Discussion
I see a lot of PH are banking with First Direct, is there any reason as to why? What benefits do they offer that other banks do not. I can't see anything that Bank of Scotland currently offer. I travel a lot so I see they charge you for over seas transactions so i am miffed as to why many bank with them. Also if you have a cash deposit to put into the bank would you deposit this via a HSBC bank as they one of the same company?
I've been with them ever since they started (1994?). The reason is the service they've provided has been faultless. They are quick and easy to contact, very swift at dealing with all queries, it's easy to pay money in, take money out, transfer money electronically. Basically anything i expect from a bank, they do with the minimum of fuss.
You can pay money in at a HSBC branch or you can use any Post Office as well.
p.s. they're also offering £100 to new customers.
You can pay money in at a HSBC branch or you can use any Post Office as well.
p.s. they're also offering £100 to new customers.
Simply for me, brilliant customer service.
Issue with a dodgy looking transaction?, quick call, amount credited back (has happened a couple of times), very very easy to deal with on the phone.
I find the online banking very good, I have added stuff like a share dealing account, stocks and shares isa, and have a very cheap offset mortgage (more timing though than anything else)
Issue with a dodgy looking transaction?, quick call, amount credited back (has happened a couple of times), very very easy to deal with on the phone.
I find the online banking very good, I have added stuff like a share dealing account, stocks and shares isa, and have a very cheap offset mortgage (more timing though than anything else)
Been with them for years. Think it was because they were one of the first telephone banking set ups. Quick to answer and always friendly and have waived quite a few bills due to me being a good customer.
My mortgage is with them as well, one of those offset systems so any nominated account in credit cuts down the amount of interest payable on the loan. If you have any cheques to pay in, you are correct, as you do it at an HSBC.
I pay £15 a month for insurance cover for my phone, car breakdown, travel insurance, a few other things like not paying charges abroad.
I can't fault them really but then I have not tried any other bank in nearly 20 years.
My mortgage is with them as well, one of those offset systems so any nominated account in credit cuts down the amount of interest payable on the loan. If you have any cheques to pay in, you are correct, as you do it at an HSBC.
I pay £15 a month for insurance cover for my phone, car breakdown, travel insurance, a few other things like not paying charges abroad.
I can't fault them really but then I have not tried any other bank in nearly 20 years.
Amazing customer service.
That's about it. I've banked with them since 2009; parents since they first started.
Examples I've experienced:
They did not correctly action a balance transfer for me which caused me an interest charge on another credit card as it wasn't cleared in time. The interest charge was about £65 or so. I used their secure message service to complain. They telephoned me the next morning and immediately apologised, admitted error, paid me the £65 to my account along with £250 to apologise for their error. I didn't even have to argue or negotiate. I fully expected the bank to aplogise and give me a token amount that wouldn't even cover the interest charge.
Every time I telephone, I get through to a real human within a few rings. That operative is based in the UK and has the authority to action all of my accounts. There is no need to keep being transferred around departments. I have never needed to escalate anything to a supervisor as the operative seems to always have the authority to deviate script (if there is one?) and negotiate.
Their online secure message system is excellent. I usually have a reply within about 3-4 hours.
I did try moving to Santander a few months ago. But even as a potential customer, their service was dire. They lost my application (even though it was done online?), did not keep me informed, their telephone service was awful and just advised me to email them. The branch staff did not seem to be able to deal with accounts opened online and wanted me to go through the whole application process again. I vowed never to bank with Santander after that experience.
That's about it. I've banked with them since 2009; parents since they first started.
Examples I've experienced:
They did not correctly action a balance transfer for me which caused me an interest charge on another credit card as it wasn't cleared in time. The interest charge was about £65 or so. I used their secure message service to complain. They telephoned me the next morning and immediately apologised, admitted error, paid me the £65 to my account along with £250 to apologise for their error. I didn't even have to argue or negotiate. I fully expected the bank to aplogise and give me a token amount that wouldn't even cover the interest charge.
Every time I telephone, I get through to a real human within a few rings. That operative is based in the UK and has the authority to action all of my accounts. There is no need to keep being transferred around departments. I have never needed to escalate anything to a supervisor as the operative seems to always have the authority to deviate script (if there is one?) and negotiate.
Their online secure message system is excellent. I usually have a reply within about 3-4 hours.
I did try moving to Santander a few months ago. But even as a potential customer, their service was dire. They lost my application (even though it was done online?), did not keep me informed, their telephone service was awful and just advised me to email them. The branch staff did not seem to be able to deal with accounts opened online and wanted me to go through the whole application process again. I vowed never to bank with Santander after that experience.
Ok sounds like a may go for them but gone are the days of when i was phoning bank of scotland to re-arrange overdrafts and cancel direct debits etc when I was a broke student occuring fees left right and centre... that's why i always have a bitter taste with them and have been looking to bank with another bank for some time
What current account benefits do they offer I see they are offering something like 4.7% life time mortgages.
Im getting next to nothing on my Bank of scotland instant access savings accounts so hopefully their interest rates are better
What current account benefits do they offer I see they are offering something like 4.7% life time mortgages.
