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AIBU?

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Original poster

to close the bank account I've had for nearly 40 years to open a new one with First Direct?

55 replies

Midthreademergencynamechange · 03/06/2018 11:50

I don't work for First Direct I promise but I don't really understand why anyone uses any other bank! When you ring them someone answers you within seconds. There is no automated menu to go through. It is like a breath of blooming fresh air!

We have a joint account with FD but I've always kept my own separate account with the bank my parents used and which they opened for me at 16. Contacting them is SO MUCH more time consuming and frustrating. This morning I'm asking myself what is stopping me from opening a new account with FD and I really can't think of a good reason! Other than is it a terrible faff?

OP posts:
Onlyoldontheoutside · 03/06/2018 13:05

It has a monthly saver that gives 5%,you can only put£309 a month it but still a decent rate.

JoyceDivision · 03/06/2018 13:06

Coffee, hope your sister is ok x

ourkidmolly · 03/06/2018 13:06

It’s a shame that you’ve just missed their £125 introductory offer. They’ve just scrapped it.

pinkpepperose · 03/06/2018 13:09

FD are great. When you ring them, someone answers straight away, none of that automated options rubbish.

Bluelady · 03/06/2018 13:12

You wouldn't have got the £125 anyway, OP, as you've already got. A joint account.

londonrach · 03/06/2018 13:17

I love to leave barclays, the bank ive been with since aged 15. They increased their charges (without telling me) and tbh the service has gone down and now they are trying to force you to do things online. On top of that they seem to have got my mobile number when ive never given it to them as i never give it out to anyone. I dont use my mobile as such and now they messaging me saying about online banking which i dont have, as a result no bank statements. Love to leavebut need a bank that has a high street front and theres very limited choice. Id never do online banking. Cash is king for me! Its how ive always control the budget.

Shoppingwithmother · 03/06/2018 13:20

FD are not as good as they used to be. They don’t always answer straight away any more.

Also if you want to set up another account eg a regular savings account, they make you go through masses of unnecessary and intrusive and often not even answerable questions (eg not applicable in your case, but in the end you just have to make up an answer to shut them up) Even when you have had a current account with them since they started up.

They have pissed me off no end every year. Coming up to the time to open a new one, so no doubt there will be another round of this crap again.

greenlanes · 03/06/2018 14:26

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou

"Only problem I had was their slightly over zealous money laundering regulations.... the HMRC people did say that First Direct were causing problems doing this and as I used to work in financial services I know that these items were not required under money laundering regulations. ... because of thus unnecessary hoop jumping ..."

And Shoppingwithmother

^^ this

I have been with First Direct for over 25 years. Always used to give them 11 out of 10 in customer service surveys but their fairly recent changes in supposed money laundering requirements is actually causing me to very very seriously consider moving my account. Like BuggerOff I am also ex financial services and absolutely challenged the statements that these were actual requirements rather than policy. Eventually I got a grudging this is HSBC policy.

Same as with Shopping - I was opening a new savings account and was being asked KYC and income questions. They know me - I have banked with them for years.

Coffee - I am so sorry to hear about your sister. The only reason I am not moving my account is actually the quality of staff. I didnt realise it came at such a cost.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 03/06/2018 16:05

I have to say, I opened a new higher yield savings account with them about a month ago and it was dead easy. I logged onto my internet banking and did it all through that, no questions and transferred the money from my lower yield account with no problems.

Sailorjerrycherry · 03/06/2018 16:10

I’ve literally just switched to them after the TSB internet banking fiasco - along with not being able to access my accounts with TSB during their meltdown last month my insurance direct debit didn’t go through (plenty of money in the account for it!) and it got cancelled! I refused to stay with them after that!

First Direct have been hugely helpful - staff lovely and not on hold for ages; the switch was hassle free and I got a nice gift for joining!
I’d go for it OP!

Curlywurlywurly · 03/06/2018 16:18

We've been with them over 20 years now and always recommend them to people. Have never had a problem with contacting them and their staff are friendly and helpful.

IndominousRex · 03/06/2018 16:37

@ToEarlyForDecorations

You don’t need your bank ‘in your corner’ to get a mortgage. I would leave now if you hate them.

