First Direct - I will be the first to direct you away.

Advantages: See text.
Disadvantages: See text.

...I would just like to write a review on First Direct, an internet banking organisation that I opened an account with some years ago (although this account is now actually in fact closed for reasons which I shall tell you about a little later on in my review). First Direct as already noted is an internet banking firm, which is wholly owned by the high street bank known only as HSBC. They offer all of the different services that a normal high street bank offers, and you can take care of your account online (although you can still use your local or any branch in fact of HSBC in order to conduct your affairs). By way of different services, I mean of course all of the different accounts that you can (current; savings, etc); the various ISA's etc that all of the banks have; insurances; loans and mortgages, to name but pretty much all...

dynamicnurse 18.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of First Direct

First Direct - Banking Heaven

Advantages: Excellent customer service
Disadvantages: Low interest rate

...back to me as soon as possible with the answer to my request. Sure enough they rang back to say that was fine...They even rang my workplace because they could not get me at home.... **Features of Banking with First Direct** **Incentive** First Direct offer a financial incentive to first time customers. At the moment, if you switch your bank account to them, they will give you £100. You will need to credit your account with £1500 per month within the first three months to get the incentive. So confident are First Direct that you will be absolutley delighted with their services and products that they also offer a further £100 by way of a 'Satisfaction Guarantee'! If, within 12 months you are not happy with First Direct and you have paid in at least £1,500 a month for six months they will give you a further £100...

Krazikas 14.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of First Direct

First Direct Offset Mortgage

Advantages: First Direct - great offset mortgage
Disadvantages: Too easy to access the equity in your home!

...The first thing that attracted me to a First Direct (a division of HSBC Bank plc) offset lifetime tracker mortgage was that it was listed at the top of the 'best buy' tables on moneysupermarket.com. A quick search revealed that it had also been voted the best lender for customer service in the Which? Money survey on mortgages 2008. This was the second year running that First Direct had come out on top. With a score of 90% first direct was 11% ahead of its nearest rival in the survey of 18 lenders. First Directs mortgages have won numerous awards over the years, the most recent being What Mortgage Magazine's winner of Best Direct Lender over 5 Years (February 2007). In January 2009 their offset mortgage was one of the lowest rates on the market. Although I was not actually looking to remortgage at this stage because I still had nine...

Krazikas 28.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of First Direct Mortgages

Excellent service - can't fault First Direct!

Advantages: Easy to set up, easy to repay by DD
Disadvantages: None for me

...I have been a customer of First Direct bank ever since they started and I honestly cannot fault them. Incidentally they came top in the survey done by Watchdog so I'm obviously not the only one who thinks so! When we decided to buy our cottage last year we thought that we would be able to sell our house quite easily. Sadly this wasn't the case and because of the credit crunch we still own both properties although we have got tenants in the house now which does help a bit with the finances. When we came to pay the deposit on the cottage we had to raise the 15% deposit that we needed without having the income from the sale of the house that we had been expecting. To top up the money that we had already saved we needed a loan of £14,000 and we began doing some research to find the best deal. We were quoted various ridiculous...

SusanLesley 17.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of First Direct Loans

Nationwide vs EGG vs First Direct

Advantages: ease and flexibility of use, 24hr access
Disadvantages: various - read individual opinions on each bank, can expect delay in applying

...Intro:~ This is an opinion on comparison of three internet banking companies - and is not restricted to First Direct only. At present there is no sub-category for comparing Internet banking so it is placed here) -if you wish to read specifically about First Direct-please refer to my other opinion - "First Direct - the Ultimate First Class service" which can be found under: Finance & Services > Banking & Personal Finance > Customer/General Service > Internet Banks > First Direct . So you’ve all heard of the latest benefits and disadvantages of internet banking, so whats it “really" like… Here’s the low down …… Having applied online and used all 3 of these recently, here is my verdict 1st prize goes to FIRST DIRECT...

