views on First Direct

jfh7gwa

Thanks all, I'm glad my assumption that the HSBC branches would allow you to literally deposit cash was fine. i couldn't figure out how people worked with it as a current account otherwise.

meer53 wrote: »

Not sure what you mean by "specific cash" ? You draw cash from the ATMs same as any other bank.

I take a combination of the train and bus to work, but the commuting is sporadic (making buying a pass a nightmare, most months I'd end up spending more).

As a downside to this unpredictable working pattern, I have to ensure I have change for several days at any one time, but it's ok because I walk past my current bank on the way to work at least twice a week.

e.g. for the train i need £12.60 exactly (no change given by machines) and for the bus it's £2.70 a day exactly (no change given on the bus).

nightmare!

that's what i meant


---- edited to expand:

in fact, that's actually one of the reasons I'm considering ditching my current bank. every time i go there (about every 2 weeks) it's such a huge branch i'm served by different people - they always ask why I want (say) £40 (£30 of pound coins, the rest in silver change please).. and often they make me go around to business banking counter.

and at the business banking counter they tutt and sigh and ask why i haven't given 24hrs notice, and then i have to explain i'm not a business customer, but that i just need commuting change... honestly, it drives me nuts! I spend more time justifying why i need (not want - need) specific coinage at my bank that it's just one of several vague annoyances i'd prefer to get rid off for good.

in fact, the last time i was at my current bank, i put in a formal complaint, because the woman at the business counter refused to serve me without 24hrs notice (this was for £35 of change). the woman on the customer service desk has given me her word that this isn't true, so she gave me her business card with her name on if it's ever queried again (that they won't give me my change).

how daft is that?

you can tell i'm very closing to switching to any option other than my current bank!

Horace

I do know that if an FD user recommends someone who then takes an account with FD, that the person taking out the account will get £100 and the referrer gets £50 from the bank.

Must admit that I still bank with them even though my income is very low (I have been a customer for quite a few years) but I am finding I hate their bank charges which are becoming quite punitive:( Time to start looking for another account methinks.

meer53

jfh7gwa wrote: »

Thanks all, I'm glad my assumption that the HSBC branches would allow you to literally deposit cash was fine. i couldn't figure out how people worked with it as a current account otherwise.



I take a combination of the train and bus to work, but the commuting is sporadic (making buying a pass a nightmare, most months I'd end up spending more).

As a downside to this unpredictable working pattern, I have to ensure I have change for several days at any one time, but it's ok because I walk past my current bank on the way to work at least twice a week.

e.g. for the train i need £12.60 exactly (no change given by machines) and for the bus it's £2.70 a day exactly (no change given on the bus).

nightmare!

that's what i meant


---- edited to expand:

in fact, that's actually one of the reasons I'm considering ditching my current bank. every time i go there (about every 2 weeks) it's such a huge branch i'm served by different people - they always ask why I want (say) £40 (£30 of pound coins, the rest in silver change please).. and often they make me go around to business banking counter.

and at the business banking counter they tutt and sigh and ask why i haven't given 24hrs notice, and then i have to explain i'm not a business customer, but that i just need commuting change... honestly, it drives me nuts! I spend more time justifying why i need (not want - need) specific coinage at my bank that it's just one of several vague annoyances i'd prefer to get rid off for good.

in fact, the last time i was at my current bank, i put in a formal complaint, because the woman at the business counter refused to serve me without 24hrs notice (this was for £35 of change). the woman on the customer service desk has given me her word that this isn't true, so she gave me her business card with her name on if it's ever queried again (that they won't give me my change).

how daft is that?

you can tell i'm very closing to switching to any option other than my current bank!

Can you not use a debit card for the train journeys ? Or does it cause problems ?

To Horace, you don't have to pay bank charges, they are avoidable. All banks charge if you use their facilities.

jfh7gwa

meer53 wrote: »

Can you not use a debit card for the train journeys ?

