Should I Switch to First Direct?

Kavanne

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Yeah, but it's a disciplinary matter if you go overlimit...

Which surely you have done/or are about to do if you get charges....meh. Natwest do not afford such luxuries to their staff but my OD is only for emergencies and I've only ever used it once, lol.

Do you get the Plus account for free? (That's the name of the packaged account, right? Can't seem to get onto the website right now)

noah271007

Kavanne wrote: »

Which surely you have done/or are about to do if you get charges....meh. Natwest do not afford such luxuries to their staff but my OD is only for emergencies and I've only ever used it once, lol.

Do you get the Plus account for free? (That's the name of the packaged account, right? Can't seem to get onto the website right now)

I personally don't rate the HSBC plus packaged account. There are better ones out there to be honest if you shop around.

Extant

noah271007 wrote: »

Also is there a criteria that anyone who works for the banks must have a good credit history? Or is that a myth?

Speaking for Barclays, you are credit scored as part of your hiring process. If you were hired before a certain time you may also be credit scored when switching jobs internally.

Although exactly what they're looking for is a big secret and they don't like sharing it, our Human Resources are at least looking for no defaults, CCJs, and in some cases bankruptcy - I know of at least one would-be business manager who was turned away on such grounds.

I doubt they're looking for good credit - but I suppose they might in some roles. They're likely more looking for people who are high risk with money. Someone who's had a mortgage go to repossession or similar probably isn't someone you want selling insurance in your banking hall.

Extant

Kavanne wrote: »

Which surely you have done/or are about to do if you get charges....meh. Natwest do not afford such luxuries to their staff but my OD is only for emergencies and I've only ever used it once, lol.

Do you get the Plus account for free? (That's the name of the packaged account, right? Can't seem to get onto the website right now)

Royal Bank of Scrooge? What do staff get then?

Lokolo

This thread is quite interesting!

Are any of you allowed to offer anything (limited of course) to friends or family (even within reason)?

apt

What I really like about First Direct is that when you ring up you get straight through to an employee who is intelligible and well-trained. You do not waste your time pressing numbers to hear pre-recorded messages or being annoyed by muzak. FD were also much better at introducing faster payments than many banks. The interest and fee free £250 overdraft is also handy.

Extant

Lokolo wrote: »

This thread is quite interesting!

Are any of you allowed to offer anything (limited of course) to friends or family (even within reason)?

I can't really offer anything anymore, since I don't work in a branch/have access to retail systems anymore. But even when I did, Barclays staff are forbidden from dealing with their friends or family's business - we had a branch manager sacked in my area for refunding his relation's paid referral fees!

Sam1903

been with FD for 3 years and having worked in the financial industry previously can say they are absolutely fabulous.
You get to speak to someone in Uk and they have always been great with me.
Even rang to say that i was in a postive offset situation and to transfer the difference to another account to get the best out of my accounts.
(They get nothing from me at all as I totally offset my mortgage against savings)

The_Money_Saver_2

My application went in recently, and has been approved. Am impressed thus far! Called them to query the process, and was told they are inundated with applications, but were happy to give me account details over the telephone! I understand I will be under the old terms and conditions - but I shall credit the account with just over the £1,500 so I assume it won't make much of a difference to me, i.e., not having to pay the "10 per month fee.

However, my Mum was also thinking of going for the account too, but given that she earns less than £1,500 per month, she'll not qualify for the fee free account. Save for having the mortgage product, does anyone know of another way, or is it simply that she'll have to pay it if she wants the account?

ShelfStacker_3

If you don't pay in 1.5k a month or hold the mortgage, you have to pay. All the other loopholes are gone now I'm afraid.