Connoisseur_Haggler 13.10.2000 (18.01.2001) · Read review
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Review of First Direct

First Direct

Advantages: ease of access to information
Disadvantages: sometimes (but not that often) you have to wait for the phone to be answered

...I have banked with First Direct for years now, and they have always been as good as they possily could be. When I went through a messy seperation from my ex partner, having an overdrawn joint account was only a minor problem to them and they were more than helpful in making sure that my banking arrangements were satisfactory for me. From those days of having just one current account, I have now progressed to having a sole account, a joint account, a savings account, an ISA,a second curent account, and my partner has changed to First Direct now for his current account and an ISA as well. Having access to a banking representative 24 hours a day is very helpful as I can?t get into town to visit the bank very often, and as I get paid by cheque, it is really easy to pay it into my account by post. It is just simplicity to ring up and get...

DeborahB 10.10.2000 · Read review
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Review of First Direct

First class Direct banking

Advantages: Simple and secure
Disadvantages: none

...I'm not going to go into the contract agreement or any of the small print here, you can get all the details from First Direct themselves. This opinion is to inform you all of my experience with this bank, the pro's and con's. You can then make your own mind up as to whether you want to open an account with them or not. I wanted a bank account that was a little different from the rest. First Direct's interest rates were very competitive when I opened my current account with them about 4 years ago. Since then I have been very impressed with their services, security and personal customer care - What customer care I hear you ask, this isn't a real bank - When you have a problem they will sort it out in person either over the phone or via messages through their internet service. I log into my account via their internet service with my...

Timski 03.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of First Direct

The First Nearly Perfect Bank??

Advantages: 24/7 Helpful Customer Service, text message banking, online banking
Disadvantages: Charge high fees for unauthorised items, no branches

...definitely urge you to consider them. With your current account you receive the usual cheque book and paying in slips as well as a Switch debit card with the facility to with draw £500 per day! More than a lot of banks offer! You are able to use this card nearly everywhere and can use it on all cash machines without charge from First Direct. The same card can also be used as a guarantee card for cheques and it will guarantee them for up to £100. Every one that opens an account gets access to internet banking and telephone banking both of which can be used 24/7 and even better is that you can call them at 2am and you will get someone answer the phone. In fact I actually called them last Sunday night as I had forgotten my online access ID number and how good it was to get an answer within about 3 rings from a human being at 9pm on a Sunday...

Andy0304 07.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of First Direct

  The Ultimate FIRST CLASS service

Advantages: Excellent first class service, fast response, high security, can bank via PC, internet, mobile phone & telephone 24 hours a day
Disadvantages: none really (interest rates for internet could be higher..though they aren’t bad)

...have always paid it accurately and on time! Overall, I can say First Direct’s internet banking facility offers a first class service allowing the customer maximum control by access via the internet and telephone banking 365 days of the year and 24 hours a day. It is a bank that comes highly recommended by its Customers, and one for which I can highly award a 5-star rating. For details: www.firstdirect.com or Tel. 08 456 100 100 -The Ultimate control with First class banking – connoisseurhaggler© ciao 2002...

Connoisseur_Haggler 24.02.2002 (27.02.2002) · Read review
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Review of First Direct

It's good to come first

Advantages: speak to a real person
Disadvantages: charges on overdraft

...the average balance of the account the net gain from a higher rate would be negligible. The overdraft rate is also slightly on the high side with a rate of 10.48% p.a. on an agreed overdraft and a whopping 18.47% p.a. on an unauthorized overdraft. For a full list of charges on the account check out the website. As well as being able to set up direct debits and standing orders you can also set up a bill payment facility however existing bill payments are not transferred as part of the transfer process. The debit card doubles up as a cheque guarantee card up to the value of £100 and is a chip and pin card using either the Maestro or cirrus system depending on location. No charges are made by First Direct for withdrawals from most cash machines however be aware that some machines, typically those found in pubs and clubs will charge you...

atticusuk 13.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of First Direct