Switching from Santander to First direct

BrookesAndrew

I have just got off the phone with First direct. I wanted to switch to them because of the 100 you can get when you transfer to them and also because I don't like Santander and there customer service is terrible. I've heard a lot of people complaining about them. Just wanted to know if anybody else has switched to them and what they are like or is there somebody better to switch to? Let me know what you think. I didn't get accepted straight away they need to check a few things and then they will come back to me but fingers crossed!

MoneySaverLog

Not the b's and e's of banking but they like to think so.

Still better than the reds.

100saving

if it helps i opened the First account on 12/6/13 paid in my wages on the 20/6/13 my transfer date for direct debits is set for 11/7/13 yet i got the £100 joining bonus on 9/7/13.

I have found that they have been very good. when ever i call its no waiting straight to business. also their reg. saving account is not bad as well.

TheEffect

There Internet Banking and Mobile App are a bit behind the times. Their card quality is rubbish, meaning the card numbers rub off very quickly. Apart from that, the free £100 and £250 interest free overdraft is quite nice. Also get through to a human straight away should you ever need to phone them.

100saving

everyone talks about their Internet Banking and Mobile App being crap i don't think its that bad. it simple but as long as it works and does what it should who cares!

TheEffect

100saving wrote: »

everyone talks about their Internet Banking and Mobile App being crap i don't think its that bad. it simple but as long as it works and does what it should who cares!

People who primarily want to do all their banking online or via the app? In todays technological world, you should be able to do simple things like see your loan balance, or manually change a standing order amount going into your regular saver without contacting the bank, just two examples.

izools

Well my mother of 63, who has been with TSB (no, not Lloyds TSB), Natwest (Pre-RBS), Barclays, Nationwide, RBS, and now First Direct rates them head and shoulders above all the prior and thinks they're the best thing since sliced bread.

BrookesAndrew

I do use online banking all the time so that is a bit disappointing to find out there app isn't that good. I do want to switch away from Santander so who do you think would be good to go with? Is there any topics on here that anybody could give me a link to? I might ring First Direct up and say that I am not sure if I want to continue with the application.

MoneySaverLog

Of all the banks I found the Lloyds TSB / Halifax online banking system the most intuitive and easy to use banking system online.

Hazzanet

TheEffect wrote: »

In todays technological world, you should be able to do simple things like see your loan balance, or manually change a standing order amount going into your regular saver without contacting the bank, just two examples.

Presumably this doesn't work for you then?

Osarkon

Hazzanet wrote: »

Presumably this doesn't work for you then?

When you try changing the amount via that screen you get an error message stating you need to ring to do it.