First Direct - Why you choose them?

trets77

me and the wife moved our joint current account a few months back after being given absolutely appalling customer service by Barclays.

we both agree it is like a breath of fresh air with First Direct. here is why

1) the convience of being to sort EVERYTHING out over the phone 24/7 is very good for us as i work shifts at all hours of the week and my wife works banking hours.

2) your call is always answered on the first or second ring by a UK PERSON!!!
no waiting on hold with apoligies and music (are you listening Nationwide??)
no automation

3) geniuely nice staff who are very happy to help with ANY of your banking needs
no INDIAN or foriegn call center staff who lets be honest here are really really CRAP.
no grumpy collage grads who think dealing with your account demeans them and their precious education (are you listening BARCLAYS BRANCH MANAGER IN HINCKLEY leicestershire ???????????????????)

4) rates are pretty reasonable . we have our savings in the 4.75% E savers account. not THE best rate but no need to waste time and money on hold or on car parking to go into branch counts for a lot. this MORE than makes up for what you little you gain elsewhere.

i,m not kissing their backside but praise where praise is due . it is the type of service we should get from ALL banks but they are the only ones providing it.

so glad the £10 month thing is blowing over it would be too bad to lose them

kirkie_2

I will say that FD Customer Services are fantastic however I need a good APR for always being overdrawn. I am now considering moving as FD's is so poor. Looking for ideas...

anniecave

kirkie wrote:

I will say that FD Customer Services are fantastic however I need a good APR for always being overdrawn. I am now considering moving as FD's is so poor. Looking for ideas...

I'm sure you can find a good deal on an overdraft, but this being the moneysavingexpert website, perhaps you should look for ideas for how to avoid going overdrawn???

First Direct are good, and excellent customer service, but I'm considering moving as, as other people have said in this thread, internet banking is the most useful thing, and there ARE better deals going as regards interest rates than first direct.

markmc999

Fab customer services
Being able to use the HSBC branch if I needed to pay in cash/cheques rapidly
UK based call centres
Being able to pay in cheques by post
Internet banking plus
Quick and easy money transfers in real time

kirkie_2

You can still use Internet Banking Plus even if you weren't with them can't you?

kirkie_2

anniecave wrote:

I'm sure you can find a good deal on an overdraft, but this being the moneysavingexpert website, perhaps you should look for ideas for how to avoid going overdrawn???

Wish I had thought of that one......

ihatepasswords

kirkie wrote:

You can still use Internet Banking Plus even if you weren't with them can't you?

Yes, you can.

Jarlawuk

Their customer service really is second to none and being able to pop into a hsbc to deposit cash/cheques makes life easier too.

Toomuchdebt

Yes I love their customer service too and they are the only one of the banks I am with who contacted me when my overdraft was high and had not reduced in 3 months and told me I needed to pay back £20 a month till it was clear before I could use it again-I was really annoyed at the time but am so glad now as I have high overdrafts with 2 other banks and they really don't care too much.

kittykat100

I love the customer service from First Direct. Like some other posters my money is never in long enough to worry about rates. To me, getting fabulous c/s is worth more than the odd 1 or 2p extra I make on interest elsewhere.

I moved from Barclays because I had to!! I did shop around but found FD the most attractive, and I am really pleased that I am with them. It would take something drastic for me to move elsewhere.

Kittyx