First Direct £175 switching offer 09/09/2024

winkowinko

I have a couple of questions.

I set set up a dummy Barclays current account (already a customer) today, and have scheduled in 2 standing orders for the 28th of this month. I then plan to switch to First Direct. How long should I wait before applying for the FD account, bearing in mind the Barclays one was only set up today.

Secondly, I have a mortgage with HSBC (although no current account). Regarding eligibility for the FD account, would I still be OK?

Chickenmad

I would love to switch from NatWest to First Direct not least to be able to talk to a real person should I have a problem. FD's website says "open an account in minutes" & everyone, including MSE says switching is easy yet the hoops I have to go through to confirm proof of identity & address is totally putting me off. Being 74 I'm not particularly computer savvy & I certainly don't know anyone on the certification list of professions. Any utility bill I've got is certainly over 4 months old. I suppose the only answer would be to try & open an account in person at a branch (if I can find one local enough) & take various paperwork & my laptop with me to confirm my address etc? Hardly opening an account "in minutes"! Any suggestions gratefully received.

Rich1976

Chickenmad said:

I would love to switch from NatWest to First Direct not least to be able to talk to a real person should I have a problem. FD's website says "open an account in minutes" & everyone, including MSE says switching is easy yet the hoops I have to go through to confirm proof of identity & address is totally putting me off. Being 74 I'm not particularly computer savvy & I certainly don't know anyone on the certification list of professions. Any utility bill I've got is certainly over 4 months old. I suppose the only answer would be to try & open an account in person at a branch (if I can find one local enough) & take various paperwork & my laptop with me to confirm my address etc? Hardly opening an account "in minutes"! Any suggestions gratefully received.

You have to consider then whether switching is worth all that effort. Admittedly FD are very good when it comes to Customer Service but it would certainly put me off going out of my way and getting certified copies. Do they allow you to take the identification documents to HSBC branches as whilst they are in effect the same bank I didn’t know they allowed you do that. If not you would have to post them . I don’t think FD a would allow you to open an account inside an HSBC branch either.

Having said that, most banks are able to verify someone’s identity using electronic methods and it’s only when they can’t that they will request copies of bills etc so you could find if you tried switching to another bank you may have the same problem.

Chickenmad

Thanks for the reply Rich. There's no mention on FD's website that they can verify my identity & address via electronic means. How do the rest of you get the info required to open a new account? Do you all have mates who are solicitors & doctors? Is there really a simple way to open an account "in minutes"?

winkowinko

Chickenmad said:

Thanks for the reply Rich. There's no mention on FD's website that they can verify my identity & address via electronic means. How do the rest of you get the info required to open a new account? Do you all have mates who are solicitors & doctors? Is there really a simple way to open an account "in minutes"?

Do you have a smartphone? I opened an FD account last night (via the app) and all that was required was to upload my drivers license and take a selfie. Account was open within minutes. 

Chickenmad

Thanks for the reply winkowinko. I'm sure if I was 30 years younger opening an account would be a breeze but modern life is not geared up for us "cotton tops" without a smartphone (I had one for 2 years...hated it!!) Crazy really when you consider how many there are of us....untapped market? I've been with NatWest for over 55 years but if a bank could offer a really easy switch for technophobes like me I would jump at it & I'm sure there would be thousands of others in a similar position. Have you ever tried working on a modern car? No, me neither but in the past I would take on virtually any mechanical job. That's how I feel with a lot of modern tech.

Rich1976

Rich1976 said:

Chickenmad said:

I would love to switch from NatWest to First Direct not least to be able to talk to a real person should I have a problem. FD's website says "open an account in minutes" & everyone, including MSE says switching is easy yet the hoops I have to go through to confirm proof of identity & address is totally putting me off. Being 74 I'm not particularly computer savvy & I certainly don't know anyone on the certification list of professions. Any utility bill I've got is certainly over 4 months old. I suppose the only answer would be to try & open an account in person at a branch (if I can find one local enough) & take various paperwork & my laptop with me to confirm my address etc? Hardly opening an account "in minutes"! Any suggestions gratefully received.

You have to consider then whether switching is worth all that effort. Admittedly FD are very good when it comes to Customer Service but it would certainly put me off going out of my way and getting certified copies. Do they allow you to take the identification documents to HSBC branches as whilst they are in effect the same bank I didn’t know they allowed you do that. If not you would have to post them . I don’t think FD a would allow you to open an account inside an HSBC branch either.

Having said that, most banks are able to verify someone’s identity using electronic methods and it’s only when they can’t that they will request copies of bills etc so you could find if you tried switching to another bank you may have the same problem.

We’ve been with FD a for a long time but don’t recall having to get certified copies of anything for any financial provider, they verified everything electronically , by which I mean they check credit reference agencies. I certainly don’t have mates or know anyone in professions required to certify documents so would struggle too. 

maybe give them a call and see what they suggest, they are very helpful on the phone?

UKX69

Chickenmad said:

Thanks for the reply winkowinko. I'm sure if I was 30 years younger opening an account would be a breeze but modern life is not geared up for us "cotton tops" without a smartphone (I had one for 2 years...hated it!!) Crazy really when you consider how many there are of us....untapped market? I've been with NatWest for over 55 years but if a bank could offer a really easy switch for technophobes like me I would jump at it & I'm sure there would be thousands of others in a similar position. Have you ever tried working on a modern car? No, me neither but in the past I would take on virtually any mechanical job. That's how I feel with a lot of modern tech.

Chickenmad you are quite right. The modern world is geared for tech, but not surprising. We older goats are being forgotten in the race to make everything accessible via screens. I’m in a position whereby in my former life computers and tech went hand in hand, and smartphones are just an offshoot of that.  But yes, if you are behind the curve with smartphones, opening some accounts can be quite frustrating. I still prefer the face to face approach in branch. By the way, you beat me on NatWest, I claim 49 years! 😁

Rich1976

DasTechniker said:

Chickenmad said:w

Thanks for the reply winkowinko. I'm sure if I was 30 years younger opening an account would be a breeze but modern life is not geared up for us "cotton tops" without a smartphone (I had one for 2 years...hated it!!) Crazy really when you consider how many there are of us....untapped market? I've been with NatWest for over 55 years but if a bank could offer a really easy switch for technophobes like me I would jump at it & I'm sure there would be thousands of others in a similar position. Have you ever tried working on a modern car? No, me neither but in the past I would take on virtually any mechanical job. That's how I feel with a lot of modern tech.

Chickenmad you are quite right. The modern world is geared for tech, but not surprising. We older goats are being forgotten in the race to make everything accessible via screens. I’m in a position whereby in my former life computers and tech went hand in hand, and smartphones are just an offshoot of that.  But yes, if you are behind the curve with smartphones, opening some accounts can be quite frustrating. I still prefer the face to face approach in branch. By the way, you beat me on NatWest, I claim 49 years! 😁

Technology is here to stay and is only going to become more advanced. AI is the next big thing which brings with it its own advantages and downsides.

people need to embrace technology as best as they can because it is all too easy to be left behind in the modern world as frustrating as it can be .

winkowinko

Can I cancel the 2 standing orders that were required to be eligible for the switch incentive, as soon as the switch is completed?

And would I still be able to open the 7% regular saver even if I had no standing orders from the current account?