Sick to death of First Direct

[Steven W]

Just had a bit of aggro with my bank, First Direct.

I can understand why they need to be careful due to fraud, but I can keep an eye on my own account.

I went for a meal tonight with my girlfriend and brought no cash with me, just switch and credit card. Both were declined.

I then had to drive to my father's house 20 mins away and leave my girlfriend in the restaurant to borrow some money.

I've just phoned First Direct to find out what's going on and they had stopped my card due to a transaction made in Ireland last week and a £100 internet transaction to Tesco.

When I went to Sweden last year they did exactly the same and stopped my card, meaning I could get no cash out. In the past three years I've had my card queried a number of times, mainly due to internet transactions.

I'm not normally an angry person, but I've had a right go at the poor customer services person because it's getting beyond a joke.

They told me that I should tell them of my itinerary before I go anyway. Crap, so I'm not allowed to leave the country or buy things on the internet without the bank double checking on it.

I use internet banking every day to check my account and I'm capable of checking for fraud on my own. The fact that I've made a 30 euro transaction in Ireland shouldn't warrant them stopping my cards.

They are forcing me to tell them my itinerary in the future just in case they stop them again and I'm stuck without my OWN cash.

I'm seriously considering doing what they used to do and withdrawing my cash and keeping it underneath the floorboards.

I'm sick of being snooped on.

I can look after my own money without these interfering idiots.

Security? Fraud? Or the New World Order kicking in? Leave me alone! They weren't phoning me up when they were robbing me with a £30 charge for being overdrawn for 2 days.

[arthurleung]

I feel that they are doing the right thing because typical user won't so "odd" transactions like that.

If they are giving you the benefit of protecting against fraudulent transaction, they have the right to stop your transaction as a pre-caution.

I suppose it is better for the bank (and for the world) to block a potentially fraud transaction rather than letting it happen, and encourage the bad guys to keep going

They went a bit overboard for stopping BOTH your switch and credit card though.

I'm tempted to go deep into my overdraft for deficit banking, but I always keep a fair bit of margin not to get gutted for unauthorized overdraft. Although I'm not in a position to comment on other peoples' financial situation.

The only thing you could do is aimply to apply to another bank just for a backup credit card, or bring extra cash Doesn't mean you have to use it, but its better than pissing off your girlfriend (and yourself)

[Steve B]

i thought first direct was online only, and they didn't do cards, that was HSBC?

[Steven W]

Originally Posted by Steve B

i thought first direct was online only, and they didn't do cards, that was HSBC?

Nah, they are something to do with HSBC, but are a bank in their own right. Pretty easy to get through to them and it's 24 hour banking, but their charges are outrageous and they're a pain in the arse for phoning you.

[Steven W]

Originally Posted by arthurleung

The only thing you could do is aimply to apply to another bank just for a backup credit card, or bring extra cash Doesn't mean you have to use it, but its better than pissing off your girlfriend (and yourself)

9 times out of 10 that is always the case, but we were in such a rush I didn't have a chance to pop to the cash point and it would have declined anyway. I've learnt my lesson with credit cards now, only one and only for emergences.

[DR]

You should, to be fair with abnormal use keep them up to date.

It has happened to me in the past and I felt the same as you - but as soon as someone went on a spending spree on my card - I was grateful that HSBC did this

I find Firstdirect are up/down - i.e good and bad depends the way the wind is going

[SiM]

Its good to carry a back up card with another bank...

[siu99spj]

You should see the fun I cause my bank. I have to travel the world, frequently on short notice (24 hrs notice before moving to Korea for 18 months?) and my card spending usually follows me. I don't have time to tell the bank the next place I'm disappearing to.

After having a big moan the LAST time the bank annoyed me (HSBC) they now seem to accept that my spending will go to all the wonderfully weird parts of the world and I will let them know as soon as I see any abnormal spending. So far, thankfully, I've had nothing to worry about. I just hope they're as beneficial if somebody does start spending strangely.