First Direct?

fcwalker

First direct is fine unless you are struggling financially, their charges are excessive and they are very unsympathetic when you ask for help

HeadAboveWater

I'm (thankfully!) out of debt so (thankfully!) don't have that problem

HeadAboveWater

Sooooo... I finally now have my First Direct 1st account!!! :j

Transferred some money across from Santander (not £1500 unfortunately!!!).
Opened the E-saver account and transferred £ across to it.
Have set up 2 standing orders, but decided I will also switch my wages and dd across too (although that bit will take time obviously)

I'm going to open their regular saver account too I think, as the 8% interest is too good to pass up on!

Should that be enough to get my £100 and how long should I have to wait??

MoneySaverLog

First Direct are good, but apart from their regular saver, there are better accounts out their in terms of interest.

Try Lloyds TSB for current accounts with interest, and somewhere other than first direct for any other savings accounts that pay more than 1% for the first 12 months.

HeadAboveWater

My current account never has much money in it so not too worried about it. Was with Santander on their 1-2-3 account as I did have a good balance for a while, but personal circumstances changed so no longer have the balance I used to have. Just have to start building up my savings again...

PDF

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Sooooo... I finally now have my First Direct 1st account!!! :j

Transferred some money across from Santander (not £1500 unfortunately!!!).
Opened the E-saver account and transferred £ across to it.
Have set up 2 standing orders, but decided I will also switch my wages and dd across too (although that bit will take time obviously)

I'm going to open their regular saver account too I think, as the 8% interest is too good to pass up on!

Should that be enough to get my £100 and how long should I have to wait??

Bad news I think, you have to use their easy switch service to get the joining incentive. I have just received my bonus (£125 thanks!) and used their easy switch service. For anyone worrying about the £1500 per month credit to the account, I transferred it from another account once a month and it was in the FD less than 24 hours most months! You can also transfer it out and back in again to make it up to £1500 per month. ie. 3 x £500 deposits. Good luck

HeadAboveWater

PDF wrote: »

Bad news I think, you have to use their easy switch service to get the joining incentive. I have just received my bonus (£125 thanks!) and used their easy switch service. For anyone worrying about the £1500 per month credit to the account, I transferred it from another account once a month and it was in the FD less than 24 hours most months! You can also transfer it out and back in again to make it up to £1500 per month. ie. 3 x £500 deposits. Good luck

Am posting the form off today to get wages and dd all transferred over so that's fair enough. Just have to sit tight for a while!! Can transfer back and forth from my other account meantime to make the £1500.

How'd you manage £125 or is that from a slightly older offer? (Jammy sod!!!! )

myth123

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

How'd you manage £125 or is that from a slightly older offer? (Jammy sod!!!! )

The £125 joining incentive was through a moneysupermarket link - I think they may have stopped running it now though.

HeadAboveWater

Nice one

Ok. So gonna start doing my transferring back and forward :eek:

I assume money doesn't have to be in the account any length of time as such. It's ok to transfer in and out in the same day?

PDF

Yup, normally tansferred mine into the account in the morning and back out again in the evening! I thought about leaving them after 6 months to get the £100 back but they have been so good I will stay. (I would have cited the lack of android app for leaving)