First direct vs. Natwest

[illmonkey]

I'm looking to sort out my accounts, so I have a set account for all my bills (shared with my partner) then an account for spending (again, shared with my partner).

Currently I have Natwest advantage gold for both the above, but I get tired of forgetting about bills and over spending etc.

A few questions:

Is the First directory better that Natwest Ad Gold? They seems comparable, but in terms of cover and claiming.

I've read loads on PH that FD is generally the best out there, so I suppose it may well be worth setting up 2 and porting everything over? Is this as simple as they make out?

[northandy]

I'm a fd customer, I switched from nat west about 13 years ago.

IMO they are very good, brilliant customer service and genuinely helpful. When I switched it worked a treat. They were doing an offer where if you opened and transferred your salary payment etc they give you £100

I have the first directory, to be honesti took it for the travel insurance, and the other benefits seem pretty good.

[LotusMartin]

We looked into First Directory and decided it wasn't worth £130-140 a year.

Breakdown cover - UK only and no Homestart
Mobile Phone insurance - probably on your house insurance already?
Travel Insurance - not enough cover for us
Commission free currency - First Direct have pretty awful exchange rates so I avoid paying on their cards and travel with cash
Identity theft - probably not worth doing - http://www.moneyweek.com/personal-finance/why-you-...

I'm an avid FD customer and have about 7 accounts with them - overall they are awesome, but this is not one of their service that was value for money for me.

[illmonkey]

I've gone and opened a FD account, and will compare the services for the additional fee.

I mainly pay for advantage gold for the phone cover alone, we've both got iPhone4s, so want cover. If we claim on the household insurance, it raises the premiums, but not on this.

[LotusMartin]

Check the smallprint of the phone insurance. When I looked into it a few years ago it excluded 'smartphones'. That would be pretty damn stupid now given almost all phones are considered smartphones - but definitely worth asking the question!

[illmonkey]

LotusMartin said:

Check the smallprint of the phone insurance. When I looked into it a few years ago it excluded 'smartphones'. That would be pretty damn stupid now given almost all phones are considered smartphones - but definitely worth asking the question!

I have done on the Natwest one, I will do when I compare with the FD one.

As you say, most are smart phones. I bet they get alot of unhappy customers with that one!

[Zarkingfardwarks]

been FD for around 15+ years and would wholeheartedly recommend them. Couldn't really see the benefit of the First Directory though - and AFAIK the phone insurance is for smartphones (mentions a Blackberry in their details) but has a limit of £300 for a claim)

[chichee]

LotusMartin said:

Check the smallprint of the phone insurance. When I looked into it a few years ago it excluded 'smartphones'. That would be pretty damn stupid now given almost all phones are considered smartphones - but definitely worth asking the question!

I have an Advantage Gold Account and have claimed for my iPhone 4 on the insurance. I can't remember, however, whether there is a limit on the number of claims though.