Avoid First Direct - They are gonna charge all customers £10!

trets77

such a shame this


we won,t be hit by the charge , as we have 2 current accounts and a E-savings account which we contribute too regularly and have all savings in with them

and we can meet the monthly requirements should we move our savings ( E-savings account needs to move with the rate rise this time or ICESAVE may be on the cards !!!)

If it was any other bank i would close my accounts in protest. but i like FD too much and they are ideal for our needs so i,m staying put.:o

i cannot go back to crap telephone service , nasty trips to branch to see snotty staff after queing for 10 mins, and the genral inept and pushy service i have got with all other banks .:mad:

i know that you may say that having a e-savings may be okay this year but what about next year?? that it may be a slippery down hill slope with FD from here on , and if we don,t take a stand now it means fee for all current bank accounts in the future.

Maybe , but i will cross that bridge when we come to it. First Direct is too special a bank to kick out because of the woes of others i,m afraid and as long as i do not have do anything extra to avoid the fee ( i.e Mortgage or Insurance ect) they have done enough in the past to keep me.

EagerLearner

I have an FD credit card at £0 and an e-savings account with £120 quid in it - even though I don't deposit £1,500 a month hopefully these 2 products mean I avoid the charge.

I won't be jumping ship if they are not planning to charge me. If they are, I will find out more rather than just leave - as above poster says, service is very good and I manage my account well.

CopperPlate_2

The thing is - will they analyse the products people take out just now to avoid the charge and then this time next year write to those who have £1 in their e-savings account, or have only used their credit card once and tell them - start using them properly or we'll apply the charge. It might just be the thin end of the wedge.

The fact that fd has offered dreadful rates on products up until now has nothing to do with the fact that they have current account-only customers "draining" their resources. It has everything to do with the fact that fd are owned by HSBC perhaps one of the most rapacious banks on the face of the planet.

canarykid

MARTIN PLEASE NOTE!!!!!!!
My wife had a letter from First Direct today. Not only are they going to charge £10 a month if she does not have a MINIMUM £1500 in her account, but will also do so if she does not have more than £1,500 paid into her account each month! Appalling! She has just cancelled her account and I am going to as well! This is one for Martin to highlight!

A_Nice_Englishman

canarykid wrote:

MARTIN PLEASE NOTE!!!!!!!
My wife had a letter from First Direct today. Not only are they going to charge £10 a month if she does not have a MINIMUM £1500 in her account, but will also do so if she does not have more than £1,500 paid into her account each month! Appalling! She has just cancelled her account and I am going to as well! This is one for Martin to highlight!

Mrs canarykid must have had a different letter to me then. I need to either:

Pay in at least £1500 a month, or
maintain an average balance over £1500, or
have another First Direct product

Are there any other variations?

su3

I too have had a letter today, which says myaccount will not attract charges, I rang and asked why as I only work part time and get about £3-400 amonth paid in.

They said that as I had a credit card that countrd as another product despite the fact that I have never used it. I have been with them for ten years and agree with those who have said that their customer service is second to none and at least it is based in Britain. So for the time being I shall stay with them, but will review it regularly.

su3

I too have had a letter today, which says myaccount will not attract charges, I rang and asked why as I only work part time and get about £3-400 amonth paid in.

They said that as I had a credit card that countrd as another product despite the fact that I have never used it. I have been with them for ten years and agree with those who have said that their customer service is second to none and at least it is based in Britain. So for the time being I shall stay with them, but will review it regularly.

CopperPlate_2

ffacoffipawb wrote:

Looks like this post was a panic-inducing piece of mischief making cojones, the motive (if any) will probably never be known.

I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist quoting you ffacoffipawb - the motive is, of course, now generally known...

CARLSB1892

Yep, Its happened .If you only have a current account and CANNOT maintain it with a balance of £1500 each and every month you are going to get stung for £10 every month. got the letter today today.... closed it today.... give the bank a kick up the bum and just remind them its OUR money they are using. vote with your feet and move account. How stupid do they think we are?.......

Redbedhead

Not sure if anyone can help me. I am an FD customer but have not received any letter.

I have a current account with them in to which more than £1500 goes and I have a joint account to which less than £1500 goes each month. However, the joint account is a First Directory account (worked out cheaper than buying health insurance!). Does this mean we won't be expected to move our accounts?