First Direct awful account opening experience

Shakin_Steve

If it's one of these 'save £250 a month for 12 months and get £80 in interest' jobbies, I don't think I'd go through it all for that. I mean, approaching strange pharmacists and asking the to sign you bank documents without so much as buying a packet of aspirin.......it's just not on.

meer53

Why do people moan about stuff like this ? It's a procedure they have, you don't have to follow it, you can find another bank that doesn't ask for these identification documents.

Fryy

Shakin_Steve wrote: »

If it's one of these 'save £250 a month for 12 months and get £80 in interest' jobbies, I don't think I'd go through it all for that. I mean, approaching strange pharmacists and asking the to sign you bank documents without so much as buying a packet of aspirin.......it's just not on.

I bought something just to be polite because it was a huge waste of this guy's time. (It actually takes quite a while to write two statements and put down your contact details and sign them etc)

Fryy

meer53 wrote: »

Why do people moan about stuff like this ? It's a procedure they have, you don't have to follow it, you can find another bank that doesn't ask for these identification documents.

The same reason people complain about people complaining?

I probably will chose an alternative. I was trying to (i) find out if other people have had similar experiences and (ii) trying to establish if the procedure they currently have makes any sense at all. Besides, I'm not just moaning about verifying documents; I'm moaning that they told me one thing on the phone then another, then told me some extra nonsense about signing the same side of a piece of paper as the photo. It's just incoherent security theater.

GingerBob_3

meer53 wrote: »

Why do people moan about stuff like this ? It's a procedure they have, you don't have to follow it, you can find another bank that doesn't ask for these identification documents.

People moan about it because it's a bloody stupid thing to have imposed on you. And yes, people can vote with their feet and their cash; I earnestly hope they do. Problem is, the likes of HSBC are so big that they can continue sticking up two fingers to their customers regardless.

meer53

Fryy wrote: »

The same reason people complain about people complaining?

I probably will chose an alternative. I was trying to (i) find out if other people have had similar experiences and (ii) trying to establish if the procedure they currently have makes any sense at all. Besides, I'm not just moaning about verifying documents; I'm moaning that they told me one thing on the phone then another, then told me some extra nonsense about signing the same side of a piece of paper as the photo. It's just incoherent security theater.

Have you complained to First Direct ?

enthusiasticsaver

I was lucky in that all id checks were done online so no additional documentation or verification needed and bonus paid within 2-3 weeks. Yes the mobile app and online banking are two separate systems but I got to grips with them both reasonably quickly and no worse than Lloyds or Tesco systems.

Sounds like you have been unlucky.

Robisere

You want to REALLY lose your ID and other documentation? - Take it to your local Council!
Some years ago, due to our son's marriage break up, we took 'Parental' responsibility for his 2 children for almost a year until he could house them. We brought them with us from another county and had to sort out Child Alowances, etc. The Local councill asked for A4 pages with receipts attached, birth certificates, utility bills, bank statements, etc. They lost the lot! It took 3 months and a solicitor's intervention before they even admitted losing them, another 2 months before they magically "found" them all. They would not accept copies, but I will never, ever, take original documenmtation there again.

suze369

I feel assured I am not alone in having an awful experience joining First Direct.

I didn't have to jump through any of the hoops you have had too, I was able to arrange a switch online, shouldn't they have a consistent process for all users? Did you switch from another supplier, does using the switch process override certain security steps?

But having successfully switched several weeks ago, after receiving a small forest of literature and paperwork, I am on the brink of leaving. I have yet to receive a debit card, despite several calls to report that it hasn't arrived the agents keep telling me it has been issued and is on its way so they won't stop it or take any other action. I have never lost a debit card before, I am the only one at home and our postie is super reliable, but i feel rightly concerned that:-

a) the card isn't here yet
b) FD customer services don't give a stuff that it hasn't got here yet

I joined FD because, according to Martin's site they are consistently good for Customer Service, but I have yet to see any evidence. A quick google in desperation brought me here, and also some review sites which seem to suggest that customer service has really deteriorated over the past few years.

I am now looking at moving, if nothing else I have no confidence in this bank now, the jobsworth experience you have had, and others according to the web, just reinforces my need to leave.

Fryy

meer53 wrote: »

Have you complained to First Direct ?

Yes of course.

When I mention this over the phone I often get the impression that the human being on the other end of the phone knows these procedures don't make sense but can't admit to it over the phone.

Over email, I literally just got a reply now where they say they can't explain my situation because "email is a non-secure means of communication". Over email is fine, for goodness sake... I'm not even discussing anything confidential! My mind boggles