Trying to switch to First Direct

Neato

I've applied to switch to First Direct.

They've asked for:

Certified copy of a full and valid passport

Certified copy of a full and current UK driving licence

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax notification. For example:
- PAYE Coding Notice
- HMRC Notification of Working Family Tax Credit
- HMRC Notification of Children's Tax Credit
- HMRC Notification of Disabled Persons Tax Credit
- HMRC Tax Calculation

Disabled parking document

Firearms/shotgun certificate

Benefits Agency / Local Authority letter confirming your right to benefits from the following departments:
- Benefits Agency
- Department of Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus)
- Child Benefit Office
- Veterans Agency

Certification requirements for passports and driving licence's are as follows:

-The document needs to be certified and signed by a solicitor, lawyer, attorney, licenced conveyancer or Barrister
-In addition to the signature, the name should be printed to enable us to verify this with respective directories e.g. The Law Society
-The document needs to have a company stamp
-The document needs to include written confirmation that it is a true copy of the original-The document needs to be dated

I don't know a solicitor, lawyer, attorney, licenced conveyancer or Barrister. I don't have any of the other documents. Has anyone else come across this? I've asked if I could use something like my P45 but they've confirmed I can't, and didn't give me a suggestion of any other documents I could use. Does this mean I can't switch?

YorkshireBoy

Surely you have something from HMRC?


If not, or if it's out of date, give them a ring and ask for a notice of PAYE coding.

Neato

Nothing at all from HMRC.
The last letter I had was notification of my tax code but that went to my parents address.

Is a notification of coding just a letter to reiterate my tax code?

I assume they will allow me to change my address to my current address?

Archi_Bald

Neato wrote: »

They've asked for...........

Surely they have only asked for ONE of these, and any legitimate UK resident can provide at least one of these.

If you don't know a solicitor etc, Yellow Pages or Google will help you find one.

Though why you are pursuing to break into fortress HSBC (of which FD are a part) when you are met with all these obstacles is a mystery to me.

Have you seen the recent posts about getting your money out of them?

YorkshireBoy

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Though why you are pursuing to break into fortress HSBC (of which FD are a part) when you are met with all these obstacles is a mystery to me.

At a guess, £100 and the 6% regular saver...like almost everyone else.


OP, it seems your problems can be traced back to you not being on the Electoral Roll at your current address, and not updating the authorities (and maybe your bank, etc, too?) of your change of address.


To answer your questions, yes it's just another of the same letter they've already sent you. You will be able to change your address with HMRC, but maybe have to jump through a few hoops like you're having to do with FD.

Archi_Bald

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

At a guess, £100 and the 6% regular saver...like almost everyone else.

Yes but we all applied when they were still a reasonable bank and didn't have their ridiculous new checks

Neato

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Surely they have only asked for ONE of these, and any legitimate UK resident can provide at least one of these.

If you don't know a solicitor etc, Yellow Pages or Google will help you find one.

Though why you are pursuing to break into fortress HSBC (of which FD are a part) when you are met with all these obstacles is a mystery to me.

Have you seen the recent posts about getting your money out of them?

The have asked for one. I don't really want to pay a solicitor to certify my passport/driving license. I don't receive benefits or tax credits...and anything regarding my PAYE has always gone to my parents. I've never had an issue whereby I've needed these docs before, so never updated it.

I want to move for the £100 switching and better customer service. I've read the articles but I've never yet needed to withdraw such a large sum of money, nor can I see this effecting me in the near future, so for now, I don't mind. I may reassess in the future.

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

At a guess, £100 and the 6% regular saver...like almost everyone else.


OP, it seems your problems can be traced back to you not being on the Electoral Roll at your current address, and not updating the authorities (and maybe your bank, etc, too?) of your change of address.


To answer your questions, yes it's just another of the same letter they've already sent you. You will be able to change your address with HMRC, but maybe have to jump through a few hoops like you're having to do with FD.

I've been on the electoral roll at my current address for 12 months. Address is also updated at bank, on driving license, bills etc. I've even had correspondence with HMRC about previous self assessments at this address, so I can only assume that their systems must be disjointed?

Anyway, that's great, I'll give them a call in the morning and get my address updated and get a new notice of PAYE coding.

Thanks for your help

rb10

Neato wrote: »

The have asked for one. I don't really want to pay a solicitor to certify my passport/driving license. I don't receive benefits or tax credits...and anything regarding my PAYE has always gone to my parents. I've never had an issue whereby I've needed these docs before, so never updated it.

You could try an HSBC branch - they may be able to certify them for you (as it's part of the same banking group).

Neato wrote: »

I want to move for the £100 switching and better customer service.

You can get £100 and reasonable customer service from Halifax.

Or you can get much better customer service and (generally) better products from Nationwide.

Martin Lewis has a thing about First Direct. I've never been able to see why. In my experience, their customer service has been decidedly mediocre.

Neato

rb10 wrote: »

You could try an HSBC branch - they may be able to certify them for you (as it's part of the same banking group).



You can get £100 and reasonable customer service from Halifax.

Or you can get much better customer service and (generally) better products from Nationwide.

Martin Lewis has a thing about First Direct. I've never been able to see why. In my experience, their customer service has been decidedly mediocre.

I did wonder if I could go into a HSBC branch. There's a HSBC branch near my office, so I may pop in tomorrow and see if they can help.

A few of my friends have switched away from Halifax after poor customer service, so I don't fancy moving there. Will take a look at Nationwide though. Thanks for the suggestion

YorkshireBoy

Neato wrote: »

I did wonder if I could go into a HSBC branch. There's a HSBC branch near my office, so I may pop in tomorrow and see if they can help.

Your original question (lack of documents) has been asked many times before on this board regarding FD (a forum search may turn up some of them?).


I'm sure others have tried and failed to get HSBC branch staff to certify documents (or to get FD to accept them), so that's why I didn't suggest it earlier.


By all means go to branch and see if things have changed, but make the HMRC call first so at least you have a plan B.

Archi_Bald

rb10 wrote: »

Martin Lewis has a thing about First Direct. I've never been able to see why.

Referrals?