First Direct - service not so great anymore

SallyG

I was surprised at the FD grilling for setting up my Regular Saver over the phone - couldn't do it online because I hadn't set up the full security key thingy - at one point I surprised myself by bursting into tears when they asked about my post-divorce income................
been with them since they opened - telephone banking was a breath of fresh air after being with Barclays - still feel grateful to FD for breaking the mould back then but my attitude to all financial institutions now is the same as it is towards fraudsters.

realaledrinker

40 minutes to open a 1st Account over the phone (not online, as I had an account with them 12 yrs ago ?!?). Bombarded with multiple sets of paperwork even now, 2 weeks after account opened and funded. It's worth persevering so as to get at the 6% saver, but nothing else attracts.

realaledrinker

OK so now I have 1st account, saver a/c with £1 in to keep 1st a/c fee free and a Reg Svr ready to receive its first £300.

Phew!

However, I now have 13 pieces of personal info/security detail to "remember":

internet ID
electronoc pw
secret answer
digital key pw
fave subject
fave food
secure dongle PIN
Card pin
telephone pw
pob
maiden name
mem date
men address

Oh and I mustn't write them down!! :mad:

schiff

So far I've been able to access my accounts with my user name, electronic password and my father's middle name (they don't seem to ask for anything else under that heading). I can remember those but they are written down in case I can't. I'm only going to be in contact a few days a month so we'll see how my memory serves.

It is ridiculous though.

Jibeddy

realaledrinker wrote: »

OK so now I have 1st account, saver a/c with £1 in to keep 1st a/c fee free and a Reg Svr ready to receive its first £300.

Phew!

However, I now have 13 pieces of personal info/security detail to "remember":

internet ID
electronoc pw
secret answer
digital key pw
fave subject
fave food
secure dongle PIN
Card pin
telephone pw
pob
maiden name
mem date
men address

Oh and I mustn't write them down!! :mad:

This! And just getting bombarded with letters and paperwork.

Although I switched to FD from Barclays whose service was shocking. Having recently opened a TSB account I must say there operation seems a lot slicker and service of a similar standard.

mt99

The trouble with FD is they try to be 'nice'. Typical conversation.....


'Hello Mr xxx how are you today'


'Fine'


Lovely weather, doing anything nice'


'Not really'


'What you having for dinner today'


'Chicken'


'Oh really, how do you like your chicken'


'!!!!!! I just want to check a direct debit..'

GingerFurball_2

Answer medium rare.

Maximum_Saving

Hello. I switched to First Direct in 2012. I wanted to get the Regular Saving Account. When it ends it goes to very low interest. So I take it out and have it to 5% interest with TSB. I used to find First Direct excellent on the phone and waiting time was very low. Now I have had a 20 minute talk on the phone to open up another Regular Saver. I haven't found the staff all that polite since 2015. I think it is awful that the current account pays no interest.

Lith

mt99 wrote: »

The trouble with FD is they try to be 'nice'. Typical conversation.....


'Hello Mr xxx how are you today'


'Fine'


Lovely weather, doing anything nice'


'Not really'


'What you having for dinner today'


'Chicken'


'Oh really, how do you like your chicken'


'!!!!!! I just want to check a direct debit..'

Why not check it 'ONLINE' then ? or am i missing something?