First Direct

heloid

I second this.
Mail arrived today letting me know that I was accepted for the account with the OD I asked for (£250, was offered £500 but no need for that much).

Mail said they have written to my existing bank (HSBC) to confirm direct debits and I'll get another form to confirm the switch. Also said that my debit card was in the mail.

Called to activate my account and went straight to a person, gave them some security details and got my Online banking log in details, worked straight away.

Just waiting for the switching details and my card and all done and dusted. Great timing too as I have no more DD's going out until the 25th.

Things that might have helped my application:
No marks on my credit files (only 12 months of history).
Didn't apply for a credit card or a high overdraft.

First impressions are fantastic. A++ would bank again.

CoolishLime wrote: »

Hi never-in-doubt,

I applied for a FD 1st account last Monday night, got email Tuesday morning to say the forms would be posted.

Forms arrived Thursday and I sent them back Friday. Yesterday I received a 'welcome to Text banking' message to my mobile and when I got home a welcome pack had been delivered with a covering letter asking my to ring to activate my account.

Rang up (phone answered after one ring with no automated messages - very impressive!). The guy went over the account Ts & Cs and my security questions and phone / internet banking details were setup. Was also given the date for my direct debits to be switched and told cheque book and debit card were in the post.

stella2009

never-in-doubt wrote: »

The man from First Direct said No! Basically I failed internal scoring so that's that.

Try in 6mths and the decision will be favourable so long as I continue to run my accounts as I currently do..... No adverse data from credit file (however that is possible beats me!)

Anyway, onwards and upwards!

NiD - Did you ever manage to get the account in the end??

Did you have any adverse data when you applied??

onlypaddy

Sent off my application on December 10th....Credit check was done the same day. Got an email saying that they would send out the forms and they would send out the forms and subject to final checks they would be happy to open my account. lets see what those final checks turn up!

i only actually returned the form yesterday as I've been out of the country. Just spoke to them on the phone (god i love the lack of machines!) and they said that they only do one credit check so hopefully all is good....just got to wait and see

stella2009

onlypaddy wrote: »

Sent off my application on December 10th....Credit check was done the same day. Got an email saying that they would send out the forms and they would send out the forms and subject to final checks they would be happy to open my account. lets see what those final checks turn up!

i only actually returned the form yesterday as I've been out of the country. Just spoke to them on the phone (god i love the lack of machines!) and they said that they only do one credit check so hopefully all is good....just got to wait and see

I wonder what those final checks are then???

never-in-doubt

stella2009 wrote: »

NiD - Did you ever manage to get the account in the end??

Did you have any adverse data when you applied??

Hiya

Nooo - they said no! That was after being accepted and returning the forms - what they do is accept you (if you pass) then check your credit file in detail when you send forms back - I had a cifas on there and it is still there til Feb, but then i'll reapply knowing i'll have waited what, 9 months since I last applied so it can only help (also the cifas will have gone)..... They also pre authorised a CC with a high limit (£8k if I remember rightly - it was a good one anyway!).

Have you got your account sorted?

stella2009

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Hiya

Nooo - they said no! That was after being accepted and returning the forms - what they do is accept you (if you pass) then check your credit file in detail when you send forms back - I had a cifas on there and it is still there til Feb, but then i'll reapply knowing i'll have waited what, 9 months since I last applied so it can only help (also the cifas will have gone)..... They also pre authorised a CC with a high limit (£8k if I remember rightly - it was a good one anyway!).

Have you got your account sorted?

I had the forms this morning and sent them back today, so I'll keep you posted.

I don't have any CIFAS or negatives on my file, so hopefully!!

never-in-doubt

onlypaddy wrote: »

Sent off my application on December 10th....Credit check was done the same day. Got an email saying that they would send out the forms and they would send out the forms and subject to final checks they would be happy to open my account. lets see what those final checks turn up!

i only actually returned the form yesterday as I've been out of the country. Just spoke to them on the phone (god i love the lack of machines!) and they said that they only do one credit check so hopefully all is good....just got to wait and see

Hiya

See my posts - I sent the forms back at which point they check your credit file, i.e. they may search you 'provisionally' the date you apply and if all looks good they will authorise the account, however when you send the forms back they do additional checks using the search from the credit file when you applied online....... not guaranteed at this stage, give them 3 days then ring and see if you've been accepted - if so they will confirm all to you there and then!

stella2009 wrote: »

I wonder what those final checks are then???

They check your credit file - thoroughly - that much I know! :eek: :eek:

I bank with HSBC which is what I think helped me originally, but my cifas let me down (it is incorrect, i.e. not mine) but the bank refuse to remove it and I cannot be arsed taking them to court! Had enough court for one year!

stella2009

Was it just the CIFAS that done you over NID??

Surely they should have looked past this if everything else was okay??

never-in-doubt

stella2009 wrote: »

Was it just the CIFAS that done you over NID??

Surely they should have looked past this if everything else was okay??

Long story - cut very short!

I was victim of ID Fraud, had over 50 defaults and god knows how many cifas. Got everything sorted (2 years later) and then got credit card with my bank HSBC (£3k limit) - I got this the same day I applied to 1st Direct.

Anyway, I then realised that HSBC added a cifas (due to the old incorrect link that has now been removed after I sued Equifax and won) but HSBC will not remove it, they have also (recently) dropped my overdraft by £500 and reduced my credit limit a lot!

So all in all, I feel that HSBC still link me to the old incorrect linked address which is what 1st refused me for..... it should be sorted in Feb/Mar

stella2009

What a nightmare mate.

All this hassle and it's nothing to do with you.....