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Had my main bank account with First Direct for a while now but they're beginning to annoy me. Their online banking site has never seemed very user-friendly. I'm now on the phone to them because their flaky app insisted I didn't have an internet connection. I cleared its cache and t thought I'd got a new phone and wanted me to activate it again with the old phone. Since I couldn't do that, I had to provide a different set of passwords, which gave me an error telling me to call them.
They used to answer straight away, but now you have to wait 10 mins or so. The activation process is involved and takes about 10 mins with various codes going back and forth.
It's all rather frustrating. But is this par for the course now with online banking security. I am just inviting more hassle by switching or are their better banks out there?
I've been with FD for 10 years +. I can't fault them at all. Always get through to an operator when I need to and although there is always more security being added, I assume this is the same with all bank apps.
My finger print takes me straight to my app.
Same as suthy, been with them pretty much since they started and have always been very happy with them. Never had an issue with call pickup time and the android app works fine on my phone.
I agree there app is very flaky but just been updated for Touch ID and I can now get in every time. We have switched to Natwest because you can get cash back in your utility bills. Bit of free money for doing nothing. What a massive difference when you try and phone. Natwest are awful and you are in a queue for at least 10 minutes every time. Makes you realise how good the FD phone service is.
Very happy FD customer here too although I admit that I rarely use the phone app. I just use the desktop website from my PC. I guess I am a dinosaur 🙂
Was having a major issue with call pickup time, but they seem to have sorted themselves out recently.
Compared to BT, they are god-like in their efficiency. Then again, compared to BT, the government is god-like in its efficiency.
I've also been with First Direct almost since they started. I rarely need to use the app and haven't done so since all the new security systems came on line. I also haven't needed to phone them recently (two years or more I guess), however I've heard lots of muttering so online about how long they now take to answer calls (used to be within two or three rings), but now can be over ten minutes. I imagine I'll find out the next time I need to call them!
Probably still one of the better banks though? I moved to them in 2008 when nationwide introduced some stupid card reader. It took me 15 minutes to pay a gas bill that previously took seconds. I took great pleasure in smashing it with a hammer & moved the next day. Eventually FD also complicated their banking app. I still use the app daily, its ok for what I need.
I think all banking apps are a bit of a pain these days compared to how easy they used to be.
Been with them for about 15 yrs. no complaints other than i get no benefits from them, but then again it is free banking so shouldn't really complain. The app seems fine to me. A bit immersive due to security but better that than having an insecure system. Happy to be inconvenienced for the sake of security.
I spent ages trying to move my mortgage to them. Was the most frustrating and infuriating 8 weeks of wasted time phoning emailing using there flakey site to send documents. Changing what proofs they wanted 3 weeks after receiving them saying we would never have not asked for those. Fwd them the email that said expicitly they were not needed. Them only recieving partial copies or putting them in the wrong folder god knows what eventualy posting the lot for them to request more because its taken too long and ended with me requesting send everything back and cancel the lot never ring or email me again.
Used to work there.
Basically behind the scenes HSBC are slowly dismantling everything which was great about fd and merging it into HSBC with a different front end. If that's a good/bad thing that's up to you.
Have a look at Atombank
Not fully up and running yet, but a few faces you may recognise..........
Been with them for getting on for twenty years, and the telephone service has certainly deteriorated in the last year - what Chew has written might explain it. Had a similar issue to parkesie with documentation recently and it did take the shine off the usual good service. Will have a look at atombank - thanks for the tip!
I still use their Internet Banking Plus site - you can save lots of bank's details and use one password to log in to them all. Really useful.
As for FirstDirect I dumped them years ago cos they annoyed me, can't remember why.
Really happy with Lloyds online banking. Good phone app, and one of the few banks left you don't need a stupid security device to use. And... Lloyds have branches you can go in and talk to people.