MoonsAndJunes · 03/06/2018 16:48

Loyalty does have its benefits.
I have banked with the same bank for 30 years and have earnt WAY less than I ever did over the last 10 years. I always spend up at the end of the month and often go into the red.
Apparently, I have a pre-agreed loan of 45K waiting for me. 'If you ever need any additional borrowing Mrs Moons&Junes, just let us know...'

I don't think I'll be taking them up on their kind offer though! Grin Hmm

BlueJava · 03/06/2018 17:02

Open the new account at FD, close the old one later when all sorted. I'm with FD too - love them.

deptfordgirl · 03/06/2018 17:07

We're with first direct and they are amazing. I had my purse stolen and I phoned them up, spoke to someone immediately and was able to pick up some money from a bank straightaway so I could get home.

Bumply · 03/06/2018 17:13

I've been with FD for more than 20 years and service has always been good.

I left Barclays after they implied it was my fault that my new cheque book got stolen on its way to me in the post.

FD don't do children's accounts though, and I tried setting up with HSBC but it got so difficult trying to prove who my son was (not many 16 year olds have evidence of where they live and I couldn't vouch for him because we don't have the same surname) that I gave up and went with RBS.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 03/06/2018 17:18

Your calls are answered right away because staff have timed toilet breaks, are sacked for being three minutes late, are exploited and threatened, and if they have an account with the company it can be accessed without their permission.

Christ; where was this?!

I've worked at HQ; and it was nothing like this. I didn't work in the telephone area: but they seemed remarkably well treated and incentivised, and I was there often.

I really hope wherever she was has been improved; and that she's okay now Thanks

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 03/06/2018 17:18

Your calls are answered right away because staff have timed toilet breaks, are sacked for being three minutes late, are exploited and threatened, and if they have an account with the company it can be accessed without their permission.

Christ; where was this?!

I've worked at HQ; and it was nothing like this. I didn't work in the telephone area: but they seemed remarkably well treated and incentivised, and I was there often.

I really hope wherever she was has been improved; and that she's okay now Thanks

fleuriepeninsula · 03/06/2018 17:32

First Direct are shit. They require seventy billion passwords including different ones for their app and online banking (helpfully differentiated as “digital” and “electronic” passwords). Their security reminder questions are not sensible, irrefutable things like “Hospital you were born in” or “First model of car” but rather “What colour best describes how you felt on May 2nd 2017” AND you need to remember the answers to five of them.

Honestly, go with anyone but First Direct. They’re utterly shit.

Hillarious · 03/06/2018 17:40

I just need to give postcode, name and the answer to one question to get through. Excellent service, friendly staff. I try not to ring too late, or on Christmas Day, though.

fleuriepeninsula · 03/06/2018 17:46

Don’t forget your “telephone” password which is different to your digital or electronic passwords.

We are healthy adopters of digital tech in this house, we genuinely like that kind of thing, but First Direct sent me fleeing back to Lloyds. Their app is pre-historic as well.

PaintedHorizons · 03/06/2018 21:24

I've been a FD customer for over twenty years. Never had a problem. Love talking to a person. And so helpful. I don't get how they can be so good and yet are owned by HSBC who are so bad I had to close my account with them.

Notevilstepmother · 03/06/2018 21:34

Staff at first direct were so lovely and kind when I was in a muddle with my money due to depression. They made me feel that I could tell them the truth about it and they were helpful when I did.

Semster · 03/06/2018 22:02

I feel like I bank with a different FD to some others on here. I've never had to have multiple passwords or lots of confusing security questions. I find it really easy to log in and contact them, even from the US where I now live. I don't pay money into my account regularly but I'm not charged for having an account. I did go through some re-verification stuff because we live abroad, but it was easy to do.

I wish we had banks like that here in the US.

TheRebel · 03/06/2018 22:18

I often have to call other banks as part of my job and their automated menus drive me insane!

I’ve been with First Direct since I was 18 (so over a decade) and I wouldn’t switch, even for the £125 incentive Halifax are offering, I love their app and I love love love not listening to 3 minutes of recorded messages when I call them.

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