What's the appeal with first direct?

catwoman73

I like First Direct because in the rare occasions I have to call them (via a very easy to remember number - because I am in the same area code, its just 234 5678 so I don't have to pay for the call or use saynoto0870 to find an alternative) the security questions are very easy - just name, postcode and something else which is easy and obvious and not 'the seventh letter of your maternal grandfathers first pet's name and the place where your parent's cleaner got married). That you get straight through to a real person and not endless button pressing in response to options, none of which are what you need and just seem to be there to stop you getting anywhere a real person, who probably won't be able to help you anyway.

I like that the call centre staff actually know what they are doing and are not sticking to a script, or making up nonsense as they go along or are more interested in selling you stuff you don't want than helping with your query.

I like the free overdraft and have never been charged anything apart from a few pence in interest every once in a while.

I have £20k+ in a cash ISA so the interest received on this is just amount the best available and I can get the money back into my current account in seconds.

I also like the First Direct plus that saves all the log in details for all my other accounts.

CKhalvashi

I'm with Catwoman on this one (I have £40k-ish in a cash ISA, a current account that has about £2000 channeled through from HSBC each month and a regular saver)

It's the fact it's banking made simple, that really impresses me, and also the fact that I can use HSBC (who my main personal account/business accounts are with.) to pay anything in as necessary, without having someone attempt to flog crap.

CK

Cloudane

rb10 wrote: »

Have you actually called another bank recently for a transaction as simple as ordering a new card? As you appear to have just jumped to the stereotype that has little factual basis.

Not recently, but when I was with sister company HSBC they used foreign call centres, and I'm pretty sure Nationwide did as well.

If you must jump on me about the factual accuracy of my post, please present me with facts, otherwise you're just pushing your own opinion and pretending it's more factual than mine. I suggest ringing round a few and recording the results or something.

JuicyJesus

Cloudane wrote: »

Not recently, but when I was with sister company HSBC they used foreign call centres, and I'm pretty sure Nationwide did as well.

Virtually every bank does to some degree. Especially for things like cards being lost and stolen, where the department needs to be open 24/7/365 to protect all concerned. Even First Direct, when I called them a few years back, passed me through to one.

roxy28

mrmajika wrote: »

That's interesting and it's been a long time in coming. They've never committed to any timescales in the past. Have you a source for this?

I have also just had a letter to say they are updating internet banking from sept 1st.

rb10

Cloudane wrote: »

Not recently, but when I was with sister company HSBC they used foreign call centres, and I'm pretty sure Nationwide did as well.

If you must jump on me about the factual accuracy of my post, please present me with facts, otherwise you're just pushing your own opinion and pretending it's more factual than mine. I suggest ringing round a few and recording the results or something.

Facts:

Nationwide do not use foreign call centres.
Halifax do not use foreign call centres.

zerog

TheEffect wrote: »

you can't do simple things like update your address without messaging them, etc.

Well with Halifax and Lloyds, you can't even update your address online. Santander mangles your address when you update it online, Nationwide just sends a message anyway, only HSBC does it properly.

catwoman73 wrote: »

I like First Direct because in the rare occasions I have to call them (via a very easy to remember number - because I am in the same area code, its just 234 5678 so I don't have to pay for the call or use saynoto0870 to find an alternative)

You do know that being in the same area code has no effect on whether you need to pay for a call or not... ok, it saves you 4 button presses

typistretired

And up to 31st July 2013 if you log into internet banking you will be entered into a free draw. One lucky person will win £500 and 50 people will win £50.
If I ever need to contact First Direct either by telephone or online secure message I always get everything sorted.
Has anyone ever tried to get anything sorted with Natwest online recently. I never ring them as I never use 0845 numbers. Yesterday I found that a payment that I wanted to go out on Monday 29th July 2013 had already been deducted from my account but showing 29th July 2013 as date the payment would be going out. Therefore, I could not cancel the payment. When I used their online help where you speak to an advisor they told me the payment would be in my payee account by 2pm Monday!!! Too late for a standing order due to go out. They didn't offer me any assistance at all. I think the person was foreign as she used the word Manday instead of Monday. If it had been First Direct I called it would have been sorted properly but of course they would not have deducted the payment on the previous working day like Natwest.

MoneySaverLog

typistretired wrote: »

I never ring them as I never use 0845 numbers.

Let's see whats First Direct's customer number is 0845 6 100 100

Hazzanet

0113 234 5678