Leaving First Direct & Joining A&L

wombler

EarthBoy wrote: »

They are not trying to "wiggle out of paying out" at all. They are just trying to make sure that they only pay out for genuine reasons, i.e. customers who are leaving them because they are dissatisfied with the service. If someone had no problems with the service, and just wants a free £100, this isn't a genuine reason and is contrary to the terms of the offer.

Do you work for First Direct?! Seems from what I've read that people have followed their terms and given valid reasons for wanting to leave and have still had trouble actually getting the money. If you're going to have a "£100 if you're not happy with our service" guarantee and slap it all over your publicity material then you should expect people to take advantage of that. Personally I think FD are pretty over-rated and I'm not at all sad to be leaving.

EarthBoy

wombler wrote: »

Do you work for First Direct?! Seems from what I've read that people have followed their terms and given valid reasons for wanting to leave and have still had trouble actually getting the money. ....

No I don't work for them, but I have been a customer for many years and have always been very happy with them.

If customers are genuinely dissatisfied, then fair enough, but it seems from what I've read that some people only joined First Direct in the first place with the intention of eventually leaving and claiming another £100. That is not a genuine reason, that's deceit.

wombler

EarthBoy wrote: »

No I don't work for them, but I have been a customer for many years and have always been very happy with them.

If customers are genuinely dissatisfied, then fair enough, but it seems from what I've read that some people only joined First Direct in the first place with the intention of eventually leaving and claiming another £100. That is not a genuine reason, that's deceit.

Well, I didn't start the thread to have this discussion, but since you're waving the flag for HSBC here's the wording on their welcome pack:

"We're very confident you'll like being with First Direct. So confident that we'll put our money on it, in the form of our Service Guarantee: if you're not completely happy, we'll help you to move to another bank or building society, and give you £100."

That's in big text on the pack they send you AFTER you've signed up. I'm not completely happy (there are several little things which have genuinely niggled me with the account, not least the aforementioned message system, which is just plain stupid), so I'm leaving, and taking advantage of that clearly stated offer. That's not deceit, that's good money-saving sense!

EarthBoy

wombler wrote: »

.... but since you're waving the flag for HSBC ...

I'm not waving the flag for HSBC; I never even mentioned them. Although First Direct are a division of HSBC, they are run separately.

And, as I said, if you've a genuine reason for dissatisfaction, then fair enough. But anyone who joins solely with the intention of leaving again and claiming another £100, and then scrapes around looking for reasons to be dissatisfied is being deceitful.

brownbabygirl

alliance's and customer service is non existent. Be careful!

mitchec1

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1393639
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1151585

I wouldn't cancel FD till you've set up A&L account personally I'd have thought that would have been pretty obvious but if A&L are switched on enough they'll see you've been a previous customer and say no to the £100, chances are you'll be making £200 then

storminbalder

I would need a lot more than £150 to go to them!

Is peace of mind and sanity worth so little?

dave461_2

I'm doing exactly the same, i called up FD after getting my direct debits list.
FD pretty much wanted to close the account straight away, i just picked a date between my last direct debit and then next getting paid to close the FD account.
FD have the best phone banking but there internet is no better than Lloyds or A+L.
I opened an ISA online with FD and was given the wrong rate, sent a message about this - no reply, opened a mortgage online - then heard no more, then sent a message about this - again no reply. In the end i phoned about the ISA and had the interest back dated and took my mortgage with HSBC.
First Direct put there money where there mouth was and said if they aint the best they'll give you £100 to leave, so im taking it.
I wouldn't of took it if there internet banking had been as good as there phone banking as i would now be tied to an FD mortgage (and you need to close ALL accounts to get the £100)

masonic

mitchec1 wrote: »

I wouldn't cancel FD till you've set up A&L account personally I'd have thought that would have been pretty obvious but if A&L are switched on enough they'll see you've been a previous customer and say no to the £100, chances are you'll be making £200 then

I've opened and closed A&L current accounts for various offers at least 3 times and I've never been turned down for an incentive. As long as you leave 3 months before reapplying there shouldn't be a problem.