FIRSTDIRECT — First Direct Bank Charge Explained

FIRSTDIRECT on your bank statement is a transaction descriptor for First Direct, a financial services company. First Direct is a UK telephone and internet bank, a division of HSBC. It offers current accounts, savings, mortgages, credit cards, and loans.

What Is the FIRSTDIRECT Charge?

FIRSTDIRECT is a transaction descriptor for First Direct, a financial services company.

First Direct is a UK telephone and internet bank, a division of HSBC. It offers current accounts, savings, mortgages, credit cards, and loans. Charges on your statement are typically monthly account fees or repayments. First Direct is known for its 24/7 telephone banking.

This code appears on your bank statement because banks display a short payment reference — set by the merchant's payment processor — rather than the company's full trading name. The code FIRSTDIRECT is the official identifier that First Direct registered with Visa or Mastercard.

Is the FIRSTDIRECT Charge Legitimate?

First Direct is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your First Direct account to review recent activity.

How Do I Cancel or Dispute a FIRSTDIRECT Charge?

  1. Identify the charge: Confirm the charge is from First Direct by checking your email for a receipt or logging into your account on their website.
  2. Cancel your subscription: If you no longer want the service, log in to First Direct and cancel your subscription through account settings before the next billing date.
  3. Contact the merchant: If you do not recognise the charge, contact First Direct customer support and ask for an explanation and refund.
  4. Dispute with your bank: If the merchant does not resolve the issue, call the number on the back of your card and ask to raise a chargeback on the FIRSTDIRECT transaction. Provide the transaction date and amount.
  5. Section 75 rights: If you paid by credit card and the amount was over £100, you may have additional protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

What Other Names Does First Direct Use on Bank Statements?

First Direct may also appear on your statement as:

Frequently Asked Questions About FIRSTDIRECT

What is FIRSTDIRECT on my bank statement?

FIRSTDIRECT is a bank statement transaction code for First Direct, a financial services company. First Direct is a UK telephone and internet bank, a division of HSBC. It offers current accounts, savings, mortgages, credit cards, and loans. Charges on your statement are typically monthly account fees or repayments. First Direct is known for its 24/7 telephone banking. This descriptor appears because banks display a shortened payment code instead of the full company name.

Is FIRSTDIRECT a scam?

First Direct is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your First Direct account to review recent activity.

Why is FIRSTDIRECT on my bank statement?

FIRSTDIRECT appears on your statement because First Direct processed a payment through their card payment provider. The code is set by their payment processor and is the official descriptor registered with Visa or Mastercard. Common reasons include a subscription renewal, a one-off purchase, or a trial period that has converted to a paid plan.

How do I cancel FIRSTDIRECT?

To stop FIRSTDIRECT charges from appearing on your statement, you need to cancel your First Direct subscription or account. Log in to the First Direct website, go to your account settings, and cancel your subscription. If you cannot find the cancellation option or do not recognise the charge, contact your bank to dispute it and block future payments.

How do I get a refund for a FIRSTDIRECT charge?

If you believe you have been charged incorrectly by First Direct, first contact their customer support to request a refund. If they are unresponsive or unhelpful, contact your bank and ask to raise a chargeback. You typically have up to 120 days from the transaction date to raise a chargeback claim. For credit card purchases over £100, you may also be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

For more information about First Direct and all its known transaction codes, visit the First Direct merchant page.