£100 leaving bonus for First Direct

VladDracula

I have had the First Direct current account for seven months and am now planning to leave for the extra £100.

How do i need to do this? Start a switching process with another bank from the First direct account or just ring them up and tell them i want to leave?

Also, what are the best reasons to give for wanting to leave should they ask?

Thanks in advance

lazer

Phone them up and tell them and make sure you mention the leaving bonus in the phone call.


I left as no interest in the current account and could get more elsewhere

System

VladDracula wrote: »

Also, what are the best reasons to give for wanting to leave should they ask?

No need to lie, why don't you want to stay with them?

1. Crap internet banking?
2. No credit interest?
3. Deposited contents of piggy-bank in a HSBC branch and accused of money laundering?
4. etc
5. etc

TheTracker

Do you want to risk first direct from ever dealing with you again? Maybe a mortgage, or a future regular saver, etc. I personally find it ethically unsound to claim leaving bonuses despite not feeling the same about joining bonuses. Curious. FD are fantastic and top of the table for service so it seems a little unfair to shaft them in the same way I might consider other banks. I guess the litmus test is whether you truly feel unsatisfied with their service, as that's what the bonus is really about not matter what the t&c's enforce or permit.

Steve_xx

It seems to me to be a bit mean to take the money for joining and then dumping them without a good reason. Why do folks always want to kill the goose that's laying the golden eggs?

Kendall80

Steve_xx wrote: »

It seems to me to be a bit mean to take the money for joining and then dumping them without a good reason. Why do folks always want to kill the goose that's laying the golden eggs?

Personally, I don't think emotions should come into it. If its within the rules we have an obligation to make our money work as hard as possible. They offered it up as an option so they cant really complain if its taken up.


I would echo the sentiment that it should not be an acrimonious split however. As mentioned previously there may be a good credit card, savings account or mortgage offering in the future.

Steve_xx

Kendall80 wrote: »

Personally, I don't think emotions should come into it. If its within the rules we have an obligation to make our money work as hard as possible. They offered it up as an option so they cant really complain if its taken up.

They can do more than complain if they think it's being abused. They can withdraw it, and they surely will if people carry on doing what's proposed here.

To me it's a bit much.

colsten

I would never leave FD as long as they still have a 6% regular saver.

The regular saver is, however, the only thing in their favour IMO. I couldn't care less about their fabulous CS reputation as I think their service is no better or worse than any other bank's. They just have more of their staff filling in satisfaction surveys than other banks do.

System

Thanks for your opinion of what is 'a bit much'...

Of course they can withdraw it at any time, but they would have to honour it for people who signed up within the relevant window.

They offered X amount if you like us, XX amount if you don't.

Steve_xx wrote: »

They can do more than complain if they think it's being abused. They can withdraw it, and they surely will if people carry on doing what's proposed here.

To me it's a bit much.

Steve_xx

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Thanks for your opinion of what is 'a bit much'...

Of course they can withdraw it at any time, but they would have to honour it for people who signed up within the relevant window.

They offered X amount if you like us, XX amount if you don't.

Yes they'd have to honour it for existing customers. But they could easily stop it for new applicants if they thought people were milking it and going for no good reason other than to get it. If people start doing this en masse then you can bet your life they'll stop it.

leeroy2009

at the end of the day this is hsbc, the same bank that laundered drug dealers money? and got up to what ever else they have dabbled in.


morals do not come into it, go get your £100 if you want to leave mate.


or make another 50 quid and ditch n switch it to clydesdale or yb, maybe this is a more moral option for those that disagree with you proposal?