First Direct Current Account Reviews

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First Direct Current Account
3.7 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.7 out of 5

From 0 ratings and 21 reviews

Thumb up 76% of users recommend this product

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LenderAccountDescriptionInterestAEROverdraft  
Overdraft RateOverdraft Limit
Alliance & LeicesterPremier Direct AccountEarn a great rate of 6% AER (fixed for one year) on balances up to £2,500.Monthly6.00%0.00%£2,000.00
Alliance & LeicesterPremier CurrentEnjoy benefits such as, free annual European travel insurance plus receive a share of £50 when you recommend a friend.Monthly0.50%0.00%£2,000.00
NatwestNatwest Advantage Gold AccountEnjoy benefits worth up to £704 for just £12.95 a month. Including Mobile phone cover, Travel Insurance and even tailored rates on other Natwest products.Monthly0.25%18.49%n/a

Average Ratings for First Direct Current Account

  • Ease of use4 stars
  • Customer Service3.6 stars
  • Overall rating3.7 stars

21 Reviews For First Direct Current Account

  • Guest 16th Nov 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Good:
    - extremely responsive both by telephone & internet; haven't dropped the ball yet in the >10 years I've been with them.
    - UK call centre with operatives who have the authority to make decisions on the spot rather than start the call centre pass the parcel game. Only been transferred twice and both times got an answer from the person I was transferred to.
    - pretty intuitive internet banking website (& I'm not the most patient of people)

    Bad: account monthly charging policy (fortunately this hasn't caught me)

    First account with FirstDirect was opened in 1991. Had the unusual (& never repeated since) customer experience of getting a >11k car loan from cold in about 10 minutes by phone from Dubai in 1992 from cold, by the original person who answered my call, with no faffing around!

    Was forced to leave them in 1995 by NatWorst (as a condition of their MBA loan to me)

    Been back with FirstDirect since 2003 as soon as I paid my loan off and haven't had any regrets since.

    Have also recommended them to 2 friends who have been with them since 2004 and they're also (thankfully) very happy with them.

  • Guest 15th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 1 stars


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    I had a complaint about overdraft charges. When First Direct customer services couldn't help I emailed the CEO. They sent me a letter the next week cancelling my credit card and closing my account. I used to think they were really good but I've had problems on and off for more than a year. Their customer service staff were really rude. Couldn't recommend them.

  • Saunders174 Rank: Sergeant 6th Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 2.5 stars


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    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 ...

  • SusanH67 Rank: Sergeant 1st Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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.

  • kingofreviews Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel 1st Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    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

  • speakout Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel 26th Feb 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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 ...

  • gmck 1st Jun 2008

    Reviewer rating: 3 stars


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    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.

  • tricianorton1 Rank: Sergeant 23rd Mar 2008

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    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 !!!

  • nt500 Rank: Sergeant 20th Feb 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    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.

  • Guest 11th Feb 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Been with First Direct for 13 years now and basically all I can say is simple to use and no problems. Thoroughly recommended.

  • Deneshae Rank: Corporal 24th Dec 2007

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    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 ...

  • XX Rank: Major 17th Nov 2006

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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.

  • Rachybaby1234 Rank: Corporal 5th Sep 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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 ...

  • ajk52 7th Aug 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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 ( ...

  • tastyle19 3rd Aug 2006

    Reviewer rating: 0 stars


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    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 ...

  • johnrholmes Rank: Lance Corporal 31st Jul 2006

    Reviewer rating: 2.5 stars


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    Bad points of bank charges outweigh any good points I can think of.

  • sallyjb Rank: Corporal 15th Jun 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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.

  • wayo231 Rank: Corporal 21st May 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    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.

  • foxview Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel 5th Dec 2005

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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.

  • naw 21st Sep 2004

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    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 ...