Switching to First Direct

Gromitt

I'd have to agree with that. Being able to walk in a branch and ask a question can be very useful. I tried that with FD and a HSBC branch and got told to use the telephone!

Yes, FD are very friendly on the phone, but having a friendly chat with a person inside a physical branch is more so, in my opinion.

I'll still keep my salary payments with FD, but my bill payments will remain with TSB.

seriousDFW

Gromitt wrote: »

I'd have to agree with that. Being able to walk in a branch and ask a question can be very useful. I tried that with FD and a HSBC branch and got told to use the telephone!

Yes, FD are very friendly on the phone, but having a friendly chat with a person inside a physical branch is more so, in my opinion.

I'll still keep my salary payments with FD, but my bill payments will remain with TSB.

Interesting. I agree that it'd be great to have a helpful branch to go to, but as I've never experienced that, that's why I went for helpful phone staff at FD.

I've only had branch experiences with HSBC, Nationwide and Barclays though. I just hate that you always have some arbitrary waiting system, or you have to make an appointment, or you're not allowed to make an appointment, or they tell you to go to a website, or use a phone... Might give Lloyds a go if and when I need a new account.

MoneySaverLog

seriousDFW wrote: »

Might give Lloyds a go if and when I need a new account.

Never been turned away, or pointed in the direction of a phone, from Lloyds when I've gone in branch.

I may have to wait as other customers may have booked an appointment ahead of time, or been waiting before me (it's called a queue :rotfl:). But if I can plan it, I have a direct line phone number through to my branch stored in my mobile, I'd call ahead to get an appointment.

Always helpful in the branch.

seriousDFW

MoneySaverLog wrote: »

Never been turned away, or pointed in the direction of a phone, from Lloyds when I've gone in branch.

I may have to wait as other customers may have booked an appointment ahead of time, or been waiting before me (it's called a queue :rotfl:). But if I can plan it, I have a direct line phone number through to my branch stored in my mobile, I'd call ahead to get an appointment.

Always helpful in the branch.

Haha thanks. I've no problem waiting in a queue. I just object to being sat down and told to wait, while I see more manpower being expended in the organisation of appointments than would be required to deal with the customers' actual issues in the first place!

I don't need a new account but just want to open one now, especially as I like the green 2012 design of the debit cards!

myth123

I switched to first direct through the moneysupermarket £125 joining incentive, and I have just been paid, but I have only been paid £100 (which is what it usually is I believe). Going to contact them in the morning, but has anybody else had this problem?

Gromitt

I believe the £25 is nothing to do with FD, so you will get it seperately.

BathingApe

myth123 wrote: »

I switched to first direct through the moneysupermarket £125 joining incentive, and I have just been paid, but I have only been paid £100 (which is what it usually is I believe). Going to contact them in the morning, but has anybody else had this problem?

What did they say about the extra £25? I think I'll be in a similar situation to you soon.

myth123

BathingApe wrote: »

What did they say about the extra £25? I think I'll be in a similar situation to you soon.

I sent a secure message through my account, they got back to me the next day saying that it has been passed over to their marketing department. My account was credited with the extra £25 after 2 days.