First Direct > Reviews > Execellent cust services now my account is opened

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	they repond quickly,execellent customer services, always keeping you informed
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

When you open a current account with a bank it is obviously subject to status and meeting there terms and conditions.
I am currently with HSBC and I have had no problems with them and have been banking with them for 6 years now.

I am looking to change banks as a friend of mine banks with First Direct and he has been with them for about 7 years and he said that they are excellent and told me about all the benefits of banking with them and the other reason I am wanting to open an account with them is that if he introduces me to them then he and I will receive £25.00 each. Free money just for opening an account with them.

I have heard that first direct have 24 hour, 365 days a year customer services so you can always get hold of them which is great. Although HSBC is open until 10pm sometimes I need to speak to an advisor after this time or on a Sunday and they are not open.

Anyway so far so good. I received the e-mail from them saying that my friend wants to introduce me to them, I replied to the link requesting information. I received this a couple of days later, with an application form for a current account and credit card. Filled in the current account form and returned it. Had a letter requesting me to send in two forms of address proof one had to be a bank statement and the other a utility bill, but it had to be the original. Unfortunately I had a problem here because I pay rent inclusive of bills and the only bill I receive is a BT bill but the last bill I received from them was a copy bill as they sent it to the wrong address.

Called them up and spoke to an advisor and told them the problem and asked if it is ok for me just to send in my bank statement and explained that it is an HSBC account that I have at the moment and he said that was fine. Sent in my bank statement.

Received a letter about a week later asking me to contact them so I did straight away.

Spoke to an advisor who was very nice and helpful, asked for my details and said how can I help. Explained that I had received a letter asking me to contact them and she said ok let me just have a quick look at your records.
Ok, she said the reason they have tried to contact me is to confirm that where I live I receive my mail through a private letterbox and foolish me said no. Coos I live in shared accommodation and we all share the same mail box they said to me that they are unable to open the account for me as this is one of their terms and conditions, that you have to have your own private mail box. I was like that is ridiculous and that I had not had any problems opening accounts with other companies. She said sorry but that is one of our terms and conditions and I begged and begged her. So she put me on hold and spoke to her manager then came back and said, 'Ok if you put it to us in writing that you accept responsibility for fraud on your account by any person you live with up to the value of £2500 then we will accept this’. So I have done just that, but do wish I had now said that I own my own mailbox. Never mind anyway my friend and me still will get our free money.
So just a word of warning and this may go for other companies too. If you want to open an account and they ask you this question say yes or you will have to accept the responsibility of fraud from people you live with.
The reason I have accepted this is that it is very unlikely to happen, although it can. I have not had any problems so far in receiving my mail and cards and no fraud has happen with any of my accounts.
I will re write an opinion on them as a bank once I have used them for a bit.

Well so far so good. I sent them a letter confirming that I will be responsible for certain frauds on my account last friday.

They wrote to me to confirm that this has been received and they would now process opening the account for me. A week later I receive a letter confirming my account is now opened and to call them to set up security on the account. I am off to a good start with them as they have kept me informed all the way as to what was happening and they even bended the rules slightly, although I had to comit myself to say that I will be responsible should anyone in my flat get hold of my details for fraud on the account to open an account for me.
Called them up tonight and got my security set up on my account. I was also offered internet and mobile banking over the phone. Now internet I have but I am impressed they will also text me my satement and balance on a daily basis so I registered for that aswell and as my friend recomended me we will both receive £25.00 each in our accounts which is great, as normally when you recomend a friend to a company they only pay the person who recomended them to the company and not both of you.
I have never been with a company before who keep you informed all the way of what is happening, nor have I been so impressed with a speedy service that they have offered me and by bending the rules slightly.
You also automatically get offer a £250 over draft limit, fee free but unfortunately not interest free, that would be good but banks have to make money out of you some how I guess to keep their business going.