HSBC - Your opinions

[Don_Kiddick]

Been with HSBC (nee Midland) since I was 17.

22 years.

Never had a problem.

 

Nat West once managed to make the Missus rooer over charges that were their mistake.

 

She's with Barclays as a result.

[leddi]

Ive been with HSBC since I was tiny and my mum opened me a little account which must be over 20yrs ago (obv when it was midland).. so excited when I was upgraded to a 'live cash' account! I have never had any problems with them, I mean I have had bank charges (but it was my own fault not the fault of HSBC) and I'm up to the limit on my student overdraft but hey, they have looked after me overall so I'm happy.

 

After working for YB and Abbey, I would not bank with either.. YB charges are just disgusting!!

 

I'm not saying that anyone on this forum needs this kind of help, but I really think a few lessons in school about how to deal with financial services, products and transactions would benefit a lot of people.. making sure everyone left school with a bank account would solve a lot of problems IMO.

[waggy]

Originally posted by Pauly

When I was a student I had a bit of a problem once where I had no money for food and the bank refused to talk to me about it or help. They just said, sorry there's nothing we can do.

 

I was in the excatly the same situation in the first term last year. And got excatly the same reply.

 

Soon as my overdraft is paid off im moving banks, after reading this thread loyds tsb is looking like a good option.

[Andy]

Originally posted by leddi

I'm not saying that anyone on this forum needs this kind of help, but I really think a few lessons in school about how to deal with financial services, products and transactions would benefit a lot of people.. making sure everyone left school with a bank account would solve a lot of problems IMO.

 

I completely agree - any teachers care to comment on this?

[*Twinkle*]

I have been with Halifax since I was born when my Grandparents opened me a bank account.... I stayed with them for 18 years, with a savings account, then a card cash account when I turned 16. Upon turning 18, I wanted to get a "proper" account, such as a Visa DEBIT card. Yet despite never once being overdrawn and having a regular income from my part time job, my bank that has known me 18 years refused point blank to offer me a proper bank account.

 

I am absolutely enraged!!! It's not like its a credit card, just a debit card that I can use in more shops, because the lousy visa electron they've given me is not accepted in some of the places I shop.

 

And they think they're having my student loan money... Yeah right. I've got savings accounts with HSBC which are FAR better in my opinion. Halifax have like 2 people on the counter at the Crystal Peaks branch which is ridiculous when you see the length of the queue. I pop into HSBC and its all over in a matter of minutes. Halifax makes me feel like I'm ageing as the queue goes down! So yeah, you can imagine where I'll be banking come September, when the banks have their nets out waiting for the students to arrive.... Hmmfh!

[MobileB]

I've been with First Direct for nearly 12 years now and never ever had an issue. The staff at their call centres are friendly and you can use HSBC branches for any pay-ins/other transactions with no problems. I had a situation not long back with a standing order that was paid twice in the same month (I had altered the date over the internet but inputted the wrong month). Because of their free SMS txt statements I discovered the problem on the day it paid, rang them and it was all sorted with no hassle. The internet banking part is simple to use and you can do just about anything on there.

 

I am sure in most cases if you forsee a problem with going overdrawn etc., if you speak to them first they will probably come to some suitable solution. It is harder for them to react after the event because you are asking them to clear up your poo.

[Ginner]

Moan moan moan, whinge whinge whinge...

 

"They charge too much."

 

"They won't lend me more money to let me get myself into more sh**."

 

Blah blah blah.

 

Yes, banks make obscene amounts of money primarily by charging people who mis-manage their finances.

 

Are the charges obscenely high? Probably. But, (barring an admin error on behalf of the bank) it's your fault at the end of the day.

 

Most banks are transparent with their charges these days. Most banks will allow a little leniency with a temporary OD blip (and most provide free £50 - £100 OD buffers anyway - if you go beyond this IMO you deserve to be charged).

 

Too many people don't take responsibility for their finances, then cry foul when they incur charges or aren't given the answer/solution they want/expect/demand.

 

As far as I'm concerned financial institutions give too much leniency when lending money out as it is.

 

I bank for free cos I manage my finances and live within my means.

 

If your job/benefits/student loan isn't providing the income you need to live your day to day life then that's a tough situation, but it ain't the bank's fault.

 

PS - re overseas call centres... if it's proving to be a problem speaking to Indian/Far East call centre staff then request that your bank flag your account so that you always get routed to a British call centre.