First Direct

agsnu

williham wrote: »

You don't need to pay in £1500, you just need to open a savings account or a credit card.

Wrong. It changed on 2nd Feb 2009 for new customers.

EarthBoy

agsnu wrote: »

Wrong. It changed on 2nd Feb 2009 for new customers.

Indeed it did. New customers can only avoid the charge by paying in £1500 monthly, keeping an average balance of that amount in the account, or by having an FD mortgage. It doesn't affect anybody who was a customer before 2nd Feb though.

RichardB1

Anyone know if you get a cheque book with First Direct? Also, how do you pay in....can you use HSBC branches?

Ta :T

DesG

RichardB1 wrote: »

Anyone know if you get a cheque book with First Direct? Also, how do you pay in....can you use HSBC branches?

I have asked a load of questions in another thread about the First Direct account, I'll grab the link for you...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1463381&page=2

Cheers, Des.

RichardB1

Thanks Des, didn't see that thread, questions answered! I'm moving from Cahoot too, it'll be a joy to leave them!

ShelfStacker_3

RichardB1 wrote: »

Anyone know if you get a cheque book with First Direct? Also, how do you pay in....can you use HSBC branches?

Ta :T

Yes and yes. If your HSBC branch has paying in machines you can use those as well, and if they have an Express Bank machine you can get balances and statements for your 1st Account on there as well (not for any other accounts though.) Can also use HSBC ATMs to pay off an FD credit card. Only thing that can't be done in branch is account enquiries (overdrafts, CHAPS/BACS payments, balances from a cashier etc).

username

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Yes and yes. If your HSBC branch has paying in machines you can use those as well, and if they have an Express Bank machine you can get balances and statements for your 1st Account on there as well (not for any other accounts though.) Can also use HSBC ATMs to pay off an FD credit card. Only thing that can't be done in branch is account enquiries (overdrafts, CHAPS/BACS payments, balances from a cashier etc).

Re. the express bank machines.

I was told that it's possible for HSBC customers to get printout of their credit card statement at these machines? Is it possible for FD customers - does it need to be 'enabled' at all?

The reason why I asked is that when I set up my FD account, I asked for a link to be made between my savings and current account, and that appeared on the machine, so I could now view the balances/statements of that account.

Also, are all (or any) FD cards 100% authorisation?
I'm just curious, as I find my debit card is sometimes a bit 'slow' than any of my previous other ones with banks.