First Direct - Beware!

IHateDida

I am absolutely furious! I moved house 4 months ago and changed my details with First Direct on 20th August. However, today I had some forwarded mail from my old address - forwarded by the new residents from First Direct! When I called them they said that it was a human error and that they hadn't updated my correspondence address! Another security issue!

Plus, and even worse - you have to pay £1500 in per month t avoid their £10 a month charge....but what they don't say is that you must pay this amount in, in 'their month'. So despite the fact that me and my partner pay in £1700 between us at different times in each and every month (becuase we are paid on different days), because some months are "shorter than others" - we have been charged! They will reimburse me the £10 but I have been told that I will need to phone up when this happens again which is likely several times a year! I am furious and thought that others will probably be affected by this - so beware if you pay in at different times in the month!:mad: :mad:

I am going to change my account because of this - I can't keep ringing them up when I have been charged in this way - its absolutely daft! Does anyone know of any decent current accounts - I don't want the "add ons" - just a cheque book, debit card and online banking.

Paul_Herring

Plus, and even worse - you have to pay £1500 in per month t avoid their £10 a month charge.

You were/are aware, weren't you, that another condition that would waive the charge was to open a savings account or a credit card with them.

IHateDida

Paul_Herring wrote: »

You were/are aware, weren't you, that another condition that would waive the charge was to open a savings account or a credit card with them.

Yes - but I didn't really think I would have to if I paid over £1500 a month with them - it just adds to all the extra mailings that I don't really want to receive from them (they've already sent countless things to my old address). I even phoned to check when we were all notified of the charges that I wouldn't have to pay....I am just angry they don't look at it over a 30 day period but instead choose their own version of a "month".:mad:

noh

Their version of a month seems to be the generally accepted version ie a calendar month http://www.firstdirect.com/rates/charges.shtml
I believe that most banks would define a month in the same way it seems to be the most sensible way.
Why bother changing banks, as mentioned above, just open a savings account with £1 to avoid the monthly account fee. Select the paperless option for all your accounts and inform them that you don't want to receive any marketing material.

Nigel

IHateDida

noh wrote: »

Their version of a month seems to be the generally accepted version ie a calendar month http://www.firstdirect.com/rates/charges.shtml
I believe that most banks would define a month in the same way it seems to be the most sensible way.
Why bother changing banks, as mentioned above, just open a savings account with £1 to avoid the monthly account fee. Select the paperless option for all your accounts and inform them that you don't want to receive any marketing material.

Nigel

Why should I let them get away with it? The month they have charged me for runs from 5th November - 4th December. If they ran it for a "normal" month ie. 1st November - 30th November then our payments would have both been counted. Sorry, maybe I'm kicking up a fuss over nothing, but I'm not one of those people who will just let companies take the "p***" out of me. Am I wrong in complaining?

nearlyrich

IHateDida wrote: »

Yes - but I didn't really think I would have to if I paid over £1500 a month with them - it just adds to all the extra mailings that I don't really want to receive from them (they've already sent countless things to my old address). I even phoned to check when we were all notified of the charges that I wouldn't have to pay....I am just angry they don't look at it over a 30 day period but instead choose their own version of a "month".:mad:

You can choose not to have paper statements etc and the everyday savings account is totally online so no mailings.;)

IHateDida

nearlyrich wrote: »

You can choose not to have paper statements etc and the everyday savings account is totally online so no mailings.;)

I already opt out of statements and junk mail, have done for past 2 years - but they still seem to send me stuff, or rather they tend to send it to me or my last address. I'm lucky my house buyers forward my mail I guess!

noh

IHateDida wrote: »

Why should I let them get away with it? The month they have charged me for runs from 5th November - 4th December. If they ran it for a "normal" month ie. 1st November - 30th November then our payments would have both been counted. Sorry, maybe I'm kicking up a fuss over nothing, but I'm not one of those people who will just let companies take the "p***" out of me. Am I wrong in complaining?

Their published terms and conditions that I linked to state that their month for the purpose of charging is a calendar month. Have you asked them why you are being charged on a different basis to that stated? Or is there some confusion between the statement period and charging period?

Nigel

Paul_Herring

IHateDida wrote: »

Yes - but I didn't really think I would have to if I paid over £1500 a month with them

Erm - isn't the whole point of your OP that you aren't in fact paying over £1500 a month, every month?

Just because you disagree with FD's (reasonable) definition of a month doesn't make their position any less valid. Nor does it excuse you from acknowledging their T&C's.

Just open a savings account and be done with it. Or go through the hassle of setting up an account elsewhere. Your choice.

deano8000

sounds like youve got sour grapes just because you cant manage your account efficiently. Like most banks, i would think their automated systems wouldnt just pop your name for them to just adjust your charge (great if they did) but they dont .

IHateDida

Paul_Herring wrote: »

Erm - isn't the whole point of your OP that you aren't in fact paying over £1500 a month, every month?

Just because you disagree with FD's (reasonable) definition of a month doesn't make their position any less valid. Nor does it excuse you from acknowledging their T&C's.
quote]

Did you not read my OP? I AM paying in more than £1500 per month - a month is classified as 30 days right? :rolleyes: