first direct credit card

monki_man

Hi fellow MSE,

Ive just receieved current account form back from FIrst direct and they've also offered me a credit card. Its got the term and conditions on it as well as the credit limit stated on all those form they've sent me. Now although I think when they checked my credit report for the application of the current account, I think the credit card search is the same search as the current account therefore I would save myself a further one search in experian. I'm not too sure if I should take this as I've already got 6 credit card (expiring about july-sep) and the credit limit isnt as great but better than some ive got already. The quesiotn is..should I accept first direct credit card offer or calm down a bit and sign up to it when my 0% balance transfer runs out during the 1st phase of stoozing?

Reaper

I think I'd wait a bit. First Direct give generous limits to existing bank customers but not if you've only just opened your account. Even a few months of them seeing a salary going in and the account being well managed is likely to help.

monki_man

Cool, thanks Reaper

Shinds

Also... If you do ur everday banking with HSBC - They will also take this into consideration.... Well they did this for me and I now have a 15k limit with 'em

monki_man

Yeah, HSBC my main bank, been there for donkey years now. Even though at first I wanna join First Direct for the free money they were offering having spoken to someone down hsbc the other day they told me first direct will offer higher limits than HSBC. This true??

Margaret_Millne

My HSBC credit limits are higher than First Direct, but I have been with HSBC for over 15 years, and First Direct for only 6 months. Still got a total of over £20k between the HSBC Gold, First Direct Gold, and HSBC online though.

oscarhugo

I got accepted for HSBC Gold card and First Direct black card this year, despite being turned down for others. I do not bank with HSBC. I used to have a current a/c years ago with FD [which I opened to get a sweetener of £25 or £30 or whatever it was...] which had virtually nothing in it. HSBC gave me a c/limit of £2,500. I tried & failed to get it increased. FD gave me a c/l of £6,000. (This is now stoozed via my eggy-mule into a cahoot savings a/c at 5.65% for 6 months.)

Hoo-wooh! 100 posts! (When do I get to graduate from a NotsoNewbie to an Eversoregular? Not for some time, I think...)

empfun

Congrats monki_man! Somehow I have a feeling Firstdirect account holders are at least in their mid 20s and high income earners. FD have a strict account approval criteria. Who's the youngest person you know of who has a Firstdirect account?

monki_man

I dont know, im 22 and earn the average grad in london. It might help ive been with HSBC for 8 yrs though.

monki_man

oscarhugo wrote:

Hoo-wooh! 100 posts! (When do I get to graduate from a NotsoNewbie to an Eversoregular? Not for some time, I think...)

I'm a regular moneysaver now :P (150 post)

mary

monki_man wrote:

Hi fellow MSE,

Ive just receieved current account form back from FIrst direct and they've also offered me a credit card. Its got the term and conditions on it as well as the credit limit stated on all those form they've sent me. Now although I think when they checked my credit report for the application of the current account, I think the credit card search is the same search as the current account therefore I would save myself a further one search in experian. I'm not too sure if I should take this as I've already got 6 credit card (expiring about july-sep) and the credit limit isnt as great but better than some ive got already. The quesiotn is..should I accept first direct credit card offer or calm down a bit and sign up to it when my 0% balance transfer runs out during the 1st phase of stoozing?

We got our First Direct Black credit cards on the strength of applying for the £25 freebie each. Hadn't originally contemplated the CC. However, mine was £2k out of a £14K salary and husband got £6.5K from a £25K salary.
We don't bank with them. Service is very good. We both applied subsequently for the notoriously slow HSBC cards. I turned down mine for £500 but husband went for his for £2K. So, if I were you I'd go for it, seeing as though they have already done whatever search on you.