First Direct

I'd been with my previous bank since my University days and I was finally fed up with their poor customer service, ridiculous charges (especially when overseas or buying from overseas) and an excessive battle to get my charges refunded. A friend had experienced excellent customer service from First Direct and I'd heard good things about them. She said if she recommended me to them, she would earn £50 and I would get £100. I was happy with this arrangement and so we started off the process. There was a slight hitch to begin with as the special postcard that would have linked us together never arrived with First Direct HQ. However I managed to ...  Read the complete review

I'll do pretty much anything for a free buck, more so when its considerably more than that and so when First Direct offered me £100 for opening an account with them I did just that and better still they offered a further £100 if I closed the account within six months. Even better. Who can turn down an offer like that? Not me. One quick phone call later to a native English speaking telephone operator on a local rate number within the UK I liked them already. Forms arrived very quickly, were completed and sent on their merry way. The forms in question were relatively short but very comprehensive and included all the paperwork needed to transfer my wage via my employer and ...  Read the complete review

First Direct To be honest I am a bit of a 'tart' when it comes to financial products. I move to the latest deal as soon as possible to benefit. The main reason I moved to First Direct was for the £100 incentive alongside the £250 interest free overdraft which is a great offer. I was expecting to stay for a year and then move on but I do have to say I think I am going to stick with First Direct. Signing Up and Switching Process I signed up on line and it was a really easy process. Within a day or two I received a whole load of paperwork to read through. I was also sent forms to provide to my employer so that my salary could be paid into my new ...  Read the complete review

First Direct is the telephone banking arm of HSBS (I think). It prides itself on being different. More than a bank, more of a statement on how banks should be run. I'll admit it, I only joined up for the £100 they offered for new customers. I had every intention of moving after the six months were up and getting another £100. You know what? A year later I'm staying put. I'm not sure if on balance First Direct have anything more than other banks, they just do it so well. The online banking is a sinch and you can set up direct debits and transfer money with ease. The telephone line is so efficient, you get through to a real person within seconds - direct. No ...  Read the complete review

We had been banking with HSBC for years - I think probably because it was one of the first banks to suspend charging - so this must be at least 25 years ago , and really didn't feel the need to change. However one of the conditions of our mortgage was that we had to take the bank account. We didn't need to switch everything over , but it seemed silly if this would help reduce our mortgage not to do it. So we signed the forms to switch. It was very simple and most of the work was done by First direct. They arranged for all of the direct debits to be switched over. The only bit that you have to do yourself is to contact anyone who pays into your old ...  Read the complete review