrhyn

I have a first direct offset mortgage and find it works very well for me.
I had a problem when about to move due to my buyer not being able to complete on the agreed date.
I rang First Direct for help, on a bank holiday, and within a couple of hours had agreed let me have additional funds so the move would go ahead on schedule. As it happened I didn't need it, but I have nothing but praise for their willingness to help.
....and when you ring you get a real human straight away.

stanmoresaver

penrhyn wrote:

....and when you ring you get a real human straight away.

Especially when you use their land line number instead of the 0845!!!


http://www.saynoto0870.com/

Joannaclaire

stanmoresaver wrote:

Do you mean approved in principle, or offered?

Offered! Took just the two days for them to do it. We have yet to recieve the paperwork, but assume that will arrive tomorrow or Sat.

We also applied for current accounts proior to this so get £50 each as well once we transfer our pay across from the other banks - so not bad going :-)

zag2me

I had a similar experience with egg mortgages, they where really quick and easy to talk to, everything went perfectly.

vji6697

Been with FD since they started, excellent bank, never a problem, no offshore call centre, no voicemail routing system. Got an offset mortgage with them which has save me shedloads.

The flexibility is fantastic

Patr100

I've been with FD for years - their savings rates aren't always so competitive but for service much better than the useless Natwest.

Daniel_B

Top stuff Joanna :j

I'm a fellow FD customer, been with them for around 10 years if memory serves, took out a standard mortgage 4 years ago, and converted to a Smart (as it was called at the time) Mortgage 3 years ago.

You may have seen me harp on about them before, but they have never given me cause for complaint/worry/stress.

I see loads of people complaining about various other establishments, and am glad that is not part of my daily life.

Finances are best when the management of it is made simple.

Cheers

Dan

crankup

Gotta agree - I have been with them since the early days. Call Centre staff are always polite and helpful. Better than any of the ones who use offshore call centres. Its amazing how HSBC can get it so wrong, whilst FD get it right!
I once had a complaint about a dunce in an HSBC when I went to get some cash to pay for a car. Not strictly FDs fault, but they were straight on to the branch laying down the law, and sent me a bottle of red too!

I reckon I get a flyer a week hassling me to take up their mortgage - but I'll stick with Nationwide until I have something to offset it with!