First Direct New Charges

eenu

Can't believe it! First Direct has just started charging for the use of its text msg facility.....£2.50 per month!

Time to swap current account

skylight

Right off to check and cancel my texts!!!

itgirlinuk

Ah! Just checked. This is what firstDirect says:

"from 1 October 2005 a monthly fee of £2.50 will be charged for this service"

So maybe we could cancel at the end of September. But maybe its time to move to A&L current account.

By the way, does it affect my credit rating if I move my current account often? :Confused:

eenu

Think i am favouring the Cahoot Current Account....their web purchase feature is awesome.

martinpike

I'm just gonna cancel the texts. They wake me up at stupid o'clock anyway.

isasmurf

Why are you surprised? They informed customers a couple of months ago. You still get a weekly statement free of charge.

This is what the T&C effective from 1st September 2005 say
"Customers will still be able to receive a monthly or weekly mini statement on up to three separate first direct accounts free of charge.

A fee will be charged for each customer who is registered to receive:
more than one monthly or weekly mini-statement on up to three separate FD accounts and/or:
event messages of any kind."

I always confused by the human race. A bank starts charging for its text messages so you all jump up and rush out to move to another bank who doesn't even offer text messages... I'm glad I'm a smurf.

eenu

isasmurf wrote:

Why are you surprised? They informed customers a couple of months ago. You still get a weekly statement free of charge.

This is what the T&C effective from 1st September 2005 say
"Customers will still be able to receive a monthly or weekly mini statement on up to three separate first direct accounts free of charge.

A fee will be charged for each customer who is registered to receive:
more than one monthly or weekly mini-statement on up to three separate FD accounts and/or:
event messages of any kind."

I always confused by the human race. A bank starts charging for its text messages so you all jump up and rush out to move to another bank who doesn't even offer text messages... I'm glad I'm a smurf.

check your facts! Cahoot offer free texts! And better levels of interest!

nearlyrich

davidmoore83 wrote:

check your facts! Cahoot offer free texts! And better levels of interest!

How good is their service though? Do they have real people on the phone all over Christmas?

I will be sticking with FD for my main account and the free texts will do for my needs, they have been free since they started althought they reserved the right to charge. Using their online banking I don't really need text messages too.

eenu

yes cahoot have 24/7 phone support.

Was the only reason i joined First Direct for support.

phil-99

nearlyrich wrote:

How good is their service though? Do they have real people on the phone all over Christmas?

Their SMS service is alright, can set levels of payments in/out to be alerted if exceeded, min balance alert. My gripe with it is that I regularly get them 24hrs+ after the event and have already checked my statements online...

Ember999

phil-99 wrote:

Their SMS service is alright, can set levels of payments in/out to be alerted if exceeded, min balance alert. My gripe with it is that I regularly get them 24hrs+ after the event and have already checked my statements online...

YES! They do have real people on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and even New Years Eve at midnight! They are the best bank for customer service, I have been with them 15 years and would never leave. I once phoned up on Christmas Day to wish the lassie on the phone MERRY CHRISTMAS as I felt sorry for them working Christmas Day. A great bank, First Direct, they treat you right and always ensure you are happy.