Technically yes, but the machines reject the fare too often on cards, seemingly at random (colleagues report problems too - there was a bit of a media story about their machines recently i think? in the Metro newspaper)

I used to have to carry a second debit card with me just in case :mad: - but the days I take the train it's really, really important i get there on time, + never had any problems with coins.

so i prefer to stick with coins just for reliability.

i've never attempted to use notes on public transport, i assume they're just as annoying to use in machines as the debit cards.

add to that the fact that buses don't accept debit cards and it's best if i just stick to cash - annoying but just one of those things.

i do use a debit card for everything else in life though - i literally don't carry any money with me to work other than transport fares. so i feel rich but all that money is really not for dipping into

samwsmith1

jfh7gwa wrote: »

Thanks all, I'm glad my assumption that the HSBC branches would allow you to literally deposit cash was fine. i couldn't figure out how people worked with it as a current account otherwise.



I take a combination of the train and bus to work, but the commuting is sporadic (making buying a pass a nightmare, most months I'd end up spending more).

As a downside to this unpredictable working pattern, I have to ensure I have change for several days at any one time, but it's ok because I walk past my current bank on the way to work at least twice a week.

e.g. for the train i need £12.60 exactly (no change given by machines) and for the bus it's £2.70 a day exactly (no change given on the bus).

nightmare!

that's what i meant


---- edited to expand:

in fact, that's actually one of the reasons I'm considering ditching my current bank. every time i go there (about every 2 weeks) it's such a huge branch i'm served by different people - they always ask why I want (say) £40 (£30 of pound coins, the rest in silver change please).. and often they make me go around to business banking counter.

and at the business banking counter they tutt and sigh and ask why i haven't given 24hrs notice, and then i have to explain i'm not a business customer, but that i just need commuting change... honestly, it drives me nuts! I spend more time justifying why i need (not want - need) specific coinage at my bank that it's just one of several vague annoyances i'd prefer to get rid off for good.

in fact, the last time i was at my current bank, i put in a formal complaint, because the woman at the business counter refused to serve me without 24hrs notice (this was for £35 of change). the woman on the customer service desk has given me her word that this isn't true, so she gave me her business card with her name on if it's ever queried again (that they won't give me my change).

how daft is that?

you can tell i'm very closing to switching to any option other than my current bank!

I think HSBC should be able to deal with your request for change , you can always phone First Direct up the day before to put in a request at the HSBC branch of your choice, never had to do it, but with how helpful they are on the phone I can't see there being a problem.

[Deleted User]

most awesome bank ever.

SGE1

Good customer service, very polite and helpful - however: it takes them 3 working days for them to process standing orders by BACS, even if the receiving bank accepts faster payments! Whereas perversely, if you do a manual one-off payment, it's instant... So I've just realised I'm faced with a perpetual overdraft at the beginning each month in my joint account, while the money from my personal account (most of my salary) takes 3 days to transfer across!

I've been told I need to cancel the standing order and make manual payments each month. Mental. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered to switch!

meer53

SGE1 wrote: »

Good customer service, very polite and helpful - however: it takes them 3 working days for them to process standing orders by BACS, even if the receiving bank accepts faster payments! Whereas perversely, if you do a manual one-off payment, it's instant... So I've just realised I'm faced with a perpetual overdraft at the beginning each month in my joint account, while the money from my personal account (most of my salary) takes 3 days to transfer across!

I've been told I need to cancel the standing order and make manual payments each month. Mental. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered to switch!

You used to be able to set up manual payments in advance, not sure whether you still can, set up a few in advance, no probs.

gt94sss2

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Go for it. I would dream of getting that income (I'm retired on a small company pension and Basic State Pension). I was accepted with no problems and haven't even moved to FD as my main account. You can 'rotate' the £1500, although I keep savings for this purpose, and am also doing their £300 regular savings for the 8%.

If you have a FD credit card, a savings account with £1 in or some other First Direct products, you don't need to fund your account with £1,500/month

Regards
Sunil

ffacoffipawb

My views on first direct?

Think of the very best bank in the world.

They are better than that.

In mathematical terms, first direct = 1 / Santander