First Direct Charges - Beware!!!

Queenie

GSD4ME wrote:

Queenie, I am not having a go at you, even if it sounds that way in my anger at the banks. But over the weeks I have looked at this board there have been a lot of posters who fit into the "smug-holier-than-thou" brigade.

I was just trying to say that most people in debt are there through their own fault yes, but they need advice and sympathy not b*tchiness. I was not accusing you personally of b*tchiness, but there have been a lot of others on previous posts who have made me abosutely mad with rage.

Thank you and yes, I agree, advice and a gentle approach is far more productive. I hope for the sake of your blood pressure that you'll able to take away the good advice and ignore the less than helpful comments.

:shhh: it's less fraught in the Old Style board if you're looking for some advice on the home front or just to chat about your daily doings in the Daily Thread. I'm sure you have much to offer in terms of advice too. :silenced:

CopperPlate_2

vet8 wrote:

Also if First Direct are charging these huge charges I think it is right for posters to say this. I don't think my bank charges that much, I can certainly find nothing in their T and Cs which state they charge so much a day. If First Direct is doing this it needs to be pointed out so posters lilely to go in the red can avoid them.;)

Find a bank that doesn't charge you - I think you are living in a fairy-tale world. This has been done to death already elsewhere, and as I said, it has got personal. Not something that is supported on this site.

CopperPlate_2

GSD4ME wrote:

Queenie, I am not having a go at you, even if it sounds that way in my anger at the banks. But over the weeks I have looked at this board there have been a lot of posters who fit into the "smug-holier-than-thou" brigade.

I was just trying to say that most people in debt are there through their own fault yes, but they need advice and sympathy not b*tchiness. I was not accusing you personally of b*tchiness, but there have been a lot of others on previous posts who have made me abosutely mad with rage.

And unfortunately that it is what's called living in a democracy, where alternative and opposing opinions can be expressed. It's not being holier-than-thou which seems to be the preferred tag for those who have suffered bank charges, to throw at those who have not paid the charges. I think you need to accept that there will always be those who disagree with one opinion or another, and move on.

truth_2

I do sympathise with the OP situation, however, the facts in this are not correct. I will be straight up and say I am an fd employee however I am also a customer and I have had the overdraft charges hit me too so I do get where you are coming from.

First Directs charging policy is £30 for initially exceeding the agreed limit, and £25 for every increasement on a separate day thereafter. So if he went over by £200 and then not again and was paid 2 weeks later it would be one £30 charge. Also if several transactions went through before pay but on the same day its £25 for the whole increasement not per transaction. It may be worth looking at the T+Cs of the account so you are aware of the policy and don't make assumptions.

first directs charging policy is also the cheapest of any UK bank as discussed by which? and on this morning.

Also these payments are honoured, most banks do not honour payments but first direct takes the view, that customers would rather have their mortgage paid than not.

If you phone and ask to speak to the charges department, explain your situation clearly, try not to get upset, explain that the charges have put more pressure on your account and that you could get it back in order quicker with abit of leeway then you may get somewhere - then of course you can always threaten to leave.

After many happy years working for fd, its time for me to move on to pastures new, I finish this week (otherwise there is no way I'd post here) however, I will be staying a customer. I know the ins and outs of fd now and compared to awful service from other banks that I've been with theres no way id move.

GSD4ME

Thank you for this very useful and informative post.

I might sound a bit thick, but where do you find the T & Cs? There is a bit on the back of the statement, but presumably there is more detailed stuff elsewhere . MY husband has banked with FD for over 10 years so I presume their T & Cs have changed since the ones he was given when he first opened the account.

ihatepasswords

GSD4ME wrote:

Thank you for this very useful and informative post.

I might sound a bit thick, but where do you find the T & Cs? There is a bit on the back of the statement, but presumably there is more detailed stuff elsewhere . MY husband has banked with FD for over 10 years so I presume their T & Cs have changed since the ones he was given when he first opened the account.

Terms and Conditions:

http://www.firstdirect.com/legals/importantnotes_firstdirect.shtml

I've been charged twice by them in about 6 years, both times due to direct debits being setup on the wrong account (might have been my error) but they've refunded the charges both times when asked politely to do so.