"wasn't expecting that" - just got a 1st Direct a/c, anything I need to know?

ShelfStacker_3

Well, the title says it all... despite having a number of credit searches nearly as bad as Proliant's (;)) and having about 20p to my name, I've been accepted for a First Direct current account. I'm guessing that's because I was behaviour scored with HSBC and passed... somehow, although they also did a credit search. So... in common with everyone else who's a member of these forums and has opened a bank account with a new financial institution, I need to ask; is there anything I'd need to know, any pitfalls or anything, before the account is opened?

Milarky

Open another account straightaway - e.g Everyday e Saver with £1. (This should avoid you being subject to their £10 per month fee where your only account is the current account and you can't guarantee paying in at least £1500 per month)

ShelfStacker_3

I asked to open one when I did the application. Basically since there's no goddamn way I'll be paying in £1500 a month, not unless shelf stacking becomes a very highly paid job indeed.

PROLIANT

ShelfStacker wrote: »

I asked to open one when I did the application. Basically since there's no goddamn way I'll be paying in £1500 a month, not unless shelf stacking becomes a very highly paid job indeed.

Tesco's are paying £11.99 per hour night shift, when I worked @ ASDA I was on £7.62 per hour a couple of years ago. And my very first "proper" job was with Kwik Save and I was on £2.23 per hour back in 1997. :eek:

ShelfStacker_3

I work full time, 39 hours a week, £6.10 an hour. However, I do get the John Lewis Partnership's bonus which bumps it up to about £7.30 if you average it out.

Work for Tesco? Pah. Got green blood I have.

CopperPlate_2

No pitfalls really - the card/PIN is usually fairly quick in arriving.

Use the 01132345678 telephone number instead of their 0845 one when you call them. And then if you use one of the 'call 18185/18866', etc number-prefixes it costs, e.g. 5p for the whole phone call instead of e.g. 4p per minute for the 0845 one. Every little helps.

Set up the text messaging facility to keep track of your cash flow (if you've got a mobile phone).

They'll send you a nice leather (real!) credit card holder and cheque book cover (! - is there anyone left that still takes cheques!?) if you ask them. Oh, and a A4 ring binder to keep all your paper statements in (again if you ask them) - although trying to be green you'll be switching off that option!

ShelfStacker_3

CopperPlate wrote: »

They'll send you a nice leather (real!) credit card holder and cheque book cover (! - is there anyone left that still takes cheques!?) if you ask them. Oh, and a A4 ring binder to keep all your paper statements in (again if you ask them) - although trying to be green you'll be switching off that option!

Seriously!? Nice... do you just ring up and ask for them? I will be keeping my paper statements, I like having them around in case I need them, as a lot of places need them for ID and such.

CopperPlate_2

Yes you can phone them or just send a secure message asking for them and they'll arrive in silver, bubble-wrap jiffy-bags! I wondered what they were when they arrived through the door!

skyrider007

Congrats on getting a First Direct account! I really like their debit card! By the way, do you think they will charge you a monthly service fee if you don't pay in £1,500 monthly?

ShelfStacker_3

skyrider007 wrote: »

Congrats on getting a First Direct account! I really like their debit card! By the way, do you think they will charge you a monthly service fee if you don't pay in £1,500 monthly?

I KNOW they will, however, I also know that if you open an e-saver like one of the above posters said, they won't.

skyrider007

ShelfStacker wrote: »

I KNOW they will, however, I also know that if you open an e-saver like one of the above posters said, they won't.

Good stuff :T Just don't forget to cancel your HSBC Bank A/C Plus subscription once you've switched everything to FD