First Direct Leaving £100

YorkshireBoy

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

the FD regular saver is too restictive for what I want. You have to close the account to make a withdrawal. How stupid is that.

If it doesn't meet your requirements then that's a valid reason for not taking it. You seemed to mock their interest statement by putting the word whopping in quotes. When you consider what you'd get elsewhere at 3% it certainly is whopping.

Closing a regular saver to make a withdrawal is common practice. The rate offered is designed to keep you there.

But when it comes to exploiting the generous offers by FD there seems to be some kind of issue and people pointing out how they won't pay rather than coming up with ideas so they do.

People, myself included, are just telling you they've tightened up on the 'leaving present' that's all.

If you search the forum you'll see that these days (and going back 2 years or so) some major 'service' issue has to be highlighted. And highlighting something that happened in month 2 or 3 (when you didn't raise it at the time, thereby allowing them the opportunity of sorting it out) when you're 7-8 months in is likely to be met with some resistance from them in terms of the £100 leaving present.

But don't take my word for it. As I say, search the forum.

I have no sentiment when it comes to exploiting offers...

Me neither, but sometimes you need to think of "a bird in the hand..." (ie a guaranteed £77 extra interest vs a possible £100 leaving present).

SewerSide

Quite old thread but I thought I'd add my experience.

I signed up via a moneysupermarket link that gave £125 for joining FD, that offer appears every now and again. Switched all my DD's and SO's, not my salary, but made sure to pay in £1500 every month. Got the joining bonus very promptly.

After about 6 months I sent a secure message asking what the interest rate was. They rang me up to tell me why it was 0%, with all the benefits they had instead, and how I could set up a sweep account. I said I'd think about my options, as though I was choosing savings accounts. They followed up with a secure message with the same info.

Then a couple of months after that, making sure I'd had at least 7 months of paying in £1500, I replied saying I'd decided to switch to Santander due to them paying up to 3% interest. I said I assumed I'd be entitled to £100 from their service guarantee, and gave my new account details, and asked them to close my account. They rang up and checked I was happy to close immediately and confirmed I'd get the £100, and I got the money today!

Honestly, they seem like a nice bank, but if they make offers of £100 to leave they have to expect some people to leave for the money. You can only do it once, which I think is fair.

MoneySaverLog

Point out how antiquated their internet banking is as the reason for leaving. They'll like that :-)

pimento

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

The representative I spoke to this morning said they didn't offer stubs.

So either they are fibbing or you. If it is them then I am certainly not "happy".

Shall I photograph my First Direct cheque book complete with stubs for you?

pimento

Didn't realise how ancient this thread was, sorry.

My cheques do still have stubs though.

chefjeegar

I think the OP had already decided to leave for £100 and wanted to just know a list of reasons to pick from to cite to the bank so he can be sure to get £100 without too being told off.

I am late to this thread but just want to keep it alive as I am also in same predicament. I like them but would love £100 free.

Hope the OP posts here the reasons he gave to FD and if he did manage to get the £100.

I think some of the best reasons are:
a) No branch
b) Expensive 0845 number to dial for any sort of banking

Cheers!

penrhyn

No branch, !!!!!! you can use any HSBC if you need to do something over the counter.
Vast majority of services can be conducted on-line, no need to ring.

Have another go.

innovate

Try 0113 2345678. This number has been available for years.

You need better excuses to bag £100.

innovate

penrhyn wrote: »

No branch, !!!!!! you can use any HSBC if you need to do something over the counter.

Or use Post Office for some transactions.

tightfisteddave

Do you have to have an excuse?

The T&C on web site say:

"That's why we introduced our Service Guarantee: we're so certain that our service is better than anyone else's, if you're not happy banking with first direct after six months, you can move banks and we'll give you £100 for your trouble.

***Here's how it works. We'll pay £100 per customer or joint relationship if you close your 1st Account within 12 months of opening it, as long as a monthly salary or income of £1000 or more has been paid into that account for at least six months and you haven't previously had an account with first direct. You must contact us to claim the Service Guarantee prior to closing your account. You'll also need to have transferred your banking to that account using the Current Account Switch Service. We'll pay the £100 into your 1st Account prior to its closure. All accounts with first direct have to be closed and your 1st Account transferred to another bank/building society. Customers who opened their 1st Account before 16 September 2013 may have used our Easyswitch service to qualify."

unless i'm missing something they just seem to be saying that they're convinced you'll love First Direct but if you don't and decide to leave they'll bung you an elephant (or is it a pony? - anyway £100 to anyone who isn't a cockney)