Im getting next to nothing on my Bank of scotland instant access savings accounts so hopefully their interest rates are better
Bushman1 said:
Im getting next to nothing on my Bank of scotland instant access savings accounts so hopefully their interest rates are better
FDs instant access rates are dire; a trade off for the service! I have Regular Savers that earn 6/8% but no good for lump sums or more than £300/month each.S798 said:
Amazing customer service.
That's about it. I've banked with them since 2009; parents since they first started.
Examples I've experienced:
They did not correctly action a balance transfer for me which caused me an interest charge on another credit card as it wasn't cleared in time. The interest charge was about £65 or so. I used their secure message service to complain. They telephoned me the next morning and immediately apologised, admitted error, paid me the £65 to my account along with £250 to apologise for their error. I didn't even have to argue or negotiate. I fully expected the bank to aplogise and give me a token amount that wouldn't even cover the interest charge.
Every time I telephone, I get through to a real human within a few rings. That operative is based in the UK and has the authority to action all of my accounts. There is no need to keep being transferred around departments. I have never needed to escalate anything to a supervisor as the operative seems to always have the authority to deviate script (if there is one?) and negotiate.
Their online secure message system is excellent. I usually have a reply within about 3-4 hours.
I did try moving to Santander a few months ago. But even as a potential customer, their service was dire. They lost my application (even though it was done online?), did not keep me informed, their telephone service was awful and just advised me to email them. The branch staff did not seem to be able to deal with accounts opened online and wanted me to go through the whole application process again. I vowed never to bank with Santander after that experience.
So they're second to none when it comes to customer service. Can I ask why were you thinking of moving?That's about it. I've banked with them since 2009; parents since they first started.
Examples I've experienced:
They did not correctly action a balance transfer for me which caused me an interest charge on another credit card as it wasn't cleared in time. The interest charge was about £65 or so. I used their secure message service to complain. They telephoned me the next morning and immediately apologised, admitted error, paid me the £65 to my account along with £250 to apologise for their error. I didn't even have to argue or negotiate. I fully expected the bank to aplogise and give me a token amount that wouldn't even cover the interest charge.
Every time I telephone, I get through to a real human within a few rings. That operative is based in the UK and has the authority to action all of my accounts. There is no need to keep being transferred around departments. I have never needed to escalate anything to a supervisor as the operative seems to always have the authority to deviate script (if there is one?) and negotiate.
Their online secure message system is excellent. I usually have a reply within about 3-4 hours.
I did try moving to Santander a few months ago. But even as a potential customer, their service was dire. They lost my application (even though it was done online?), did not keep me informed, their telephone service was awful and just advised me to email them. The branch staff did not seem to be able to deal with accounts opened online and wanted me to go through the whole application process again. I vowed never to bank with Santander after that experience.
Countdown said:
I've been with them ever since they started (1994?). The reason is the service they've provided has been faultless. They are quick and easy to contact, very swift at dealing with all queries, it's easy to pay money in, take money out, transfer money electronically. Basically anything i expect from a bank, they do with the minimum of fuss.
You can pay money in at a HSBC branch or you can use any Post Office as well.
p.s. they're also offering £100 to new customers.
So they are everything HSBC are not yet they are the same company?You can pay money in at a HSBC branch or you can use any Post Office as well.
p.s. they're also offering £100 to new customers.
Bushman1 said:
What current account benefits do they offer I see they are offering something like 4.7% life time mortgages.
Firstly I am with them for their excellent customer service too.Real humans with brains who can do stuff.
It's astonishing that most banks fail at this somewhat low hurdle!
Out of interest though - why would their mortgage offer matter to you?
Mortgage offers change daily with the best available for your circumstances probably being a different bank each week depending on who is offering what.
I don't think that day's mortgage offer should bear any relevance to your choice of current account provider.
SHOP AROUND FOR MORTGAGES - THEY COST A CRAP LOAD MORE THAN A CURRENT ACCOUNT!!
That said - FD happened to offer the best mortgage for me and their offset feature is AWESOME!
Podie said:
BoRED S2upid said:
So they are everything HSBC are not yet they are the same company?
Correct. Bizarre, isn't it.Yet you can pay it into your FD account and then withdraw the same amount in notes. Crazy.
FD for banking yes. I've called them @ 2:30am before and they answered!
Sir Bagalot said:
FD for banking yes. I've called them @ 2:30am before and they answered!
I called them once at gone midnight on NYE while walking between two bars. They not only answered but performed an instant transfer of a few quid from my savings account so that I could withdraw it from a cash machine along the way and buy a round at the next bar. All done in under 5 minutes 
As well as the £100 to new customers, they also offer a referral scheme, whereby someone referring a new customer to them gets I think £50. You just need one of their postcards. I'm sure a good mate on here can do you a deal, or failing that, me 
The online security element is also currently excellent (no stupid calculator device) although it's due to get slightly worse - but still not as bad as HSBC and others.
The online security element is also currently excellent (no stupid calculator device) although it's due to get slightly worse - but still not as bad as HSBC and others.
trashbat said:
Podie said:
Sadly you're right - this will change during the year.
I believe a phone app is one option.
It is, and works well. I say it's better than HSBC etc on the basis that even without this, you will still be able to log in AFAIK, just not do things like make new payments.I believe a phone app is one option.
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