First Direct Visa to MasterCard incompatibility HSBC

doctortim

Has anyone else had experience of this causing problems? It seems first direct like many other banks have changed from Visa to MasterCard (likely in order to save costs) For first direct this has caused a problem because their cards can no longer be used in HSBC self-service machines - with first direct being a “virtual” bank [my expression!] this is a problem because their service promise becomes badly damaged. My experience- Having sold a car I had £10,000 to deposit in cash. Living in a city centre I would have expected to be able to deposit in the bank but was unable to because of this incompatibility and would have needed to drive 15 miles away to reach an HSBC branch with counter service! (The backup service from first direct using post office branches was insufficient for this sum) The part that baffled me was the belligerence of first direct when I complained… It seems that they think because they told us about the problem it’s all okay… They cannot even tell us when the incompatibility will be resolved. I post this because potential new customers being enticed to first direct should be aware openly of the limitations.

jon81uk

Is your problem basicially that your closest HSBC only has self-service machines and not counter service?

Personally if I had £10k in cash I would rather deposit at the counter anyway rather than use the machine.

dr_adidas01

doctortim said:

Has anyone else had experience of this causing problems? It seems first direct like many other banks have changed from Visa to MasterCard (likely in order to save costs) For first direct this has caused a problem because their cards can no longer be used in HSBC self-service machines - with first direct being a “virtual” bank [my expression!] this is a problem because their service promise becomes badly damaged. My experience- Having sold a car I had £10,000 to deposit in cash. Living in a city centre I would have expected to be able to deposit in the bank but was unable to because of this incompatibility and would have needed to drive 15 miles away to reach an HSBC branch with counter service! (The backup service from first direct using post office branches was insufficient for this sum) The part that baffled me was the belligerence of first direct when I complained… It seems that they think because they told us about the problem it’s all okay… They cannot even tell us when the incompatibility will be resolved. I post this because potential new customers being enticed to first direct should be aware openly of the limitations.

There’s already a lengthy thread about this!! When you received your MasterCard it came with a lot of information already telling you that for a short while you wouldn’t be able to use your MasterCard in HSBC self service machines. 

They did say that you would be able to deposit cash and cheques at the counter of a HSBC branch or you could also do it at the post office. 

The fact that you didn’t read the information that came with your MasterCard is your fault!! 

whattochoose

Can you not go to a post office instead?

jon81uk

whattochoose said:

Can you not go to a post office instead?

As in the OP
"(The backup service from first direct using post office branches was insufficient for this sum)"


Can only pay up to £6,000 in at Post Office https://www1.firstdirect.com/banking/ways-to-bank/branch-facilities/ 

eskbanker

Go to the post office twice (different days) then....

born_again

£10K in cash is going to provoke some questions as to the source of funds. I just hope none of the £10K is counterfeit.

Payment really should have been made online.

dr_adidas01

born_again said:

£10K in cash is going to provoke some questions as to the source of funds. I just hope none of the £10K is counterfeit.

Payment really should have been made online.

This isn’t fool proof either!! How many threads have we had recently where a bank has frozen an account after someone sold a vehicle and the purchaser did a faster payment and the owner then had to prove they had legitimately sold the car to the bank in question? 

Answer blooming loads…lol. 

doctortim

I think one or two people are missing the point here. I simply feel it is important that people know, when joining first direct, the limitations of the service. The suggestion “read the information given with the MasterCard” is not relevant - reading information does not make the service change. Another suggested the post office option was available from first direct, I think they missed that the sum was too large for this it would have required five visits (I had understood the limit was £2000 someone else is saying £5000 either way it is too little - walking around with cash like this is clearly not a good idea). After 30 years loyalty I take my concern seriously on this since it is such a fundamental banking and cash safety issue, so I have left first direct - recognising that the integration with their High Street bank - on which they are fundamentally dependent - has become unreliable. Folk need to know about these limitations before they jump into the abyss!

eskbanker

doctortim said:

After 30 years loyalty I take my concern seriously on this since it is such a fundamental banking and cash safety issue, so I have left first direct - recognising that the integration with their High Street bank - on which they are fundamentally dependent - has become unreliable.

It's obviously your prerogative for you to consider ATM cash deposits an important part of your banking requirements - too late now if you've decided to take your business elsewhere, but one of the other threads on this subject mentioned a workaround:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78732152/#Comment_78732152

There is a work around (helpfully demonstrated by my local HSBC) whereby you can enter the account number and sort code into the ATM although it is a bit of a faff.

jon81uk

doctortim said:

I think one or two people are missing the point here. I simply feel it is important that people know, when joining first direct, the limitations of the service. The suggestion “read the information given with the MasterCard” is not relevant - reading information does not make the service change. Another suggested the post office option was available from first direct, I think they missed that the sum was too large for this it would have required five visits (I had understood the limit was £2000 someone else is saying £5000 either way it is too little - walking around with cash like this is clearly not a good idea). After 30 years loyalty I take my concern seriously on this since it is such a fundamental banking and cash safety issue, so I have left first direct - recognising that the integration with their High Street bank - on which they are fundamentally dependent - has become unreliable. Folk need to know about these limitations before they jump into the abyss!

If access to counter services is a major point then a phone bank is probably not the best choice anyway.