FD £125 - question to those who have used offer!

em18_2

Hi,

Quick question about meeting the requirements for the £125 offer. I earn over £1000 monthly so that is fine but do I have to actually set up the BACS transfer from my employer over to the FD account or can I just transfer £1000 from my main account monthly so I don't have to go through the hassle of payroll at work.

Last year I opened the Santander £100 offer and they let me just transfer £1000 a month from another account but I phoned FD today and the lady said I need to transfer my salary to them via my employer.

Just wondered if other people have done this or whether they have got the £125 with just transferring from another account?

Thanks.

macman

The requirements are perfectly clear, you must fund the account by a minimum of £1,000 per month, plus switch a minimum of two DD's or SO's.
The phrase used is 'salary or income', so you can certainly fund it from another account if you wish, not pay your salary in direct. It's none of their concern how you fund it.
The adviser you spoke to needs some retraining.
There is nothing to prevent you transferring the £1K back again the next day by SO if you wish to.

akamustang

You don't have to involve your employer, just transfer the money yourself each month from your main account to your FD account.

With regards to the direct debits and standing orders they will ask your permission to request a list of all of them from your main bank, then they'll send you that list in the post. You can then either cross off the one's you don't want to transfer and send the form back, or even easier give them a call and say which one's you want to transfer and which you don't.

Received my joining incentive 3 weeks after opening the account.

AlwaysLearnin

Per above, it doesn't have to be salary.

Presume you've opened the esaver account with £1 so that you don't have to keep paying in monthly once you have the £125?

bobmorley

I am in the process of signing up to First Direct to get this bonus too and have a question. Do I have to use their 'easyswitch' method to transfer 2 direct debts/standing orders over or can I simply set up two new direct debits with my First Direct account to qualify for the bonus?

YorkshireBoy

bobmorley wrote: »

I am in the process of signing up to First Direct to get this bonus too and have a question. Do I have to use their 'easyswitch' method to transfer 2 direct debts/standing orders over or can I simply set up two new direct debits with my First Direct account to qualify for the bonus?

They say...

"Open a 1st Account then transfer your banking using our Easyswitch service (transferring at least two Direct Debits and/or standing orders...)"

If you set up your own direct debits you won't have used their 'Easyswitch service'.

Does that answer your question?

System

You have to use their switching service for the incentive.

bobmorley wrote: »

I am in the process of signing up to First Direct to get this bonus too and have a question. Do I have to use their 'easyswitch' method to transfer 2 direct debts/standing orders over or can I simply set up two new direct debits with my First Direct account to qualify for the bonus?

bobmorley

Okay just told two completely conflicting answers. However I think Heng Leng is likely correct that I do need to use their switching service as that seems to be what the wording of the terms implies.

innovate

bobmorley wrote: »

...as that seems to be what the wording of the terms implies.

The wording doesn't imply that you need to use the Easyswitch service, it says you need to use it

em18_2

Thanks for the info.

So on the application process, when it says will you be paying your salary into the account, did you select yes or no? This is the bit that threw me!

Calfuray

I selected no for salary question.
Got to last page, instantly approved which was a nice surprise, expected to have to wait few days for paperwork. Got sort code and acc number on that screen.
Phoned up, got telephone and internet banking set up. Was able to go straight onto online banking, very impressed so far! Now need to fill out easySwitch form, and wait for my £125!