First Direct Internet Banking 'Available Balance'.....

stella2009

Altarf wrote: »

Probably a daft question, but what is wrong with FDs internet banking website?

As far as I can see, you can do or see the following -

A summary of account detail
Statements for the previous 6 years (much more than many banks)
Pay bills and make account transfers.
Set up new payees
View standing orders and direct debits
Set up new standing orders
Cancel standing orders and direct debits
Send (and get responses to account queries)
Download account transactions in various formats

What is missing?

The ability to see 'available balance'. Although there is a workaround that some have posted on here.

Altarf

Well isn't the 'available balance' just the total of the account balance plus any agreed overdraft?

stella2009

Altarf wrote: »

Well isn't the 'available balance' just the total of the account balance plus any agreed overdraft?

No, that does not take into account pending transactions.

mrmajika

Altarf wrote: »

Probably a daft question, but what is wrong with FDs internet banking website?

As far as I can see, you can do or see the following -
[SNIP]

What is missing?

As a precursor I'll say that I use FD as my main bank and think that their customer service is fantastic.

However to answer your question.... what is missing?

*Easily view an available balance.
*Delete old bill payments (takes 13 months for them to 'drop off')
*Amend standing orders in real time (takes a secure message)
*Amend bill payment details in real time (takes a secure message)
*Access old secured messages (Once they're read - they're automatically deleted)


The biggest bugbear for me is the inability to delete obsolete bill payments. Also, not being able to view old secure messages is a problem as it can be quite handy to refer back to the replies.

All in all, I'm happy with the level of service, but if they solved the problems I've listed it would move them from good to great.

stella2009

i totally agree their customer service is outstanding.

But for me the 'available balance' option is something I use all the time with my old bank(s).

Altarf

stella2009 wrote: »

No, that does not take into account pending transactions.

Are there any trasactions, other than cheques paid in, that would be part of the account balance, but not available balance?

mrmajika wrote: »

The biggest bugbear for me is the inability to delete obsolete bill payments.

I agree that when they 'upgraded' the system 5 years ago and removed the ability to delete obsolete bill payments, was not a step forward.

A kludge solution I have used, is to phone them and get them to change the payment details to one of your First Direct accounts. Then if you did mistakenly use the obsolete bill payment the money would only go to one of your accounts.

stella2009

Altarf wrote: »

Are there any trasactions, other than cheques paid in, that would be part of the account balance, but not available balance?

The 'available balance' facility is useful as it takes into account debit card transactions that have not gone off your balance to date.

The difference sometimes is hundreds of pounds.

noh

Are there any trasactions, other than cheques paid in, that would be part of the account balance, but not available balance?

"Earmarked" or pending debit card payments?

Altarf

Fair enough, I have never noticed as I would never use a debit card for such transactions, and also use Microsoft Money, so always have a running balance anyway.

stella2009

Altarf wrote: »

Fair enough, I have never noticed as I would never use a debit card for such transactions, and also use Microsoft Money, so always have a running balance anyway.

That's the problem myself and my partner use the debit card all the time so it's really useful for us to be able to see what money we actually have (real time).