First Direct Joining Incentive

Nine_Lives

Gromitt wrote: »

Disagree. I use FD as my main bank, but I'd never use it for savings apart from their 8% 'Regular Saver'. Once salary is paid in, I only leave enough money in to cover the bills. The rest is transferred elsewhere. 0.25% is an insult when I can get 3-4% elsewhere.

Agree here.

I only used FD for 2 reasons:
1) £100 joining fee
2) 8% saver.

ATEOTD customer service matters very little to me. Their products should work the way that they're advertised. As such, if i lump money in, it should get me the return it states & that's all i'm interested in - having my money work hard.
If it doesn't work as it should, then you complain. By doing this i got £50 out of Santander at Xmas.

rich_jtg

Gromitt wrote: »

Disagree. I use FD as my main bank, but I'd never use it for savings apart from their 8% 'Regular Saver'. Once salary is paid in, I only leave enough money in to cover the bills. The rest is transferred elsewhere. 0.25% is an insult when I can get 3-4% elsewhere.

Indeed... I meant from a general point of view, rather than savings advice. I wouldn't trust my money with some banks as I feel they would probably 'lose it' during some form of incompetence.

(..and yes I know there's protection from this etc etc, this is just a general 'wouldn't want the hassle' post to point out an incentive isn't a reason for switching)

calypso_rhapsody

I am thinking of transferring our main current account to First Direct but like the OP we won't qualify for the incentive as we had savings accounts that we closed some years back.

The reason i am thinking of moving is that after many years of being a Bank of Scotland Private Banking customer i have had a number of (admittedly relatively minor) service issues with them in the last year or so. Whilst the chap who has taken over as my relationship manager is helpful he is clearly bound by very limited authority and has little opportunity to address problems as they arise. I discussed my concerns with him and he asked me to email his boss ... which i did - no reply (after several weeks). So voting with my feet seems to be the only answer.

Now i know that FD have an excellent reputation for customer service but i worry that by not have a named relationship manager I may in fact get less good service than i do at present ....

Can anyone reassure me that an FD employee can take responsibility for resolving an issue and have the authority to do so?

fira

I too was a Bank of Scotland Private Banking Customer until only a few weeks ago. Also because of service issues I transferred all accounts to First Direct. I’d been happy with BofS for a good number of years but their recent internet banking problems and subsequent lack of service (including none whatsoever from the relationship manager) made the decision to move much easier.

It is difficult to reply fully when I do not know which issues you refer to but I think it would be worth your while calling FD and ask them.

What I can tell you is that the service from FD so far has been absolutely superb. My initial telephone call to them ended with two new current and savings accounts plus a credit card being approved and opened. Indeed, the young lady closed the call by giving me access codes for internet banking where I could view the new bank accounts immediately.

Something that may be helpful though. When I asked about opening both a credit card and sharedealing account I was passed immediately to those departments. The credit card and limit requested was approved there and then. Similarly their investment section took all the information, easily answered the questions I had and two days later I had the opening sharedealing documentation here to sign. Both the credit card and investment section staff passed me back to the new accounts team to continue with whatever was next in the opening processes.

So, I think if you can live with ‘I don’t know the answer but do know someone that does’ you’ll find them good to bank with. I most certainly do. It's been like a breath of fresh air

calypso_rhapsody

Well i've taken the plunge and opened the account - and told BoS that i am doing so. Fingers crossed ... account opening was not entirely smooth as the system the lady was using went down at one point. But very friendly and very helpful so i am hopeful!