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

CopperPlate_2

Why not just phone fd and ask. They'll hopefully give you a straight answer as they have done to others so far, regardless of whether it prompts an account closure. Got to admire them for that at least.

A_Nice_Englishman

Redbedhead - if they offer you the same terms as those in my letter you won't have to pay the £10.

For your sole account you'll be OK as you pay in more the £1500 p.m. For you joint account firstdirectory counts as 'another product' so again you avoid the charge.

However some people such as CARLSB1892 seem to have been offered different terms i.e. they have to maintain a balance of £1500.

soolin

I just phoned FD as I do not pay £1500 in a month. They have confirmed that I will not be charged as I also have a FD visa.

Soo

smj

I have been paying my salary into my FD current account for over 13yrs.

My wife banks elsewhere, but we have a joint-account with FD. My wife was informed tonight that because she does not pay her salary in the FD joint account and has no other products, she will be charged £10 pm.

To avoid this charge it was suggested that she could take out a loan, or move her car/house insurance to FD. Or we could move our mortgage to FD.

I think it is appalling that they are trying to sell/promote all these other FD products as a way to avoid paying the charge.

I will be closing all our FD accounts in protest and moving elsewhere !

And when I told them this, they really did not seem bothered in the slightest !

Appalled after so many years with FD !

Cypher

smj wrote:

My wife was informed tonight that because she does not pay her salary in the FD joint account and has no other products, she will be charged £10 pm

I have joint accounts with my OH for Bills and one for Shopping which I top up monthly, she doesn't pay into this she just spends whats in there As we also have a small savings account in joint names I think she should be ok for the £10 charges, but I will probably be moving anyway so I don't really care if they send her a letter now.

karatedragon

This bank is only wanting to charge £10 a month. Thats not a lot in the great scheme of things. In other countries banks charge so we have just had it too good for too long. £120 for what apparently (im not with FD so cant confirm) is good service cant be a lot to pay. Seems people these days just want something for nothing. I mean you wouldnt take out a telephone service and think you shouldnt have to pay for it and personally I would rathe rpay £10 a month for a decent service with UK call centres that answer promptly that have it all for free and farmed off to the third world.

Reading these postas anyone would thnk the world was coming to an end. Theres far worse tihngs going on in the world than FD charging a tenner a month like People dieing, polar ice caps melting and deforestation. Things just have to be brought into perspective.

Cypher

These boards are about saving money, £120 a year is a huge saving especially when we have a choice of not paying it.

I agree its not a world changing event, but then why do we all try and put our savings into the highest paying account just for a few extra quid. Why even bother with an ISA and the tax saving. On £3000 at 5% the tax saving is only £30 for a normal rate tax payer, yet we all do it.

£120 a year charge (per account).. no way, I'll definitely be saving it. :beer:

BTW The banks make plenty of money off our deposits, this extra charge is just greed.

{edit}
I do agree about the UK Call Centres though.

karatedragon

By that token then disconnect your house from the gas, electric, phone, internet and you'll save even more cash. You have a choice not to have these services. These people are equally greedy. I think the fact that free banking is seen as the norm has spoiled people and lulled them inot a feeling that they are owed something. You cant expect something for nothing anymore. I think those days are long gone.

Cypher

free banking is the norm, there is a choice.

Similar my Gas and Electric are from a cheaper provider than my local supplier, I also get free line rental on my phone line and a large discount on my Internet as NTL decided they wanted to keep me as a customer rather than loose my business to a rival.

karatedragon

LOL NTL lost me all together becasue they just couldn't get the billing right and anyime I rang up I was kept "on hold" for goodness knows how long and eventually put through to an idiot on the other end. Again a company offering the world for peanuts. Pay peanuts you get monkeys. I moved to a dearer ISP with fewer people (as I guess its not a "bargain" provider and I get through immediately and all my bills are correct. You get what you pay for these days and I expect thats the case of FD. FD have a very good reputation for service I believe and these days good servie comes at a price.