First Direct cash ISA?

dreamypuma

bluejake wrote: »

So far I have heard nothing. No e-mail to to say they have received my application. I was wondering has my application got through to them? Reading this thread probably. No sign of good customer service yet. Who on earth doesn't send an e-mail to confirm an application has been received online?

Well we've had a lot of First Direct action today.

I've had a letter to confirm that my account is now open and asking me to call to activate my account and security. I used the Leeds number and spoke to an advisor who set up my security details for phone banking as well as online. They ask for a lot of security details.

They talked me through setting up my online banking and all in all the call took about ten minutes. I'll transfer the remaining funds into the account tonight using Faster Payments.

I've also received transfer forms from them, but had to request another copy as I have two accounts to transfer in.

My Dad also applied for an account on Saturday 18th. He's just received his forms to sign today (23rd). So speed of processing in my experience doesn't seem to be an issue with these badgers.

Very happy with the service, even though they do ask for inside leg measurement and stool samples.;)

For anyone wanting to avoid the 0845 number during setting up, use 0113 2345678 apparently 0800 9172424 works too, but I've not tried this (as I was calling from a mobile with inclusive minutes).

KTF

When my FD info pack arrived along with the phone call to set up the security, etc. I think I used the 0800 number but the 0845 one is free if you have the BT addon that gives you free 08xx calls in the evening and weekend for nothing.

They are friendly enough but a bit over friendly as it seemed to take forever to set everything up :-P

No complaints about the service though. Just waiting for the 1st to roll round so that I can open the regular saver ISA and keep the payment date in line with my other regular savers.

funkyhitman

What? I have to ring them up to set up my account? That's a first...and lame.

KTF

You get the welcome pack then you have to call them up to setup the telephone banking. At the end of the phone call they give you the details of the online banking.

Although my online banking details did arrive in the post a few days after I called them up so it may come automatically even if you dont call them up.

They are friendly enough so not the end of the world if you speak to them even if I did have in the back of my mind the documentary about the FD call centre where the team lead said that the agent who says the certain buzzword gets a creme egg or similar...

Any

I agree-this is lame. I have to ring them up?
So far I didn't experience any great customer service. To receive application I had to wait 10 days and I signed it and sent off on Monday morning and still heard nothing back. And now you are telling me I will have to call them as well? Oh dear..

funkyhitman

Any wrote: »

I agree-this is lame. I have to ring them up?
So far I didn't experience any great customer service. To receive application I had to wait 10 days and I signed it and sent off on Monday morning and still heard nothing back. And now you are telling me I will have to call them as well? Oh dear..

To be honest with you, 10 days for a paper application is perfectly acceptable. Don't forget this is the busiest time for ISA applications and some banks take way way longer than this to sort out accounts because they get backlogged.

Since posting your application back on monday, that's less than 4 days from entering the postal system, do you honestly expect them to be quicker than this?

You may complain about the phone call though . I'm hoping that's for phone banking only and my internet banking details will automatically come in the post because i'm not interested in phone banking in the slightest...but considering we had to ask for transfer forms, i'm expecting to have to ask for internet banking too...which is also a first for any account i've opened!

It just seems like a long winded approach.

Any

funkyhitman wrote: »

To be honest with you, 10 days for a paper application is perfectly acceptable. Don't forget this is the busiest time for ISA applications and some banks take way way longer than this to sort out accounts because they get backlogged.

Since posting your application back on monday, that's less than 4 days from entering the postal system, do you honestly expect them to be quicker than this?

You may complain about the phone call though . I'm hoping that's for phone banking only and my internet banking details will automatically come in the post because i'm not interested in phone banking in the slightest...but considering we had to ask for transfer forms, i'm expecting to have to ask for internet banking too...which is also a first for any account i've opened!

It just seems like a long winded approach.

That is what I mean. If they send me my internet banking (as it is eISA!!) on return of this paperwork I sent off I wouldn't say anything. But as you have to do Internet application, then wait & send of post, then phone up and then wait for another post... That is very long winded.

Postcard

Any wrote: »

That is what I mean. If they send me my internet banking (as it is eISA!!) on return of this paperwork I sent off I wouldn't say anything. But as you have to do Internet application, then wait & send of post, then phone up and then wait for another post... That is very long winded.

Totally agree!

Applied online, waited a week for application form to come through.
Signed form, wait a week for proof of ID letter.
Will probably be another week for transfer forms to come though and another week to approve and open the account. Then a month for the transfer to occur! lol

cbrpaul

I had a letter from my old ISA manager telling me FD have now been given the transfer cheque 3 days ago ,

yet nothing showing in my FD ISA account as yet , its a few £1000 too , so whos getting the interest on that then ???

It takes FD 3 to 4 days to reply to a e-message

funkyhitman

Well, I got my welcome pack today and I noticed that not one bit of paper actually has my account number on it...isn't that a bit daft?

I get the impression they're very security conscious because I had to ring them to set up internet banking, something I've not had to do before.

The call went on for over 7 minutes whilst I listened to all the usual blurb and I was asked an awful lot of questions all in the name of security. They even asked if anyone was able to overhear the conversation! After the phone call I was required to create yet more security details online! They say not to write down any of it, but if I don't i'll forget it all!

The whole process is too bloated and over the top for my liking but at least our funds should be safe!