First Direct - what’s all the hype?

masonic

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864628#Comment_81864628

I suppose one of the side-effects of using FD as my main account is that I'd fund from there anyway. I've never changed the amount of my SO below the max, but I seem to be able to amend it via the app and understood from discussion elsewhere that this was possible. Though I have no idea why it is more restrictive than the (now pants) HSBC version.

ZeroSum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864630#Comment_81864630

Must be a new development then as last time I took one out (18 months back) you couldn't. With it being a set internal transfer it doesn't transfer at weekends when your given date falls on a weekend. Doing it manually, you can transfer at weekend. Its a minor thing, but it annoys me.

Lindadnil

I switched to First Direct- it's a scam.
I have been waiting for a working PIN since February. No access to my cash since my account opened. In order to get the switching reward you have to use your debit card.By giving me a faulty PIN this was not possible.
Customer service have been rude and useless, and the issue is still not resolved, it's 8/5/26.

As discussed with numerous members of their team the PIN I received through the post matches the PIN on my app and doesn't work with my card. I have tried 2 ATMs and 2 store payment machines, on different days, and each time they say it's the wrong PIN. This is ridiculous. I've called customer service and I still don't have access to my account - since February!!! I have no idea how to resolve this, it's criminal.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991572#Comment_81991572

Frustrating? Definitely!

Unacceptable? Likely.

A scam? Er, no.

Criminal? Seriously?

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991572#Comment_81991572

Have you contacted the Police on the non-emergency number to report this crime? 🤨

flaneurs_lobster

It may be useless to you as a payment card provider, but it's not criminal and it's not a scam.

You've been waiting on a working PIN for three months? I'd have given up after 2 weeks.

Transfer your money to a bank where the debit card/PIN works.

Raise a formal complaint with First Direct.

masonic

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991572#Comment_81991572

So what you are saying is you have online access to your account (you can log in and see the card PIN in your app, and presumably send and receive bank transfers), but your card doesn't work. So it would be incorrect to say "No access to [your] cash".

You do not need your card PIN to initiate a CASS switch to another bank, which TBH I would have done by the end of March if the issue had gone on that long.

wmb194

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991572#Comment_81991572

Can you add your card to ApplePay and/or GooglePay and use it that way?

masonic

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991588#Comment_81991588

…Or for the purposes of getting the switching reward, use the card online rather than in a shop.

subjecttocontract

I kinda gave up with my First Direct account when their tie up with HSBC meant I was unable to carry out various transactions in HSBC branches.