First Direct 1st Account - Application

Sydney2London

Hi all,

After reading up Martin's articles and the threads on this forum, I decided to switch my current account to First Direct, and also take advantage of their switching bonus! I have recently received an email asking to contact them to assist in their 'identity confirmation process'. I have tried a few times to call them, but after waiting 15 minutes I haven't been able to get through.

Before I tried again, and possibly waited an extended period once more, I was wondering if anyone had any recent feedback on what will be required with this ID check (I could only find older threads)? If I am going to have to pay a lawyer or someone to verify my passport, then I agree with previous peoples sentiments that it's not worth the hassle!

Also, would they have already completed a credit check, and is this separate or the same as an identity check?

Thanks!

grumbler

Passport certification for First Direct
First Direct want proof of identity years after account opened: anyone else affected?
Problem with First Direct - Costly Certified Copies to Open Account

First Direct - 20 minute phone quiz now needed to open savings account
NOT impressed with First Direct so far....

meer53

You may have to provide identification documents and possibly a document to confirm your address too. All documents they ask for have to be certified and a credit check will have been done when you applied.

You'll get £150 if you manage to open an account and switch, why is it not worth the hassle ?

GingerBob_3

Sydney2London wrote: »

Hi all,

After reading up Martin's articles and the threads on this forum, I decided to switch my current account to First Direct, and also take advantage of their switching bonus! I have recently received an email asking to contact them to assist in their 'identity confirmation process'. I have tried a few times to call them, but after waiting 15 minutes I haven't been able to get through.

Before I tried again, and possibly waited an extended period once more, I was wondering if anyone had any recent feedback on what will be required with this ID check (I could only find older threads)? If I am going to have to pay a lawyer or someone to verify my passport, then I agree with previous peoples sentiments that it's not worth the hassle!

Also, would they have already completed a credit check, and is this separate or the same as an identity check?

Thanks!

A lot of people seem to be saying don't bother with FD for anything. Their procedures are too onerous. Try someone else.

The underlying problem is that their parent company, HSBC, have been found to be a criminal organisation (money laundering), so they are now in the advanced stages of paranoiditis, assuming that all their customers are criminals as well.