Dam HSBC...sorry but I need to rant!

donner_kebab · 20 July 2007 at 8:04PM

Blimey...I am sick to death of HSBC...please read this is you fancy a laugh...this is ridiculous!

Basically, was stupid enough to get in a long term relationship with a control freak...ended up with a joint account for which I was meant to be the main signature holder. Then discovered this guy had a compulsive spending problem so told HSBC top close the account...this was in 2005. They asked me to surrender my cards etc and they would request this guy to surrender his cards to. He refused. Year later, his starts getting physical and finally I had the cops take him away and it took months of harassment notices, injunctions etc to finally get rid of this idiot! He wasn't that stupid though cause 1 day after being released by the police, he took his card and took the account way past its overdraft limit so I have spent time trying to pay the fees of interest each month, but being a single mum means I can't afford no more. They account gets frozen. Then I get a letter saying 'why haven't you been in contact with us about this account...we have been writing to you and no reply...turns out they had been writing letters addressed to me but sending them to him! Just so happens that on this one occasion there was 2 letters in the envelope and 1 had the correct address on! Letter says he has gone bankrupt and I must cough up now! Tell them I can't and they offer me a managed loan...payments till 2014 but I just want rid of this account! Manage to get a new credit card, planned to pay of overdraft with one and transfer it to the new one on a special rate. Call HSBC, they refuse to take the payment (on their own credit card as I have 2 HSBC credit cards) and say I can only pay this overdraft with his written permission!!! :mad: How stupid is that? He goes bankrupt, they tell me to pay, i try and pay and then they tell me I need his permission to pay it!!! Am I nuts or is that just the stupidest thing ever??? I tell them no chance and explained why...they said go and tell the branch and beg them to take the money but it is very doubtful they will take it without his written permission first!

Sorry just had to rant, being a single mum means no 'adults' to talk too

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Kaz2904 · 20 July 2007 at 8:14PM

OMG, what a position to be in. I would be tempted to tell them to stuff it.
I would go to the CAB and see whether you have to pay it back and if you do, how you can.

donner_kebab · 20 July 2007 at 8:35PM

I know tell me about it!!! They have threatened me with baliffs and court etc...all I want to do is pay the dam thing off and deal with it from a credit card! Have tried the CAB already...went down there 1 1/2 hours before it opened and there was a queue on 25 people! Finally get in and then they tell me they can't see me as too busy and it is like this everyday! And they have also stopped doing appointments! Nightmare! I just hope there is such a thing as karma....Grrrr!

James&Shell · 20 July 2007 at 8:52PM

Surely if you gave your cards back they can then prove it wasnt you who took the money out so you are not responsible joint account or not

donner_kebab · 20 July 2007 at 9:01PM

Tried that one already! They said tough luck! Joint account means both liable...when I questioned the fact they told me when I opened it that I was to be the main signature holder and I had ultimate say on the account they told me they didn't know what i was talking about and must have misheard! Now he has been declared bankrupt they hold me fully liable for the debt he created...great! I will never have a joint account ever...not even if I get married one day!

ZTD · 22 July 2007 at 11:00AM

Write to them (signed for) and state that if they demand money, and you go to pay it and they refuse it - you will charge then a £12 administration fee. If they wish to avoid this fee, then they must accept your money when they demand it. Make that clear.

Every time you do go down, obtain in writing a signed explanation of why they have refused your payment. This will take time - so allow plenty of time.

Remember to take the £12 off each time they refuse.

Also - reclaim your charges.

Yes, joint accounts are not worth a candle. I will be very leery next time. Especially if the bank in question (LTSB in my case) uses an Indian call centre whose staff do not know their arrse from a hole in the ground.

Does anyone know if you can get a joint basic account?

donner_kebab · 22 July 2007 at 11:39AM

Thanks for that ZTD! I went down there yesterday and told them I wanted to pay...first they said no, then the branch manager said ok, then they tried denying that I had 2 credit cards with them as they couldn't see it on their records...despite me pulling them both out of my purse! Then they eventually took the money! I did however get something out of it though! Basically just before my ex did what he did, he took out HP on a sofa and told them to take the payments from the joint account, £45 per month. He did this off his own back and my name was not on any of the paperwork etc. When the bank froze the account and he was gone, I told them to transfer the DD for the sofa, to my bank account and I would continue to pay it (on his behalf...stupid I know!) so to the sofa people it looks as if he is still paying for it but I was if you see what I mean!?! Basically I have stopped that now as the account is frozen again. So when they try and take payment next month, it is gonna get refused and when they write to him at my address, I will send the letter back undelivered and will continue to do so. The bank informed me that as it was just his details on the paperwork, the contract was with him and they will chase him for payment...and if he is bankrupt they probably won't be able to get anything...but anyway, that's not my problem! If the worst comes to the worst and they try to get in my house to get the sofa, they can as it is sooo covered in cat scratches anyway I'm not fussed! Obviously I would like to keep it if I could though! So will wait and see what happens there...either way, that is saving me £45 per month!
Despite everything, being in so much debt etc, I am glad this whole thing has happened as it has made me a stronger person. I am only 27 and a single mum to my daughter who is nearly 11 and for the first time in years we are both truly happy...might be skint as, but at least we are happy being away from that monster...I'm just ashamed that it took me so many years but at least it is over with now and a few years down the line I will be free of this debt and my life can start again!

eatmyfish · 22 July 2007 at 11:58AM

Off topic but: You did very well to get the cops to take him away when he got violent...
No woman should have to suffer being beaten up

donner_kebab · 22 July 2007 at 12:12PM

I only did it cause he locked me out of the house in my pyjamas after it had all happened and my daughter was inside screaming...it was awful but I thank my lucky stars I had my mobile in my dressing gown pocket as he had smashed up the home phone when I tried to call them a few minutes before...what a nutjob. Took years of crap, feel worse for my daughter though as she shouldn't have had to witness everything and those memories will never go away...but at least it is all over now...took months afterwards mind of harassment notices etc but think it is finally over now! Phew!

Dam HSBC...sorry but I need to rant!

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