first direct current account reviews | Watch This Item.

Average Ratings
Ease of use8.2/10 Based on 16 ratings
Customer Service7.9/10 Based on 16 ratings
Overall rating7.6/10
79% Recommended15 out of 19 Reviews
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19- First Direct Current Account Reviews

  • Full review by
    Saunders174 Rank: Corporal
    on 6th Apr 2009


    User Rating : 5
    Respect : 0

    Good Points: Call Centre contact is generally good

    Bad Points: Any service outside of the current account is poor

    General comments: After 18 years I am closing my account with First Direct. Expect for a few errors over the years, the call centre is fine. The problem initially lay with the Foreign Department. Due to an error, I received two deliveries of Euros instead of the one that I had ordered. The people in the Foreign Department were both curt and poor. Promised phone calls never happened and I was actually accused of not returning one of the sets of Euros when I had already been credited with the money. This was untrue but the gentleman I spoke to did not seem all that concerned about accuracy. I used the email complaint facility on their website but this was never received!! I then wrote a letter to the CEO of First Direct. My complaint was answered by one of the other directors who dismissed everything I had written. I was surprised to find that First Direct do not make mistakes and it is the customer that is always wrong. I was expecting a reply that said we are sorry you are not happy with your experiences and was shocked by hid aggressive response. So I felt I was not wanted.
    Saunders174's review and ratings     | 213 words

  • Review by
    SusanH67 Rank: Sergeant
    on 1st Apr 2009


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I have been with First Direct for over 15 years and, unusually for me, I have no complaints. Customer service is excellent, and their charges are reasonable. I use internet banking mostly now, but it's nice to know that I have the back-up of the call center if needed. In all my 15 years the bank have made one error - they apologised at once and it was sorted out immediately with no fuss.
    SusanH67's full review     | 86 words

  • Review by
    kingofreviews Rank: Staff Sergeant
    on 1st Apr 2009


    User Rating : 8
    Respect : 0

    It's hard to feel passionate about a Bank, particularly now, and generally extreme emotion is reserved for the negative side of things, but so far (6 months) I have only got good things to say about First Direct's current account. Switched from Intelligent Finance and believe me the service is significantly better.And I love their account aggregation service that with a single log on allows me to see balances for all accounts I hold, even if they aren't with HSBC/FD
    kingofreviews's full review     | 100 words

  • Review by
    speakout Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
    on 26th Feb 2009


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I have been banking with First Direct for over 10 years and was intiially drawn to them because of the 'no branch' philosphy. I was impressed with the service then because In my experience someone was always at the other end of the phone if needed and the call centre staff were polite and knowledgeable. 10 years on, I can honestly say that I am as impressed now as I was then and that is why I'm still with them. I don't use the call centre as I did back then as online banking has come on leaps an ...
    speakout's full review     | 115 words

  • Review by
    gmck
    on 1st Jun 2008


    User Rating : 6
    Respect : 0

    Been with First Direct for a number of years, sadly their attitude has declined, never anyone available for specialist advice (eg mortgages) and promised call backs never materialise. O% interest on current accounts, long delays in answering calls and generally a bad attitude.
    gmck's full review     | 43 words

  • Review by
    tricianorton1 Rank: Sergeant
    on 23rd Mar 2008


    User Rating : 7
    Respect : 0

    We are very impressed with FIrst Direct Bank. They sorted out transfer very efficiently and despite a few hicups (which were sorted quickly) we are very happy. Plus they give you £100 to open your account !!!
    tricianorton1's full review     | 56 words

  • Review by
    nt500 Rank: Sergeant
    on 20th Feb 2008


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    Been with First Direct since they first set up and not once have I been let down. They have always delivered a good level of customer service and never have to wait long to speak to someone. They are a pro-active, forward thinking bank and have always been leading the field with new type of accounts and mortgages.Their text message alerts are very useful and being able to use your local HSBC bank for deposits is very useful.
    nt500's full review     | 119 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 11th Feb 2008


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    Been with First Direct for 13 years now and basically all I can say is simple to use and no problems. Thoroughly recommended.
    Guest's full review     | 34 words

  • Review by
    Deneshae Rank: Corporal
    on 24th Dec 2007


    User Rating : 7
    Respect : 0

    I would recommend first direct in a heartbeat!!! I have been with them 2 years and during this time I have successfully claimed back my bank charges, had them pay for a taxi home for me when their systems were down on a weekend and I couldn't get home as well as wire money to another one of my accounts and they covered the cost. They are always ready to go the extra mile - even if it means they have to foot a minimal bill (a £12 Western Union charge or £40 black cab bill!) and wil ...
    Deneshae's full review     | 177 words

