HSBC or First Direct?

jonas123

grahamgoo wrote: »

Any thoughts? Has the HSBC situation improved post the end of the stamp duty holiday? Or do you agree FD are still the better option?

I completed late April with HSBC - as far as I was concerned, they didn't get any better after the stamp duty deadline was up. It was still just as difficult to contact them.

I would say that if you want to secure the purchase and minimise any possible delay, go with FD. The extra stress is not at all worth the 0.2% - and if the sale falls through, that 0.2% is lost in the roundings...

Also you should bear in mind that there are additional costs with using HSBC if you don't use one of their conveyancers. Mine came to approximately £600 extra

KTF

For my remortgage with HSBC they are using Breezeplus - http://www.breezeplus.co.uk/ - and they seem fine so far.

Quick to send out paperwork, follow up calls if they need information and you get straight through to them on the phone.