http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect Comments on 'close my First Direct Bank account on 1st February 2007 unless they reverse their decision to charge customers with a balance below £1500' en-gb team@pledgebank.com 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 2 hourly http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_512850 I couldn't agree more Frank- no complaints at all about FD beyond this ludicrous and unfair charge. I just wish they hadn't done it. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_511229 Already closed it down, mate. No-one at First Direct had a clue as to the conditions. I was told I could avoid charges by having a savings account with £1 in it, then when I phoned back was told, no, there needed to be regular payments into the savings account. After nine years with the bank why should I be penalised for working freelance rather than with a regular salary. A shame, as I'd no other complaints about the bank and there's hardly any of the major banks I could say that about. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_510183 Glad you are making a stand too Jan and that you managed to make a profit into the bargain! Its rediculously short-sighted of FD to impose this silly and unfair charge and lose so many of its core supporters and customers. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_508963 I am in the process of closing my fd account after 12 years because although I also had a savings account in my name, the current account was in joint names and this meant my husband was going to be charged the £10 per month as he doesn't have a second account in his name! On principle we weren't prepared to open a third account just to suit fd. We're moving everything to a high interest earning current account so have ended up with a better deal! http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_498203 Aaron I'm pleased if you aren't going to be charged £10 but that isnt the point for me. I'm not going to be charged anything as I already have a VISA card, cheque account and savings account, but I object to this on principle. The folks who will be charged are those who can't afford to pay and this, in my view, is simply wrong. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_496806 I have spoken to a first direct representative today who has assured me I will not be charged the £10 per/month as I also hold a deposit account. Of course if this is a blatant lie and I am charged the £10 then I will be joining all you guys and dumping the direct. But if what the young lady says is true I would advise all of you to simply open a deposit account. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_468254 Ali Thanks for the tip off on fool.co.uk. I had been wondering who to move my huge piles of cash to- I'd sort of settle on the Cooperative bank but I'll check out the fool site and see if there is another ethical alternative. k http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_467094 HI Kevin Great pledge, and one that has caused me some concern. I do have quite a few accounts with fd. As I've been with them since 1989 and like you received good service, its only recently that I've started to question why I give them such opportunity to play with my money. There are plenty of other good banks, for an objective review of current accounts go to www.fool.co.uk I feel that fd are being money snobs. Only those that earn 28K plus can bank with them. Wouldn't like to be seen associated with that! http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_380751 Dyane Thanks for your comment. The First Direct position is as you set it out but I put a clear link in my pledge to their site so anyone can see their case. My objections in particular are to the lack of consultation and the principle, rather than the detail. This won't effect me (something that First Direct were at pains to point out when I phoned to complain) but I consider this action to be unfair and as this bank uses my money I want them to act ethically and to listen to me and other customers when we feel they have made a decision that we consider to be wrong and unfair. By all means close down dormant bank accounts with zero balance by negotiating with the customer on an individual basis but by imposing such high deposit limits they are, I suspect, cynically driving away "unprofitable" customers. If they continue with this policy I hope that they will see that some of the "profitable" customers will be leaving them too and no longer acting as the informal ambassadors who have promoted their service widely over the last ten years. http://www.pledgebank.com/firstdirect#comment_378410 Your pledge is a tad misleading as were the BBC & other media reports They will be charging account holders who only have a single current account so if you have a deposit/savings account or other card/accoubt with them you will not be charged