first direct £150 not so

pam3

I tried the switch my current account from HSBC to First Direct via the link for the cash incentive of £150. After sending in my details a got an email saying they already hold my details which is news to me! I called them to investigate after much waiting on the phone to be put through to someone that could help(30 mins..... of time)
They held my details, they could not tell me from when or how. They said I must have opened an account and not used it ( which could have happened after all I am 50+) They said its a closed account now so confused that I have a closed account that I never used, and I cannot open an account now that gives the cash incentive.
After realising I wasted my time and cost of calling them I will go with another bank, the crazy thing is that I would have put my salary in of £1000+ per month and DD set up.I am surprised that they have not captured folk in my category that never used their account.... that must have been 20+ years.

tomtontom

I don't see the issue - you admit you're not a new customer?

eskbanker

The offer terms do clearly state "We can only offer this to people who haven't previously held any account with first direct" rather than having any time limitation. If you're really determined to get to the bottom of it you could submit a Subject Access Request to them under the Data Protection Act to obtain a copy of all data they hold about you, although they may charge you up to £10 for this.

InsideInsurance

pam3 wrote: »

After realising I wasted my time and cost of calling them I will go with another bank, the crazy thing is that I would have put my salary in of £1000+ per month and DD set up.I am surprised that they have not captured folk in my category that never used their account.... that must have been 20+ years.

So you are saying it wouldnt have been your main account and so they'd have probably lost money off of you?

As others have said, they require you to be a brand new customer, so if you have had any form of account at all you are barred from the promo. I had an ISA with them back when they first became available but that bars me from their current account switching bonus.

meer53

You need to change the title of your post. First Direct do offer £150 for switching an account. Just not if you've banked with them before.

adindas

meer53 wrote: »

You need to change the title of your post. First Direct do offer £150 for switching an account. Just not if you've banked with them before.

Absolutely ...

Thrugelmir

pam3 wrote: »

I tried the switch my current account from HSBC to First Direct via the link for the cash incentive of £150.

Might having something to with the fact that First Direct is part of HSBC. In effect their non branch operation. 20 years and you never knew that.

meer53

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Might having something to with the fact that First Direct is part of HSBC. In effect their non branch operation. 20 years and you never knew that.

You can switch from HSBC to First Direct and get the incentive, just not if you've held an account with First Direct in the past.

Paul_1977

Go somewhere else for the £150.

Thrugelmir

meer53 wrote: »

You can switch from HSBC to First Direct and get the incentive, just not if you've held an account with First Direct in the past.

Perhaps they've cottoned on.

masonic

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Perhaps they've cottoned on.

Unlikely. Much more likely the OP has simply held a FD account in the past.