First Direct overrated

Andystriker

This is a strange thread, something seems odd.

seriousDFW

K_P83 wrote: »

Agree with the comment that they're overrated.

People rave on about them like they're making people millionaires or something. You ask why they're so great & you get told "customer service". Yeah, but why do they warrant the over-the-top praise though. Errrr.....customer service?

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have good customer service, but that's what i EXPECT anyway - you should get good customer service as a minimum, so they're only doing what they should be doing.
Their online banking isn't all that.

They're good, they're just not as good as what many make out .... in my opinion.

I expect excellent customer service too, but I've yet to experience any with the other banks I've used. First Direct aren't perfect, but they do seem to have a common sense approach to banking in the experiences I've had with them.

Nine_Lives

seriousDFW wrote: »

I expect excellent customer service too, but I've yet to experience any with the other banks I've used. First Direct aren't perfect, but they do seem to have a common sense approach to banking in the experiences I've had with them.

I agree. I don't actually have a problem with them, other than i think their online banking layout could do with a drastic re-design.

But they're not doing anything "above and beyond" in my eyes. It's just that other banks (Santander) are so piddle-poor that it makes banks like FD stand out, when they're only doing what they should be doing. Nothing special in that.

I believe they deserve praise, but i don't believe they deserve the over-the-top praise they seem to get on MSE.

ATEOTD, i put my money where it's going to work the hardest. The 8% reg saver aside, most my money is with Santander. Yes they're crap, but their products are the best for me. £5k in a 5% saver, an eSaver which when i took it out was the best (now only beaten by Nationwide MySave Plus ( some 3.13% which only beats Santander by 0.03%). Their ISA was the best at 3.5% when i took it out.

Yes their customer service is poor, but if i want to talk to someone on the phone i'll call a friend. It's about money - and i want mine to work the hardest. If that means forcing Santander to do what they should do, then so be it (i got £50 as an apology btw in December).

Redouble

I'm beginning to think it's personal! Just spent another 15 minutes on hold, I gave up though as it is Saturday so I would expect call volume to be higher. But if everyone else is saying they get through instantly... I must be on some sort of black list! Haha!

Gromitt

I rang the 0113 to speak to them (free from my mobile) and after 6 minutes on hold I gave up. I then fetched the landline phone and called the 08456 number - took about 10 seconds to answer the call.

Therefore I would suspect that calls to the 08456 number are being given priority.

Redouble

Ah boo. I only have a mobile and am not calling 0845 from that!
Wonder what the hours for that number are, I'll just ring them first thing on Monday I think!

Redouble

And that's a pain as my husband is overseas and will need to speak to them too. He can only use the 0113 number and ha limited time to call.
I may well mention this when I ring, see what they say

samwsmith1

Redouble wrote: »

Ah boo. I only have a mobile and am not calling 0845 from that!
Wonder what the hours for that number are, I'll just ring them first thing on Monday I think!

They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

to send them a message login to online banking and on the right hand side there's a bit that says contact us, under there select secure message.

Or for a none account related enquiry you can email 24hours@firstdirect.com

Redouble

samwsmith1 wrote: »

They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

to send them a message login to online banking and on the right hand side there's a bit that says contact us, under there select secure message.

Or for a none account related enquiry you can email 24hours@firstdirect.com

I didn't know that. Thank you. I will ring them when the kids are in bed tonight then, and if I still don't get through I'll go online.

Thanks again

samwsmith1

Redouble wrote: »

I didn't know that. Thank you. I will ring them when the kids are in bed tonight then, and if I still don't get through I'll go online.

Thanks again

It can be quite handy , I've phoned them at 1:30am before because my card kept getting declined online.
Turned out it was the retailers fault but FD were still very helpful.