First Direct Current Account - Opinions (Good & Bad)

rudster

fd do not charge for text banking

jennieshrew

Hi all,

I applied online for a first direct current account last week. Today thet have sent me a paper copy of the completed application form to sign and return. Would they have credit scored us before sending out the papers to sign or would they wait until they are returned.

I am just wondering whether to sign the credit card forms but I dont want to make our application less likely to go through if I ask to borrow money with the application. I'd rather get the bank account sorted first.

Ditch_Crawler

rudster wrote: »

fd do not charge for text banking

That was true when they first started doing it, and they continued the service FOC if you were already using it. But I'm pretty sure I remember them introducing a charge for new users several years ago.

Ditch_Crawler

jennieshrew wrote: »

Hi all,

I applied online for a first direct current account last week. Today thet have sent me a paper copy of the completed application form to sign and return. Would they have credit scored us before sending out the papers to sign or would they wait until they are returned.

I am just wondering whether to sign the credit card forms but I dont want to make our application less likely to go through if I ask to borrow money with the application. I'd rather get the bank account sorted first.

I'm pretty sure the answer to your question would have appeared on the screen when you completed your application, and it is probably repeated in the covering letter which came with your paper application form. If in doubt, ring them up.

D.

mrmajika

Ditch_Crawler wrote: »

That was true when they first started doing it, and they continued the service FOC if you were already using it. But I'm pretty sure I remember them introducing a charge for new users several years ago.

I believe they stopped charging for text messages when they dropped the interest on the current account. To the best of my knowledge, nobody pays now.

savysaverbrett

Hi,

I am considering applying for a 1st account with FD, so that I can receive the £200.

However, I would like to stay with my current bank acount so that I dont have to move my direct debits.

Is it possible to open the account, pay £1500 in from my savings account each month, remove it, and then pay it in again the following month, until the 6 months is up, then cancel the account and receive a total of £200.

Which is essentially 13% return on the same £1500 in 6 months !!!!!

Or is this dishonest, would get spotted and result in them not paying me the £100 joining payment or the £100 leaving payment ?

Anyone know ?

Thanks
Brett

premierfella

In FDs case that is unlikely to work - I believe they do a manual check to confirm that the conditions for the £100/£200 are met and are very likely to query whether the £1500 credits are "income".

My experience in the past is that getting the money without chasing them for it is a rare event (their processes for crediting the "bonus" payments may have improved of course).

blueberrypie

Ditch_Crawler wrote: »

That was true when they first started doing it, and they continued the service FOC if you were already using it. But I'm pretty sure I remember them introducing a charge for new users several years ago.

I've been using their text service for about 6-9 months and there is no charge.

onlypaddy

their process for crediting my bonus was fine. but as far as i know, it has to be directly from a salary to qualify.

im starting to get mystified by people saying they are just going to take FD for their £200. if it was any other bank I would understand and probably be doing it myself, but FD are so far ahead in customer service I'd rather get into a bath with 2 samoan rugby players than leave them just for £100!

savysaverbrett

premierfella wrote: »

In FDs case that is unlikely to work - I believe they do a manual check to confirm that the conditions for the £100/£200 are met and are very likely to query whether the £1500 credits are "income".

My experience in the past is that getting the money without chasing them for it is a rare event (their processes for crediting the "bonus" payments may have improved of course).

mmmmmm I see your point, but if the account was a business account, which i can set up quite easily online with my current bank, then I could pay it in like wages, with draw the cash, as If I were spending, reload and repay. It maybe a loop hole. Agreed it may be percieved as aslightly dishonest.

The only odd thing is there wont be any direct debits, but I only have 3 anyway, rent, sky and mobile phone.