First Direct

GFA

Hi

I've read this forum regularly and gotten some excellent tips!

I have a question about First Direct. I am seriously considering switching my current account from Cahoot to First Direct 1st account (over the past month I have closed 5 different accounts with Santander as their non-existent customer service is worse than abysmal) and I've noticed there have been a few small changes with Cahoot recently which aren't good signs.

They've sent me a list of their charges and it states that they charge £25 for EFTs if you do this via the telephone and online banking. I'm assuming that this refers to same day CHAPS transfers and not the usual 3 days BACS payments?

I'd also like to hear from people as to their views re First Direct generally and the functionality of their internet banking (I've seen some comments saying that its quite dated and not particularly good?) I tend to do as much banking online - setting up standing orders, pay bills etc like most people I guess so functionality is very important.

Many thanks

mitchec1

I do my banking on line with FD and while there are things that could be improved for me it works pretty well.

Have a look here at the demo's to see and make up your own mind

http://www.interactive.firstdirect.com/ibdemo.html

GFA

Thanks for that - it doesn't seem that bad to be honest.

Am I right in my assumption that the £25 EFT payment charge is only applicable to same days transfers rather than the standard 3 day BACS payments? Unfortunately its not clear on the leaflet FD sent me (I can't imagine that they would be deducting £25 from my account each time I sent a standard bill payment!!!)

Thanks

gt94sss2

GFA wrote: »

Am I right in my assumption that the £25 EFT payment charge is only applicable to same days transfers rather than the standard 3 day BACS payments?

Yes, it will only be for CHAPS payments, not ordinary Faster Payments or BACS transfers.

Regards
Sunil

GFA

Many thanks for confirming that.

One other thing (for the moment!), I've just seen a post where someone had problems switching from cahoot to First Direct because cahoot refused to provide details to First Direct (cahoot then arbitrarily cancelled all of their existing direct debits!!) I've never heard of a bank refusing to provide this info. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It just makes even more keen to get rid of cahoot ....

Meeten

I have used FD for more than 12yrs now, and have no issues with the on line facility. I am sure that there are others out there that are more 'slick', but this one works, and if need be, you can call a helpful representative on the other end of the phone line.

Take advantage of the £100 transfer and you should be good to go. If you want a recommendation, I am happy to provide that.

locky123

I can recommend First Direct. We have recently opened a 1st account, savings and mortgage with them, as well as tranferring a current account from Cahoot. Excellent written and telephone comms. All went on time with no hiccups. We've used Smile and Cahoot for online banking and First Direct are good.

I would not recommend Nationwide as we have also just opened a Flexaccount. Poor communication, no PIN after 2 weeks receiving debit card, no letter confirming when new account open and dd/so transferred over, unable to use internet banking due to !!!! up on home address by new sales team. Mixed opinion on helpfullness of call centre staff.

onlypaddy

GFA wrote: »

Many thanks for confirming that.

One other thing (for the moment!), I've just seen a post where someone had problems switching from cahoot to First Direct because cahoot refused to provide details to First Direct (cahoot then arbitrarily cancelled all of their existing direct debits!!) I've never heard of a bank refusing to provide this info. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It just makes even more keen to get rid of cahoot ....

If you are thinking about the joining bonus, using the switching service is not compulsory (I used it though and it was very well managed)

as for the internet banking, the only downsides are that you cant cancel direct debits (not directly anyway - you can send a secure message and they cancel it for you) and the 'available balance' is not visible (again you can get round this by clicking on 'transfers and payments' which will then show it)

otherwise they're fantastic! especially the phone service :T

focae

onlypaddy wrote: »

as for the internet banking, the only downsides are that you cant cancel direct debits (not directly anyway - you can send a secure message and they cancel it for you)

That's not true......going to Payments/Direct Debits gives you a list of Standing Orders and Direct Debits. There are buttons on the right to cancel them and for standing orders there are additional buttons to amend them.

What you can't do is remove a payee from the list of previous payees for payments and transfers.

eslick

focae wrote: »

That's not true......going to Payments/Direct Debits gives you a list of Standing Orders and Direct Debits. There are buttons on the right to cancel them and for standing orders there are additional buttons to amend them.

What you can't do is remove a payee from the list of previous payees for payments and transfers.

yep agree. On the previous payment list, they clean it up every year or so.

They are excellent, the £25 charge is for Chaps, and its cheaper than other banks. Their faster payment limit is also mile ahead of others, £10,000 against £250 in some places.

Customer service is also excellent as is their website, we have a nationwide account and have ahd an A&L account and if you use one of these banks you can see how far ahead FD are. A&L will only let you make one transfer to an account per day, its my money why cant I decide how to transfer it

focae

I've been with them since inception and would never move away from them as my main account.

Yes, the website has a few foibles and could be improved but I must say that I have used some of the others that get rave reviews here and cannot understand why.........they all have foibles...........just different ones. I actually prefer websites to remain fairly static,warts and all, as finding your way around sites that are continuously being 'improved' can become really tiresome.

Customer service is second to none. They do make errors....don't we all....but are very quick to put things right when they do.