First Direct closed new joint account...

colsten

A "proper reason" is that you do not fit the profile of the customer they like to have on their books, and they do not have to tell you or the FOS or anyone else why they terminated the relationship with you. The T&Cs that you accepted as part of your application entitles them (and you) to close the account.

Why would you even still wish to continue dealing with a bank that has already disappointed you before you even started using your account? There are plenty of other banks you can try an application with.

Agooner

I no longer want to bank with them and I've already taken my account elsewhere.

I was hoping that they might give some sort of explanation, but as you've said, they aren't obliged to. Good riddance to them

meer53

GingerBob wrote: »

So FD think they can speak to someone at your company about you? Extraordinary! I once had a similar request from AMEX; they asked, who is the contact at your company, to which my reply was "me"; they didn't challenge that.

What are these t**sers bothered about? Your first salary paid into your account will verify your employment. I can't see why they would want anything else. In fact, I can't see why they even want that for a current account. These days, financial institutions are getting a bit too nosey for my liking. I'd go elsewhere, and write to the CEO telling him why you're doing so. They think they're doing you favour by "allowing" you to open an account with them. No, you're doing them a favour by giving them your business!

The CEO at first direct is a woman.

pmduk

Agooner wrote: »

Surely, the bank would have to provide an explanation to the ombudsman should I choose to pursue the issue?

No, any bank's criteria for offering an account is a purely business decision, into which the ombudsman can't intervene.

GingerBob_3

meer53 wrote: »

The CEO at first direct is a woman.

Yeah, probably the one the OP spoke to in the first instance.

A007

I opened a first direct account following advertising including a joining incentive and a further incentive if I left after 6 months with them, having recently closed my account I find that they do not pay the further incentive due to small print that states that I have to contact them prior to closing my account. They were obviously aware I was leaving as they wrote to me and if they wished to discuss this with me they had my contact number so can I now claim the leaving incentive?

Archi_Bald

The terms are pretty clear. If you haven't met them, you can't expect to be paid.

***Here's how it works. We'll pay £100 per customer or joint relationship if you close your 1st Account within 12 months of opening it, as long as a monthly salary or income of £1000 or more has been paid into that account for at least six months and you haven't previously had an account with first direct. You must contact us to claim the Service Guarantee prior to closing your account. You'll also need to have transferred your banking to that account using the Current Account Switch Service. We'll pay the £100 into your 1st Account prior to its closure. All accounts with first direct have to be closed and your 1st Account transferred to another bank/building society. Incentives are paid within 28 days of criteria being met.

http://www1.firstdirect.com/1/2/banking/current-account?WT.ac=FSDT_HM_CUR2052