To just want to nuke First Direct?

[Orangeanddemons]

Fuck, fuck, fuck, useless bastards. Telephone banking should be used as some sophisticated high level of torture.

I want to kill them, and now myself.

The useless time wasting bastards.

Surprised at this as they are the one company I have never had trouble with. Called yesterday about a foreign transaction , (never had to do one before didn't know where to start,). spoke to someone who then transferred me - almost immediately - to someone in foreign dept who knew his stuff, sorted out my account and we ended up joking, briefly but pleasantly at the end of the call. Been with them since they started, current account, savings account and offset mortgage..

Busy

Me too

Hi orange... sorrytohear you are having such problems.

I work for first direct and can let you know the team that deals with transferring accounts is very very very very busy simply because the promotion to the public of the new thing where you should find it a lot easier to move bank accounts is proving overwhelmingly popular, and the bank have received an unprecedented amount of questions and instructions, and they are really really trying their best to retrain staff at short notice to be skilled in helping the department, however the system that has been set up to arrange the moving of accounts (the general system all the banks will use) isn't very good, and the slightest mismatch of information will cause a delay.

I hope you get things sorted out

Aaah that gives me some insight. Thanks for that, I still hate them though

But Oh God, if those words appear tomorrow.....just....if they do...

There was a thread about banks a few weeks ago and FD came out top by a long shot...

I have never been put on hold by FD in 20+ years, and don't have a bad word to say about them. They are a fab bank, with really helpful call centre staff who know their job and have a great sense if humour.

I've banked with them since they started , and they've only ever cocked up once . They apologised wholesale , sorted it immediately, apologised some more , gave me some compensation , and then the next day I got flowers . The only company , let alone bank that I recommend .

Been w FD for 11 years, have never had a bad experience - unlike Natwest and Barclays....

Swelling the proportion of pro First Direct MNers here. More than 20 years, never a problem. I'd like to think that you've just been monumentally and uncharacteristically unfortunate. Since that doesn't help you one whit, I can only wish you good luck in sorting it out...

Been with FD since the 1980's - absolutely no problems and always had really friendly service. I also have accounts with Santander and Barclays, who are rubbish in comparison

joining the sway of pro FD folk, have banked with them for about 22 years, we have six accounts with them between us and very pleased. Never been put on hold, and the internet banking service is fab. much much better than the likes of santander who my adult dcs bank with, or barclays who dh (for some bizarre reason) keeps an old account with.

Just had to post as another devoted first direct customer here! Been with them since they started up and never had a problem getting matters sorted. Sorry about your problems and hope you get it sorted out soon!

Another pro FD customer here - I escaped from the utterly shithouse natwest a decade ago and have never looked back. I have never, ever had a problem with them - sorry to hear it OP

Been with FD for 20 years, never had a problem with them. In fact they saved our skins when we needed a bridging loan due to Halifax being total incompetents. Loan arranged in two phone calls and around two hours. Have never been on hold, phone people always friendly and helpful.

Another First Direct supporter here.

Been with them over 20 years and have never had a single problem. They've rung me back rather than put me on hold. Were also brilliant when someone fraudulently took several amounts of money from our account - they were on to us straight away and were very supportive and reassuring. Before I moved to FD I was a victim of banking fraud when I was with Midland Bank who were considerably less helpful and reassuring.

I would never move to another bank.

I have accounts with them- never had an issue, and the staff are without exception lovely and HUMAN !!!

To go against the grain I had and have ongoing issues with First Direct.

Went overdrawn for literally a few hours (whilst attending funeral) realised mistake but had to really fight not to pay 25 charge.

Then somehow failed security and that was that. They won't deal with me, I do not exist to them. They blocked me from the account. no second chances or Enhanced security. i need to send them a handwriting sample they were extremely unreasonable at what was a very stressful time.

They've recently recruited a lot of short term fixed contract staff who don't get the same in depth training.

Cost cutting. And it's showing.

I like them too. Bet the problem's with the bank your switching from. I'd put money on it in fact.

I have been with them 10 years and haven't had a single problem (touch wood!). I did go overdrawn due to a processing error and they fixed it and refunded the fee. They are lovely to talk to, friendly & helpful. Love FD.

As we can all see from Joyce's post - it's not FD's system causing this.

The 14 day switch the banks are supposed to be set up for isn't live in most of them and the bank people are leaving has little incentive to make any effort to help people leave. I have a feeling FD's systems which are HSBC are fairly ancient so must be really struggling so that could be making things worse.

People only really want to switch to FD for the service, Santander for the cashback/interest and Nationwide because they're a mutual and perceived to be less evil.

I have some insider knowledge.

I have got a 123 account with Santander but have retained my account with FD. I have never ever ever had a problem with them. Perhaps been on hold for a couple of minutes once or twice but never longer than that and only when being transferred to another department. I have been with them for 20+ years as well. SOoooooo convenient.