First Direct - When to apply

greenorange

I graduated in July, was unemployed in August, and have just started a new job (this week).

I want to apply for a first direct 1st Account, however do I need to wait a few months, as if they ask for pay slips, I cannot provide them?

I also have about 9 searches on my credit file, all within the last 6 months - is this likely to cause a problem?

thebritishbloke

I've never been asked for payslips when applying for any credit products.

lee111s

For a current account I wouldn't imagine so. They certainly didn't when I applied last month.

colsten

thebritishbloke wrote: »

I've never been asked for payslips when applying for any credit products.

Neither have I (apart from mortgage) but going by forum reports, HSBC have been asking some people for payslips , and FD have at times insisted on calling employers.

OP, why do you want an FD account?

henm2

greenorange wrote: »

I want to apply for a first direct 1st Account, however do I need to wait a few months, as if they ask for pay slips, I cannot provide them?

I would have thought it very unlikely you would need to provide payslips. As others have said usually only require payslips for mortgage applications. Give them a call on 03 456 100 100 to check .

Emmab178

First direct are awful and will make you jump through a ridiculous amount of red tape and if they see anything they don't like about you will just tell you to go elsewhere. They are the worst bank I have ever been with. If I were you I would go somewhere else that have better customer service

henm2

Emmab178 wrote: »

They are the worst bank I have ever been with. If I were you I would go somewhere else that have better customer service

So why do they keep getting recognised every year for giving the best service of any bank in the UK?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/banking/2014/08/first-direct-comes-top-while-barclays-gets-the-wooden-spoon-in-mses-latest-banking-service-index

thebritishbloke

henm2 wrote: »

So why do they keep getting recognised every year for giving the best service of any bank in the UK?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/banking/2014/08/first-direct-comes-top-while-barclays-gets-the-wooden-spoon-in-mses-latest-banking-service-index

Emma clearly has a gripe with them, all companies have bad relationships with some customers.

System

First Direct as ok but aren't massively different from the main banks or their alter ego HSBC.

I got £125 for joining and £100 for leaving with some hassle in-between. Their internet banking is primitive too.

thebritishbloke wrote: »

Emma clearly has a gripe with them, all companies have bad relationships with some customers.

colsten

thebritishbloke wrote: »

Emma clearly has a gripe with them, all companies have bad relationships with some customers.

Too true.
But what is "best customer service" to you? Most probably not the same what it is to me or the the next person or the one down the line. I think "best customer service" is a pretty meaningless indicator.

"Best value for money" would be a much more meaningful high-level assessment of a bank.

For example, if you need an overdraft, are you interested in who is nicest and fastest on the phone, or who gives you the cheapest and least bureaucratic overdraft? And who shafts you least with overdraft charges? Do you want to pay a lot of money to the company with the best customer service rating or the company that charges you nothing for your overdraft?

At the other end, if you are in credit, who offers you the best interest rates? FD with their repetitive annual top customer service ratings are pretty much no use to you whatsoever.

Time, may be, to shift away from the meaningless 'best customer service' mantra