Anyone tried First Direct?

polymaff

How good are First Direct?

February 4th applied for a FD Regular Saver on line. No issues flagged

February 12th sent secure message (response time indicated, within 5 days).

February 14th auto-response - not via the medium I specifically selected as part of sending a secure message - extending response date to well into March.

February 16th called FD.

During the call FD acknowledged that they had received the application but that there was a known problem with opening such accounts. When asked why they had neither contacted me immediately, nor after I sent the secure message - no explanation. When I requested, as I did in the ignored secure message - that they make restitution by opening the account as it would have been - specifically to February 6th (with a valid reason given) - No we can't (as in, No we won't).

Lousy, lousy service. Sitting on a problem they were aware of - only prompted to do anything by the injured party - and then rejecting a quite reasonable request.

That is the reality of FD - right now.

_pete_

I've been similarly unimpressed with First Direct since opening an account last October.

Made a hash of opening the account, sending me letters intended for a completely different account holder, the whole joining gift fiasco which they repeatedly tried to fob off on 'problems with our supplier' until I threatened them with the small claims court at which point they immediately gave me a cash alternative.

badger09

JuicyJesus wrote: »

..............

Especially since Nationwide's app lets you make payments to new payees too.

Butch_Dingle wrote: »

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To setup new payees on FD app: no need for a physical card reader/secure key/other device
To setup new payees on Nationwide app: you MUST use a card reader

Is that clear enough for you?

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Except it is wrong. Nationwide's app lets you pay new payees.

@JuicyJesus

I don't know which Nationwide app you're using but I have just tried to set up a new payee on mine (IoS) and definitely needed my card reader.