Good at first but not always great (firstdirect.co.uk)

Name: terryff

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Product:	firstdirect.co.uk
Date:	14/08/02 (188 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: online

Disadvantages: lack of service, no personal contact

I have been with first direct for over six years now. Over the course of this time I have had times when I got myself a little over my head, at which point they would step in and offer an overdraft, a credit card or a loan at the drop of a hat.
Likewise their online services are quite acceptable, except that they recently went from running their software from a program on your computer (which, for example, allowed the user to have the last dates that he/she had downloaded their statement into their money software) to a java utility that remembers nothing and is, in my opinion, much less user friendly.
Fine as far as it goes but now the bad bit, last year I applied for a mortgage with them at which point they credit checked me (bearing in mind that I had been using credit services from them for some years with only a few minor hiccups). Because I had had one c.c.j back about 4 years ago, they declined the mortgage.
Naturally I was upset but eventually found another lender that would see past this and gave me a loan (albeit at a higher rate). So now, when I applied for a visa card (to be accurate, I had one some while back, got a bit over with it and had it converted into a loan) they would only give me a solo card. This was not too much of a problem as solo is accepted most places online and at most major retailers as a form of switch.
The real issue now comes when I applied for a small overdraft or any kind of credit facility at all and they now decline full stop, stating that I have a ccj and that, as far as they are concerned, means that I am not creditworthy. Bearing in mind I am employed in a relatively well paid job now, have not been overdrawn once on my account in over eight months I find myself rather miffed that I am being treated as a persona non gratis, all the bank now wants my account for is the regular money going through it and also the monthly loan I have with them (never defaulted) and house insurance (never defaulted). Whilst I r
ealise that this is a long way away from being in the same category as some of the horror stories that are told about some banks, I do feel that after reading such glowing ops of them I have to offer a balancing view.
There, rant done, feel a whole lot better for that.

Summary: