Should I Switch to First Direct?

EarthBoy

DesG wrote: »

I've just been on their website to have a look and I can't get the answer to a question I have, do they provide postal statements every month?...

Yes they do. Like many of the banks now they will encourage you to go paperless and just get the statements online, but it's not compulsory and you can have the paper statements sent to you monthly if you want them.

DesG

Thanks for that EarthBoy, I'm actually surprised that they do! Cahoot don't do postal statements which is annoying me now.(Along with a whole host of other issues and their lack of FPS)

Can I punt some more questions up, I have read the information on their site, but things like this are hard to find answers for.

Can you lodge cheques,cash, foreign drafts, foreign currency etc over the counter in a HSBC branch? If so is there any delay in the clearance process?

The text message service, if you have an alert set up if your balance goes below zero, how long does it take for them to send you the text? With cahoot, their texts are sent the day after the event, absolutely useless.

Do you have to have cleared funds in your account the day before to cover any outgoing transactions, or do you have to be under your limit by midnight on the same day?

Do they provide a chequebook and how much is the cheque guarantee card for?

Can you cancel DD's in internet banking?

Are there any conditions on the £1500 funding requirement, can it be from multiple sources is it based on the calander month or some other criteria?

What happens if you don't pay in £1500 in a month, is the £10 charge automatically applied or is there any leeway before the underfunding charge applies? Last thing I would want to do is start moving current account if I lost my job!

Sorry for the long list of questions, but hey, I'd rather have the facts upfront than signup and be disappointed

Cheers, Des.

moz86

Ive recently signed up, so am still a very new customer but I'll answer the above I know....

I had a chequebook that I asked for.... but no cheque guaruntee card.

Yes you can cancel direct debits in online banking.

On the others, no idea Im afraid!

They are truly the best bank Ive ever been with. Really get the sense Im a valued customer.

Grade_A_Reject

The amazing thing with FD is how quickly they answer telephone calls, I've had calls answered on the first ring on more than one occasion, maybe the staff are psychic?

The only things I could fault with their service is the running balance on the online banking only shows a daily running total rather than a total after each transaction which makes reconciliation trickier when lots of things are coming in/out on the same day......and is it just me or does the ink on their mailings really really stink?

EarthBoy

You can pay cash and cheques in at HSBC branches, either over the counter or through the paying in machines. They send you a paying in book so that you can do this, or you can order one from them if you don't get one automatically. I don't know about foreign drafts and foreign currency because I have never tried, but I presume you can. I don't know about the text messages as I only have weekly statement texts.

I've got a cheque guarantee card (£100) but I have been a customer for years. I have heard from others on this forum that only existing customers get cheque guarantee cards, and new customers don't, but I don't know how true this is.

You can cancel direct debits through internet banking.

I don't about your other questions, but why not ring them and ask? They are very friendly.

brookerbabyisababy

does the colour on the numbers on your card come off?

EmilyC

ShelfStacker wrote: »

And they won't accept you if you're bankrupt or in any kind of IVA or debt management plan. As in, turned down flat. IIRC they'd also close your account if you went into such a thing while you banked with them, not 100% sure.

I have banked with First Direct for 15 years. My income has recently dropped and I have tried to discuss the matter with them and they have been totally unsympathetic and bordering on hostile.

This month I missed one loan payment - because another organisation wrongly took a derit debit payment twice - leaving my account empty. I phoned First Direct to explain and told them that I would make the missing payment as soon as the direct debit was refunded. They seemed to accept this. However, the refund hadn't been made after 14 days and the payment was still outstanding - so First Direct closed all my accounts. They didn't even bother to tell me that they had done this. I only found out when I was in the supermarket with a trolley full of shopping and three children in tow and I was told that none of my cards would be accepted. I had to call First Direct who then told me 'I no longer had a banking relationship with First Direct'.

I wouldn't recommend them to anybody - but certainly don't consider them if there is any danger at all of your income dropping - if you are self employed, in an industry where you might lose your job, considering part time employment or a woman considering having children. They don't want your business and will be extremely unpleasant if your circumstances change.

D_Man_3

I got a cheque book and debit card with no cheque guarantee, but I suppose they don't issue these due to the fact that not many places accept cheques these days.

I personally would never be in a position where I'd write a cheque at the POS so I have no requirement for that.

menhim_2

I am trying to make up my mine whether to close my 1st Direct account as I find their online banking very infuriating and confusing. It is nice to be able to speak to someone who you can understand and can understand you, but I am likely to that once a year if that as I much prefer online banking.

lr1277

DesG wrote: »

Thanks for that EarthBoy, I'm actually surprised that they do! Cahoot don't do postal statements which is annoying me now.(Along with a whole host of other issues and their lack of FPS)

Can I punt some more questions up, I have read the information on their site, but things like this are hard to find answers for.

Can you lodge cheques,cash, foreign drafts, foreign currency etc over the counter in a HSBC branch? If so is there any delay in the clearance process?

The text message service, if you have an alert set up if your balance goes below zero, how long does it take for them to send you the text? With cahoot, their texts are sent the day after the event, absolutely useless.
The text messages get sent out at about 7am every morning. Reflects all transactions upto that time. You will not be texted if you go overdrawn during the day.

Do you have to have cleared funds in your account the day before to cover any outgoing transactions, or do you have to be under your limit by midnight on the same day?
I make sure I am in the black by midnight. Easy when transferring savings from one of their accounts as this is instantaneous.

Do they provide a chequebook and how much is the cheque guarantee card for?
Apparantly no more cheque guarantee cards for new customers.

Can you cancel DD's in internet banking?

Are there any conditions on the £1500 funding requirement, can it be from multiple sources is it based on the calander month or some other criteria?

What happens if you don't pay in £1500 in a month, is the £10 charge automatically applied or is there any leeway before the underfunding charge applies? Last thing I would want to do is start moving current account if I lost my job!

Sorry for the long list of questions, but hey, I'd rather have the facts upfront than signup and be disappointed

Cheers, Des.

Sorry don't know about the rest. Give them a ring.