  • Review by
    XX Rank: Major
    on 17th Nov 2006


    User Rating : 0
    Respect : 0

    I closed my account 2 days ago. I did not want to be associated with a bank that trail-blazed charging. I remember they were the first bank started to give cash rewards if you switched to bank with them, now First Direct are also the first one to charge customers. Shame! I did not dislike banking with them.
    XX's full review     | 75 words

  • Review by
    Rachybaby1234 Rank: Corporal
    on 5th Sep 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I switched to First Direct after being fed up of not having a branch of NatWest in the country (I live in Northern Ireland) and having to wait five working days for money to be credited through a branch of the Ulsterbank. I saw First Direct's website and thought it sounded an excellent idea. I wasn't wrong - a simple online form and it came back to me the next day through the post, printed with the correct details. I just had to sign and that was it. Days later I received a welcome pack and a ...
    Rachybaby1234's full review     | 275 words

  • Review by
    ajk52
    on 7th Aug 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    You can call First Direct 24 hours a day and you get put straight through to an English speaking person. No ridiculous menus, and no Indian call centres. My debit card was cloned and my identity was used to set up some direct debits with various people, and First Direct were very very helpful. Their fraud department is top notch, and they got my new card out to me in days. They don't have any branches so you can't see anyone in person, but you can do a lot of things at HSBC branches anyway ( ...
    ajk52's full review     | 138 words

  • Review by
    tastyle19
    on 3rd Aug 2006


    User Rating : 0
    Respect : +1

    I switched to a First Direct Current Account two years ago, just after I started a new job. I am very disappointed with the whole experience, and I feel First Direct are confusing and difficult to work with, and frankly rubbish. Just a few of the problems I encountered: 1) First Direct debit cards have the longest number EVER. 18 numbers vs. 12 on most cards. 2) Your account number is inconveniently hidden in the card number (not to be confused with a second card number, also writ ...
    tastyle19's full review     | 549 words | 1 comment added.

  • Review by
    johnrholmes Rank: Lance Corporal
    on 31st Jul 2006


    User Rating : 5
    Respect : +1

    Bad points of bank charges outweigh any good points I can think of.
    johnrholmes's full review     | 39 words

  • Review by
    sallyjb Rank: Corporal
    on 15th Jun 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    First Direct are amazing! You get straight through to the service desk and they can always help you from transferring money abroad to more mundane every day banking matters to the unusual request! I had my purse stolen, and they not only cancelled my bank cards, but they rang my other card companies (unrelated to First Direct) to let them know too! They are amazing as a bank. A great way to bank. Easy painless and a UK based called centre to cap it all off.
    sallyjb's full review     | 88 words

  • Review by
    wayo231 Rank: Corporal
    on 21st May 2006


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    The First Direct Current Account is easy to use when using the internet banking. They ask for an internet password (not case sensitive and different to the telephone password). No need to remember your father's dog's name and if it was capitalised or not. When you ring them it goes directly to a human being in a UK call centre! They are also very friendly. Excellent all round service.
    wayo231's full review     | 80 words

  • Review by
    foxview Rank: Major
    on 5th Dec 2005


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I have been with First Direct for 6 months and found them excellent. The internet banking is very good and easy to understand, and when you telephone them you always get through to a real person.
    foxview's full review     | 48 words

  • Review by
    naw
    on 21st Sep 2004


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +1

    I've had my First Direct Current Account for over 10 years. I have a couple of bank accounts with other banks and my partner and I have merged all our accounts together. Frankly I'm astonished at how awful the other banks call centers are compared to FD. The Halifax (now HBoS) is an incredible example of incompetance. FD can make immediate decisions, they show flexibility and 9/10 times you're speaking to a real person within 3 rings. None of this awful "Call (avoidance) Center" Press 1 for t ...
    naw's full review     | 121 words

  • Review by
    lesleymark Rank: Lance Corporal
    on 28th Jan 2004


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : +3

    I moved to First Direct a few months ago when my previous bank decided to withdraw free overdrafts. So far, I've been very impressed. They handled the transfer of direct debits, standing orders, etc very smoothly. Call Centre staff have been very helpful. So far, I'm delighted!
    lesleymark's full review     | 82 words


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