First Direct 3.5% regular saver

masonic

Bigwheels1111 said:
Im making a payment to Octopus energy next week as a top up, If I get 1% back I’m stopping Direct Debit and will pay by card each month.

I've been doing this for months. I had to specifically ask them to add Octopus for cashback as initially it was being incorrectly included in the exceptions. You can just continually postpone the direct debit as they always notify you ahead of collection and give you the opportunity to do this.

ccdorset

Thanks for all the replies.

I've decided I'm going to go for it and apply for the FD current account and regular saver. Every little helps as they say!

I will be making this my last application requiring a credit check though until after the remortgage later this year.

This will be fresh money I'll be putting into the regular saver rather than drip feeding. I do have the Chase current account and saver too and am enjoying the cashback on that! :-)

jimexbox

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

kaMelo

jimexbox said:

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

No need for that with any switch, just comply with the conditions they ask and you will get the incentive.

RG2015

kaMelo said:

jimexbox said:

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

No need for that with any switch, just comply with the conditions they ask and you will get the incentive.

I have just noticed that the OP previously had an FD account. Therefore, they will not be eligible for either bonus.

However, I opened a new FD current account, having previously had one, and was able to avoid all of the extra FD security checks.

I was particularly pleased not to have the 30 minute phone interview.

ccdorset

RG2015 said:

kaMelo said:

jimexbox said:

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

No need for that with any switch, just comply with the conditions they ask and you will get the incentive.

I have just noticed that the OP previously had an FD account. Therefore, they will not be eligible for either bonus.

However, I opened a new FD current account, having previously had one, and was able to avoid all of the extra FD security checks.

I was particularly pleased not to have the 30 minute phone interview.

Thanks for your reply. I remember a while ago looking at returning to FD and them insisting on the application being done over the phone. It's nice now that previous customers can also apply online or via their app.

Did FD still perform a hard credit check when you applied?

RG2015

ccdorset said:

RG2015 said:

kaMelo said:

jimexbox said:

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

No need for that with any switch, just comply with the conditions they ask and you will get the incentive.

I have just noticed that the OP previously had an FD account. Therefore, they will not be eligible for either bonus.

However, I opened a new FD current account, having previously had one, and was able to avoid all of the extra FD security checks.

I was particularly pleased not to have the 30 minute phone interview.

Thanks for your reply. I remember a while ago looking at returning to FD and them insisting on the application being done over the phone. It's nice now that previous customers can also apply online or via their app.

Did FD still perform a hard credit check when you applied?

Yes, they did a hard credit check with Experian when I opened my new account.

I seem to recall them saying online I would need to be identified either now or later. I chose later and a few hours later I got a text saying my account had been opened.

ccdorset

RG2015 said:

ccdorset said:

RG2015 said:

kaMelo said:

jimexbox said:

I have a Chase account and FD. Both were easy to set up. 

The £150 bonus is paid if you use the DD switching service and get your wages paid in. Or £20 if you don't and you've not has FD account before.

So £88 for myself for a £300 monthly drip feed. 

No need for that with any switch, just comply with the conditions they ask and you will get the incentive.

I have just noticed that the OP previously had an FD account. Therefore, they will not be eligible for either bonus.

However, I opened a new FD current account, having previously had one, and was able to avoid all of the extra FD security checks.

I was particularly pleased not to have the 30 minute phone interview.

Thanks for your reply. I remember a while ago looking at returning to FD and them insisting on the application being done over the phone. It's nice now that previous customers can also apply online or via their app.

Did FD still perform a hard credit check when you applied?

Yes, they did a hard credit check with Experian when I opened my new account.

I seem to recall them saying online I would need to be identified either now or later. I chose later and a few hours later I got a text saying my account had been opened.

Thanks for confirming, I went for it and applied. Looks like FD need to do some further checks as I got this text immediately after I completed the application:

"Thanks for your recent application to join first direct: we can’t wait to welcome you!  We’re experiencing huge demand at the moment, so it may take us a little longer to complete our final checks to finish the application for you. We’re really sorry for the delay, and will be in touch in the next 10-15 working days."

Not sure if this is just an ID check or whether the application has been referred for a decision. Will just have to wait and see I guess!

Daliah

10 - 15 working days!!!

What is wrong with them.

ccdorset

Daliah said:

10 - 15 working days!!!

What is wrong with them.

Yes I have to say I was a little surprised at the timescale!