Problem with First Direct - Costly Certified Copies to Open Account

MIA2016

I recently applied for a First Direct account after seeing it on MSE. It seemed great: £150 switching bonus, no real catches and very good customer service rating.

My application raised a query, wich was settled over the phone, so that was fine. However, I then received an email detailing the documents I need to provide for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address. That in itself is not a problem, but they want certified copies to be sent in and there is a list of who exactly can do them. For example, I could have copies of my passport and bank statement certified with a lawyer but that is about £50! The Post Office, who offers this service cheaper (about £8 per document) is not on the list of professions First Direct accepts for certification. The application was for a joint account with my spouse so all the paperwork has to be handed in for each of us as well.

I was wondering if anybody else had come across that problem and if so, if they would share advice on how they dealt with it. I also wondered if details like that should/could be included on the MSE info on a particular account. After all, if you were chasing a switching bonus and then find that you have spend about a third of that to be able to switch in the first place, that makes it much less attractive and might mean that you won't waste about an hour reading all the small print and filling in all the details for an account application. (Not to mention the credit check they will do on you etc.)

Looking forward to any comments.

betsy_moo

I just took my ID into a local bank where I had an account (not First Direct) and they were happy to photocopy, stamp and sign it. Never had a problem.

ChiefGrasscutter

Endlessly discussed here on MSE.
See this thread if you dare read though all 194 replies on 10+ pages.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5037121

As I recall from the thread a normal high street solicitor who should be on their list should charge around £5 to £10 and many will do it there and then on the spot - they are used to it.
I'm sure swearing an oath with a lawyer which is a totally different thing would cost around £50.

The post office is not on many lists of accepted people as the individual counter clerk who countersigns is not themselves FCA authorized so cannot stamp it with their FCA number so there is no traceability back later to exactly who it was that did the certifying.

The bottom line is either you comply with their requirements or they don't want your business.

Archi_Bald

Even if it did cost £50 (it doesn't), if you are keen enough to join First Direct for £150, you'd still be well in the black.

Rich2808

Ring up HMRC and get a tax coding notice - you can use the original for that and its free and useful to have anyway.

First direct accept that as proof of identity without certification.

It may take a week to arrive - but its better than doing what you are doing I think this number should work

0300 200

Its ridiculous they don't allow you to provide the ID via an HSBC branch (as Halifax allow for BOS accounts) as HSBC own them.

meer53

Rich2808 wrote: »

Ring up HMRC and get a tax coding notice - you can use the original for that and its free and useful to have anyway.

First direct accept that as proof of identity without certification.

It may take a week to arrive - but its better than doing what you are doing I think this number should work

0300 200


Its ridiculous they don't allow you to provide the ID via an HSBC branch (as Halifax allow for BOS accounts) as HSBC own them.

This is incorrect, ALL documents sent to FD have to be certified now. Not everyone who applies is asked for documents, i have friends whose accounts were opened without needing to send anything.

I dont understand why people complain when they're getting £150 to switch.

glider3560

Ask in your local HSBC branch if they can do it. First Direct is a trading name of HSBC Bank plc.

meer53

glider3560 wrote: »

Ask in your local HSBC branch if they can do it. First Direct is a trading name of HSBC Bank plc.

They don't accept HSBC certified documents. They're completely separate from HSBC.

enthusiasticsaver

I opened a FD account with no problem. No request for ID

glider3560

meer53 wrote: »

They don't accept HSBC certified documents. They're completely separate from HSBC.

From their website:

first direct is a division of HSBC Bank plc

meer53

glider3560 wrote: »

From their website:

Thats right. But they have different procedures, they operate in a completely different way to HSBC. 2 completely different banks really.