Banking/Changing Of Accounts

[TheDvEight]

Hi all,

I'm after a change of bank purely because of what some of them are offering! see: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts


I'm hoping/looking to changing from Lloyds Bank (aka Lloyds TSB) to First Direct as it has a nice little perk of giving £125 to new customers, this is done by the doing the following:

"You must transfer a salary of at least £1,000 a month and switch your direct debits and standing orders (at least two) using First Direct's dedicated switching service. If you do this within three months, the £125 will be added to your account within 28 days of the criteria being met.

It pays no in-credit interest, but in most feedback on customer service First Direct rates very highly. Due to this, it also offers customers £100 if you switch away within six months, if you've maintained the monthly £1,000 deposits.

You must be a completely new customer to First Direct to get the £125 switching bonus. You won't count as a new customer if you hold a savings, mortgage or insurance product or credit card with First Direct, or have done so in the past."

I currently have 1 standing order with Virgin Mobile for my phone contract and that's it, all other bills come out of another persons account of whom I pay rent too( I currently transfer 'x' amount pm straight to the account).

So if I understand the above correctly I would have to transfer my direct debit from Virgin Mobile to the First Direct account as well as another one as well as paying in £1,000 pm into it.

Would it matter if I transferred the £1,000 criteria into the account via a bank transfer? I'm also unsure as to what/how/whom I'd get another standing order from and the only example I can think of is services like Lovefilm & netflix, would paying another person (via bank transfer/standing order) (aka Rent:ranting2:) count toward the "switch your direct debits and standing orders (at least two) using First Direct's dedicated switching service" to make me eligible for this offer or would it not.

Hopefully I have made this read-able for what I'm trying to ask, Thanks  in advance for any help posted.