What are your 'honest' thoughts on First Direct?

takman

ah23 wrote: »

Thanks! Sounds like a good idea. One question... how do you set up a donor account? Is it really as easy as e.g. opening up a basic account with X bank, then switching to FD almost immediately?

Lol, I'm just looking to consolidate my accounts.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Your definitely don't want to consolidate your accounts, you should be aiming to open more accounts to take advantage of the switching bonuses and "high" interest on savings.

In regards to donor accounts i just open a standard current account and then switch it once i get the card. I have done this 4 times with Natwest without any issues (although) i was surprised they let me open and close so many accounts with them so easily.

xylophone

I only keep the current account for the regular saver.

I have rarely had to contact them and the on line banking is adequate for my purposes.

Silvester89

We were with HSBC previously, but we were amazed by how much better First Direct are for general day to day banking.

We find all the staff friendly, we like that you don't need to go through countless IVR options when you ring and can call them 24/7. A lot of their rates are better than HSBC too

We did have some problems with them when it came to switching our mortgage to them, but this was sorted after having a bit of a complain to a manager.

Overall we are really pleased and can't see us moving anytime soon.

gettinnerdy

Switch to Barclays, first direct are just for posh people and have no branches. Owned by the sham which is HSBC. Old tech, Boring deals. Very picky with who they want as customers. Barclays is the best by far

Anthorn

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.

Hazzanet

I've banked with them in the past for out four years. My description of them would be "competent" but not spectacular.

Telephone service is above average, internet banking was rudimentary but quite adequate if you're not bothered about fancy graphs and statistical analysis of where your money goes etc.

SuperHan

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.

Interesting you would get declined after the number of times you have told me I operate my accounts inefficiently (as I pay everything off in full, never incur interest charges) and so I would be seen as an unprofitable customer, and yet I was accepted (albeit I've since closed the account)...


But yes, to echo the above. They're great on the phone, but I have needed to call my bank once in about the last 3 years. Their internet banking is awful (and the reason I left), and as I use that daily I have stuck almost exclusively to the Lloyds/Halifax/TSB brands which I think have the most user friendly online banking. I probably go into branch to pay in cash/cheques etc more frequently than I call, so branches and better online facilities won out for me.

PeacefulWaters

gettinnerdy wrote: »

Switch to Barclays, first direct are just for posh people and have no branches. Owned by the sham which is HSBC. Old tech, Boring deals. Very picky with who they want as customers. Barclays is the best by far

They'll make you redundant one day. Then you'll hate them.

JuicyJesus

I don't get the hype, at least not now. Maybe back in 2009 they were genuinely great but they've devolved into largely being the same as everyone else just with a snooty attitude.

I noticed a very distinct attitude from them that if you're not their "type" of customer they make it abundantly clear they don't really want you. It p*ssed me off enough that I switched to Halifax, who may have been bog-standard but weren't promising to be anything else. Since then I've landed on Nationwide, who are decent, have great internet banking, better products and no snooty holier-than-thou "you should be grateful to bank with us" idiocy. They believed and internalised their own hype, essentially.

Anthorn

FD was

SuperHan wrote: »

Interesting you would get declined after the number of times you have told me I operate my accounts inefficiently (as I pay everything off in full, never incur interest charges) and so I would be seen as an unprofitable customer, and yet I was accepted (albeit I've since closed the account)...

I don't remember claiming that against you. Link please.

FD was one of the rejection surprises I'm subject to. I also had Paypal credit which I closed and a year later was then rejected by them when I attempted to get an iPhone 7 on credit. There's also Tesco bank who rejected me for a credit card but then later allowed a BT card with a £4,500 limit. There's Barclays Bank who reject me for everything whether it's a current account or credit card and MBNA who reject all applications to increase my limit. Personally, rejections don't get to me and I just move on.