First Direct Fees: How to Avoid 'Em or Ditch 'Em Discussion Area

kenshaz

Just follow Martin's advice,he will keep us updated,no panic now ,just deposit the quid,cannot understand all the knee jerk reactions.

adrian_barratt

I have been a customer of f/d for some 17 years now (yes I do have low standards) but when I rang up to complain about this I was told that "its no use shouting about it its going to happen anyway"( by the way I dont shout). Those of you out there who are lucky enough to meet the criteria to continue banking free there please please please cancel your acounts as if one of these institutions gets away with this they will all do it . By the way I also have a f/d credit card and far from negating this charge I was told that would also incur a £10 per month charge so I cancelled that on the spot. ps a great idea every time I get one of their letters trying to sell me something its going back with the article out of this weeks Mail on sunday

murphydavid

Does the A & L account in Martins article provide a cheque book? I had a quick look at the A & L web page and could see no mention of it.
Thanks

Charley_Farley

Hear hear, but yet again big business targets those with most to lose. There will be a lot of people (including me!) for whom £10 a month is a hell of a lot to pay out for the privilege of having your salary paid into an account. I've been with FD almost since they started and have always sung their praises. No more - will be moving asap.

JoseChungsDoomsday

this whole debate comes down to a matter of conscious - those who want to fight the bank and those who simply don't care because they won't have to pay the charge.

I'm not saying either side is right or wrong, just be sure you're conscious is clear.

dhug

I am one FD customer who is getting very sick of this hollier than thou attitude of some people on here telling me to close my account, that I am somehow immoral if I choose to stay with FD.
No I wont have to pay the charge and yes I am staying and No I dont think I am wrong to do so its my money my bank account and my choice
Over the last few years how many people have "taken" money from banks through incentives, stoozing etc. How many have opened umpteen accounts just to get the freebies yes the banks offer them but they offer them to increase their customer base not so people can just have yet another account to get their hands on £25, how many people have multiple accounts with nothing in that they never use that were just opened to get some offer.
Lets be realistic about this, banks are buisnesses there to make money not give it away, people blame those who have reclaimed bank charges but in reality those who stooze open up multiple accounts and so on probably cost banks a fair amount. charges are a result of consumers becoming more savvy of realising that banks can not just do whatever they want and off banks realising that customers today are more vocal about what they want they are the result of a combination of things.
What in heavens name is so difficult about opening a savings account and putting a £1 in it. Its the principle people say but are these the same people who have lots of dormant accounts because they opened them to get freebies the "principle" of that was for the bank to increase their customer base.
So will people please stop preaching about how anyone who stays with FD because they are happy with it are wrong or immoral it is their choice and has nothing to do with morality any more than taking freebies has I dont think taking money for opening an account which you have no intention of ever using is morally correct but that is my view and I dont tell anyone else not to do it, so kindly stop telling me what a "horrible" person I am because I am staying with FD a bank that has done nothing to make me want to leave that offers first class customer service and that I trust with my hard earned money

Rant over now you can all start shouting at me:D

maryotuam

A few people have mentioned good service and ease of use of First Direct's internet site as a reason to stay put.

I've been with SMILE the internet version of the Cooperative bank for many years. Their site is excellent, their UK based telephone service is also excellent and has won the top award for customer service every year for the last few years. Moving to them was also trouble free.

Smile should pay me for this!:D

Plus they are an ethical bank.

Phoenix79_2

Well said dhug. You do whats best for yourself. If other people want to close their FD accounts then fair enough....its down to them but people should stop preaching to other people about it.

Mercenary

:T :T Bravo dhug.

principle shminciple .

Knowing how difficult it is to open new accounts with all the anti money-laundering rules these days (helped to open one for DD recently :eek: ) plus adding the cost to credit rating scorings by financial maneuverings that are more than necessary does not make a brilliant incentive to up sticks 'on principle' for many account holders who otherwise will not incur the charges and/or are perfectly happy with their accounts where they are.
There is also the fact that nobody has the least clue what the other banks have waiting up their sleeves.

We are all indeed entitled to go or stay as we want without the attempted frenzy whipping-up by some of the 'principled' leavers. I've noticed that a few do state that the account in question is not their main account or is practically dormant anyway. If this is so....what's the problem?

Live and let live

kittykat100

I agree Dhug with you.
I moved to FD earlier in the year and am still amazed when I call them that I actually speak to a human being from Britain who are always nice on the phone. It is a small thing to some people but to me it is massive. I don't have to pay the £10 charge but even if i did I would probably stay there to guarantee the service I receive.
Other banks will follow suit you can be sure sooner or later, in the meantime I am staying put.