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First Direct or Smile?

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  • bhindi
    bhindi Posts: 75 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Yep, First Direct since it opened. I am a totally satisfied customer.
  • hr_money
    hr_money Posts: 491 Forumite
    Don't know anything about Smile, but have accounts with First Direct and their customer service is fab. Website easy to navigate also.
    AFD 0/31
  • snowcat53
    snowcat53 Posts: 602 Forumite
    My main account is with Smile and I am very happy with them. Personally I have no problems with the website. I pay in cheques at the Post office or in Freepost envelopes.

    I also had an FD account at one time, taken out for the cash freebie. This was ok, tho didnt use it much. However they really did not want to pay up the £100 when i asked to close it, demanding to know the reasons I wasnt happy - I had to argue hard and quote their offer at them . 'This has never happened before' they said !
  • I'm only considering FD or Smile because, as far as I can tell, they had the best overdrafts!

    Need a new account with a free overdraft :(
  • JacksterD
    JacksterD Posts: 293 Forumite
    I bank with The Co-Op, which is functionally identical to Smile except everything has a blue tinge instead of pink. I'm very happy, although the online banking is a bit old fashioned. I emailed their online banking help desk about it, though, and they assured me that a brand new system would be coming this year. They also say they have an iPhone app coming out in the first half of this year too.

    And then there's also the ethical aspect of Smile and The Co-Op - it can sometimes be a bit of a controversial topic around here but this is what they have to say about their ethics http://www.goodwithmoney.co.uk/why-do-we-need-ethical-policies/
  • samwsmith1
    samwsmith1 Posts: 922 Forumite
    "they allow you to deposit cheques for free through freepost envelopes."
    Not in pre-printed a Freepost envelope, but cheques may also be deposited free using a Freepost address for Smile.
    I was just commenting on Co-Op, I assumed that they'd just give you envelopes for the post office or with an address on needing a stamp like Co-Op do.
  • skaterboy
    skaterboy Posts: 86 Forumite
    Hi,

    Smile pay interest on their current account, although quite low, 0.12%, at least its something!

    And freepost envelopes.

    what more do you want ;-)
  • suburbanwifey
    suburbanwifey Posts: 1,642 Forumite
    edited 9 March 2012 at 1:00PM
    I have banked with First Direct 20 years. They are the best bank in them all by far. I have also banked with SMILE for 9+ years, they are pretty good also. If I had to choose one only, it would be FIRST DIRECT, they are the best. Look for more than just the ordinary, with FD you get premium customer service and in lots of ways, that makes a big difference!

    A recent new addition to my happiness with FD is the iPhone App for total control over my FD banking, even when away from a computer. Simple, secure, as with everything else First Direct, the best.
  • Hezzawithkids
    Hezzawithkids Posts: 3,018 Forumite
    I have just switched from Santander to Smile (for the same reasons as you - their outrageous overdraft charges, which are just about to increase again) and although the website looks a bit clunky so far I have no complaints. It was a toss up between them and FD but the reason I went with them is because (a) free £500 o/d in the first year and (b) I don't pay enough per month to qualify for FD's offer (c) being part of the Co-op bank I like their ethical stance. Smile's customer service has been brilliant so far, I !!!!!!ed up my online access codes and they reset them over the phone for me, then they transferred all my DD's across for me within a week and I have just authorised them to close my Santander account. I can't wait for Santander to contact me to ask why after being a customer for over 20 years........:cool:
    £2 Savers Club 2016 #21 £14/£250
    £2 Savers Club 2015 #8 £250£200 :j

    Proud to be an OU graduate :j :j

    Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain
  • Hazzanet
    Hazzanet Posts: 1,723 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I can't wait for Santander to contact me to ask why after being a customer for over 20 years........:cool:

    I wouldn't hold my breath...
    4358
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