What are your 'honest' thoughts on First Direct?

hoc

First Direct are more selective than ought to be, they will reject for a basic current account when all others will accept. Generally outdated, the website looks from 1997 and even with paperless settings they will send stacks of documents. Login process is clunky, too many passwords and the pin pad device is required, not optional even to just check balance. Customer service are UK based and friendly, too chatty even and poor audio quality can make it a drag. Far from efficient and other than the UK call centre I always shake my head when Martin continues to repeat they are "best rated", probably referring to a survey from ten years ago since which technology has moved on and First Direct are very much behind the times. They offer a 5% regular saver and decent mortgages, other than these there is no point to deal with First Direct.

gt94sss2

hoc wrote: »

the pin pad device is required, not optional even to just check balance.

No, its not - You can login to FD's internet banking without the SecureKey device.

Its only needed, if you need to do certain things like set up new payees.

JezR

Been with First Direct more or less since they started in 1989.

The internet banking (non-app) I am sure has changed under the hood, and not just with the id pin device but the on screen user interface is more or less the same as I recall it was in the pre-internet days when you dialled directly into it with your 9600 baud modem.

JustAnotherSaver

My honest thoughts on them?

They serve a purpose for me right now and that's it, like the rest of the banks i'm with.
From memory they haven't made any mistakes so they're already +1 on most of the other banks i'm with but then i haven't actually asked them to do much that they could balls up so making no mistakes isn't anything special so far.

I can't get any switching bonus so that doesn't apply to me.

They offer a 5% regular saver with the rate being fixed and i can pay in £300pm rather than a rate that can change and a limit of £250 so this is why i'm with them right now.

You can get through immediately on the phone which is a plus, but i find they're TOO chatty on the phone. I know i'm probably in the minority here and it's not a complaint as such but when i call up i just want a question answered or something sorting out basically. I don't call for a hi how are you how's your day, what are you up to later. I'll talk with family or friends about that stuff, i don't need to call my bank to discuss what takeaway i'm eating in a few hours time. So i just switch off & go through the motions.



As for an outright negative i would say their online banking system is totally prehistoric. I could never bank with them as a main bank.

Wheres_My_Cashback

ah23 wrote: »

Hi all

Those who are banking with (or have banked with) First Direct, what sets them apart from the other high street banks? Is it worth switching to them (from Halifax)? I am looking to make First Direct my new 'long term' account.

Thanks

They are no better or worse than any other bank and I have 26 currents accounts and 36 savings accounts with a whole host of organisations. They make mistakes like everyone else.
Online experience is poor compared to other mainstream banks as it's antiquated. Yes you can do everything as with other banks but the aesthetics of the site are very poor.
The messaging system only works for very selected things. Recently I used it to request a new debit card due to a broken one, went through all the required security questions correctly, then at the end it said please call us....:mad::mad: Why have the facility online if you can#t use it?

EarthBoy

hoc wrote: »

Login process is clunky, too many passwords and the pin pad device is required, not optional even to just check balance.

Rubbish. You don't need any more passwords to login to First Direct than you do with Lloyds, Halifax, TSB, or Nationwide. All of which I use. Neither do you need the pin pad device to login, you only need it to set up new payees or certain other transactions. I login regularly to check my balance, transfer money between accounts, and pay existing payees all without having to use the device.

Samsung_Note2

Anthorn wrote: »

My honest thoughts about First Direct are that FD is used for the same reason that American Express used to be used. It's harder to get so it's a status symbol. Personally I applied, got rejected and never tried again: There are plenty of fish in the banking ocean.

I really cannot see that as being true...unless i was a mistake.

Pretty dire credit history yet instantly approved for bank account and credit card.:o

Only switched for the bonus and to be fair was hammering ALL the switches (Only HSBC i didn't switch to)...so id say credit file would have been pretty poor,the fictitious score certainly was and still is lol.

Enterprise_1701C

I have been with First Direct for a looooong time, I have never had reason to grumble.

I had someone clone my card, they were onto it immediately, phoned me immediately, everything was blocked or refunded as necessary.

I am happy with them.

JustAnotherSaver

Samsung_Note2 wrote: »

I really cannot see that as being true...unless i was a mistake.

Pretty dire credit history yet instantly approved for bank account and credit card.:o

Only switched for the bonus and to be fair was hammering ALL the switches (Only HSBC i didn't switch to)...so id say credit file would have been pretty poor,the fictitious score certainly was and still is lol.

I agree with you.

I can't think of anyone who goes .......

Audi ... check
Armani clothing ... check
Rolex .... check
First Direct bank account ........ :rotfl:

I know i certainly haven't walked through town saying hey 100s of people, look at my black FD bank card ... i bet most of you don't have one :j

Katiehound

Sad that they have such long memories - and I mean long,so that as a former customer I don't qualify for a switching bonus!

When they started they were brilliant as they were the only bank to offer a really good telephone service with a real live personat the other end of the phone instead of entering a huge string of numbers! At the time I had POA with my mother's Giro a/c and that nearly drove me crazy.