First Direct and their poor Internet Banking. Are there alternatives?

The_pc_tech

If you want to see this discussed regularly have a look at the First Direct Lab under your suggestions.

I'd definitely agree the Internet Banking system is all a bit 1998 but when it matters FD's service is terrific.

I've had to ring up to pay bills which I may have forgotten or want to check a balance during my lunch break (I don't log into Internet Banking at work as my screen can be observed by others) so I just ring up from my mobile and get whatever done in 3 minutes flat tops.

Dealt with the other banks before and have to wait an age to talk to someone who is either an overseas script reader or is having a bad day and acts like they are doing you the favour.

One of my accounts inadvertently went into an unauthorised OD situation which I corrected that evening by transferring some money in, rang FD about 9 p.m., admitted my error and apologised and was told it was ok as I'd remedied it before 10.45, some other banks would have probably just slapped on the charges.

Depends what works for you I guess.

Regarding card readers they are just a pain to use.

mgdavid

I like Barclays online banking but I've been with them for yonks; recently opened a FD account and I hate their online banking too. Functions OK but the look of it hurts my eyes!

warwicktiger

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

I have absolutely no problems with First Directs online banking. It does everything I need it to do.

PS. I use chrome

Me too! It works.

Gromitt

JSR wrote: »

There is no 'available balance' on the account summary screen so you can't see the effect of pending transactions.

If you click "Make a payment" you'll be given your "Available Balance" rather than your "Current Balance". I agree you shouldn't have to find it out like this, but until they change it, its the only way of finding it out.

Osarkon

Out of curiosity, what does first directs online banking look like? Could someone upload an image (whilst hiding private information obviously).

Considering switching to them from Lloyds which has excellent online banking.

Can you rename accounts with first direct?

grumbler

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=first+direct+online+banking&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=PlU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=pMBMUd24IuiZ0QXAm4HgBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1068&bih=829

Watch the demo about internet banking

ColdIron

I'm a fan of Barclays online banking, fully functional, very easy to use and pleasant on the eye. Santander and Lloyds come a fairly close second though and I like the first payment callback and alerts which Barclys doesn't have. Nationwide isn't too bad. I don't like FD and would hate to use it as my main current account, I've only got it for the regular saver so rarely have to use it

Osarkon

grumbler wrote: »

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=first+direct+online+banking&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=PlU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=pMBMUd24IuiZ0QXAm4HgBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1068&bih=829

Watch the demo about internet banking

Thanks Grumbler. Was unsure if I was missing something - the interface seems perfectly fine to me from the google search.

Not quite sure how people are finding it dated etc, it doesn't seem that different from Lloyds.

The_pc_tech

You cant name accounts on the Internet Banking Service but can on the Internet Banking Service Plus which allows you to add other accounts held with other banks and credit card companies.

Standing order set up isn't real time like it is with Lloyds so you have to fill in a form and allow at least one working day as I believe a team deals with it, same if you want to cancel one though I think they can do it quicker over the phone and it won't show the amount and date until the first payment is made.

It does show a realtime balance so the balance shown only decreases when things are debited from the account, therefore for example if you use your card at the supermarket and check your balance later it will not deduct that amount until it actually debits.

The first one is slightly annoying but the other two are ok as far as I am concerned.

If I ring and ask for a balance they will usually tell me about any stuff that's pending but has not yet debited.