How interesting. That specifically mentions cash withdrawals, and the other post above alludes to removing FX fee’s. Be interesting to see if that’s what they do. I’m not aware of any legacy bank who’s free account has that benefit (excluding Global Money as that’s it’s own thing)
I don’t see why anyone would want a delay in opening an account. They aren’t trying to compete for the fintech crowd (although they had a 6 month period I think where that was going to be the goal) but there’s no excuse in 2023 for the length of time in my eyes, even Halifax can open one in an instant using the app.
As mentioned above they just seem unwilling
Well they wouldn’t but that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. It’s a huge generalisation with no data to support it but my theory is that the majority of FD are loyal, have been with them for a long time, and even if they would want it sooner, will “put up” with the time taken.
Some of this is HSBC, some of it is that they don’t really need to do these things. It’s clear now that HSBC would rather just have the customers who want “FinTech” so they have started to prioritise that side over FD, and leave FD for the “chat and a bank” side of things.
Which in many ways is a shame. I much prefer the UI of FD, but (and I’m going back on my own words here) it’s too limited. I’ve come to really like balance after bills and the budgeting/notifications are things I now activity use in HSBC.
Hopefully at some stage “modernisation” will come, but I very much doubt it.
Has anyone received a new debit card from first direct recently?
I recently had a new debit card from them, however weirdly I can’t seem to sign the signature strip. Sounds very strange I know, but they seem to have changed the material of the debit cards and for some reason, the ink would just not stay on there. I realise this sounds like I am using the wrong type of pen or am a complete idiot, but after all the different cards I’ve signed over the years I am confident I’m not just having a funny moment. 
I phoned FD and was told to “scrape the glue off of it” where it was attached to the paper, leave it for 20 minutes and then try again. 
I then went onto Live chat and they said they couldn’t help on there and I had to phone. I phoned the number they gave me, it wasn’t the usual 03456 100 100 and was then told by the advisor that she had to transfer me to the “Mastercard team” and she wouldn’t hold on the line with me. I was on hold for 6 minutes, then the same advisor came back to me and said that she would just replace the card. A minute later she says actually she can’t replace the card and would need to transfer me to another advisor that could. Finally got through to someone in the Scotland call centre that could help and she replaced the card immediately.
Not quite the service I’m used to at First Direct!
I guess I could have just gone onto the app and reported it as damaged, but I kinda wanted to let them know incase there was a faulty batch that had been sent out. The expiry date header also was in the wrong place, but I have been told that is normal! 
People still do that? I haven’t signed my card in about 10 years.
Interesting. Normally live chat are super helpful but sounds like this is out of their remit because
This will be the HSBC side of things. Presumably they have a central team that deal with the Mastercard side of things. Which would make sense sort of only most HSBC cards are VISA with the exception of some premier credits.
Interesting experience, FD have reliably been known for good CS but I don’t think it’s quite what it used to be. It was never as good as I remembered ( from circa 2018) when I used them briefly last year.
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Thought exactly the same thing.
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Haha I’m obviously old school still signing it. Though now I’m questioning why I am worrying!
It was just a very bizarre experience all round.
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I sign all my cards too. Always have and always will, unless they do away with the signature strip.
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Those that haven’t done away with the strip have been busily changing the material to make impossible to sign.
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Really no need with MasterCards.
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Yes, I had this exact issue in January and phoned for a replacement. It was as if the glue hadn’t set so just smeared all over the signature strip. You’re not going mad, based on this anyway 
.
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Tried to sign the strip on a Halifax Clarity CC and the strip was tiny. I was advised the only way round it was to go into a branch and they’d arrange for a facsimile to transfer onto the strip. Too much faff so I managed to reduce my signature though it shouldn’t be that difficult. Whilst I agree there’s probably no need to sign a card, in the US they have some weird system of signing on a screen with an electronic pen. This was a few years back so it may have changed now.
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I sign mine as matter of habit, but agree, since the days of the zip-zap machine, I have not had to sign any receipt for comparison purposes 
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God that brings back painful memories from working in retail back in the day
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I’m actually quite relieved you said this and had the same issue!
When I was trying to explain it to the customer service rep I was convinced they must be thinking I’m a complete fruit loop! I think it was the long silence they gave that didn’t help either.
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This may have already been covered, but is FD flip-flopping in its identity?
It’s Instagram content more or less consistently refers to “First Direct Bank”, with the website and other areas using “First Direct”.
Or is this just another FD special?
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Yes I think they are and have been for some time.
It’s looking like the “fingerprint” part of the logo is being dropped. Though there are still discrepancies like the one you’ve seen - e.g. First Direct Bank vs First Direct.
My online FD credit card statements show a different logo/font altogether.
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FD is very consistent in winding customers up stating they’ll be providing notifications shortly and then not providing it. It’s called Jam Tomorrow.
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First direct’s online bonus saver is now paying a max of 4% interest on up to £50K. Now matches the HSBC equivalent.
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