Desperate for advice over debt I want to repay but the banks won't help!

miffed79

Hi All

Last year I was unfortunate enought to be ripped off by an agent which put my bank account with HSBC £50 over the over draft, They then hit the account with a massive charge making it harder to get it back in the black.....you know the drill!

They were very unsympathetic and in a few months alone there was 2 grand in charges despite the fact I was putting money into the account regularly and they transferred all my savings from my HSBC savings account into the over drawn account.

This then caused me to slip behind on the loan payments I owed them, and they took my online banking offline so I had no idea what was owed or when the last payment they received was.

I refused to make a payment until they could provide me with details of what was owed and what they had received but each time they simply said "sorry I'm not able to provide that information".

They hounded me by phone every day for several months, otfen abusive towards me and telling me perhaps I should stop shopping which was pretty insulting when I was living off 9p noodles from asda due to them and had banked with them since the age of 15!

Several letters went back and forth including one which said they were confident that their charges were fair and that they would win the court case over bank charges! Oh the hilarity!

Now they have a couple of debt collection agencies onto me who are also about as helpful as a chocolate teapot in the sahara desert. They claim they cannot give me this information and told me to go back to HSBC.

When I asked what he advised he said "What I advise is......" *click* sound of phone going dead!

As HSBC keep no records of previous conversations I am loath to speak to a sarcastic robot who is 'unable to help me'

I am able to start paying them installments today and have told them so. All I want is a records of what I owe but they are unwilling to do this. Even the debt collection agency said it was unusual and normally there should be details of the debt!!

Apologies for the essay would really love any advice suggestions, thoughts etc......

dancingfairy

I would go in to the branch if possible and ask to speak to the manager or failing that to make a complaint.
I am sure there are ombudsmen and things you can report them to but I believe you have to have put in an official complaint with the bank first.

Thoughts: well that is disgusting really isn't it. Would keep all the paperwork and make a note each time they call - time,date,etc and what was said and tell them you are recording the call.

Might also be worth phoning CCCS/National Debtline/CAB to see what they advise.

There is also the option of claiming back bank charges if you are in serious hardship (which obviously eating cheap noodles would suggest) they are not on hold in cases of hardship.

So there are various options for you to pursue. I am afraid I can't tell you which route will be the best though. Stay strong, don't let them bully you and don't let them make a silly offer and get away with it (eg they will wipe half the charges - that's still ridiculous), oh and don't let them sell you a consolidation loan/extra credit card etc.

Obviously going over you overdraft was beyond your control and your behaviour seems reasonable (which theirs definitely isn't.)

Best of Luck
df

**Amy**

Hi

Im sorry you have had such a rough time.

I am sure HSBC have a legal obligation to you to provide you with all of the information they hold on you.

Can you send them £10 (cheque) (as this is the maximum it will cost) and request all of your statements dating back 6 years (this is how long they are required to hold records).

That way you can try and work out what is owed etc.

I would also speak to www.cccs.co.uk or www.nationaldebtline.co.uk or citizens advice and see what they suggest.

I hope this helps

x

lilacclaire

Hi, you can also tell the debt collection agency to place the account in 'dispute'. This means that they should not take any further action until the dispute is resolved (they will be advised by hsbc as to when to proceed).

HTH

miffed79

What a friendly board - thank you for your replies so far. This is very encouraging as I'm at my wits end with HSBC bullies and their dozy sidekicks!

I didn't realise that I could make an official complaint - I will look into that. A quick google search on "bank complaints" brought me up a few useful links to so thank you for suggesing that dancing fairy.

Thanks also Amy and Clare, for the links and info. I also didn't realise that I could get them to place the account in dispute whilst it's dealt with.

I shall get to work on those links - many thanks and if anyone has anything to add please do

**Amy**

miffed79 wrote: »

What a friendly board - thank you for your replies so far. This is very encouraging as I'm at my wits end with HSBC bullies and their dozy sidekicks!

I didn't realise that I could make an official complaint - I will look into that. A quick google search on "bank complaints" brought me up a few useful links to so thank you for suggesing that dancing fairy.

Thanks also Amy and Clare, for the links and info. I also didn't realise that I could get them to place the account in dispute whilst it's dealt with.

I shall get to work on those links - many thanks and if anyone has anything to add please do

You're welcome.

HSBC are quite rubbish. They are your best friends and throw money at you when you are in credit, but as soon as you hit a slight snag they dont want to help at all.

I got made redundant just before christmas last year. I had another job lined up for after christmas but knew that that month was going to be hard, so asked if i could have an overdraft or a payment holiday for 1 month, and then i would be ok. I got told no and that i should consider taking my christmas presents I had bought for people back to the shops. :eek: Like you I have been with them since i was 15 (im 25 now), its going to be a nice change of bank when im debt free. :rotfl:

x

dancingfairy

Am sure you can also tell them to communicate with you only in writing and send them a letter to this effect. If they continue to harass you tell them you wish only to communicate in writing. If this fails they are then harassing you and can be reported to the OFT I believe and possibly trading standards. Am sure if you make a post headed 'letter requesting com. in writing' or 'bank harrassment' or words to that effect someone will give you a copy /link to a letter. Failing that pm RAS he/she is usually only too happy to help and will no doubt tell you what you should quote at them and who to report them to.

Do not let HSBC bully you.
All the best
df

dancingfairy

The 'all the info they hold on you thing' isn't that a SAR (subject access request) ? or is it standard access request ? am sure you could google/search on here for info on that as well.

miffed79

That's despicable!! I hope you didn't have to take them back.

I quite agree with you - I only took the loan out in the first place as they advised it and said it would save me money ha ha! All they want to do now is sell me a consolidation loan!

I definitely thnk you should switch banks! Nationwide would probbaly give you an account if you don't need an overdraft..... bit of a vicious circle here though! x

**Amy** wrote: »

You're welcome.

HSBC are quite rubbish. They are your best friends and throw money at you when you are in credit, but as soon as you hit a slight snag they dont want to help at all.

I got made redundant just before christmas last year. I had another job lined up for after christmas but knew that that month was going to be hard, so asked if i could have an overdraft or a payment holiday for 1 month, and then i would be ok. I got told no and that i should consider taking my christmas presents I had bought for people back to the shops. :eek: Like you I have been with them since i was 15 (im 25 now), its going to be a nice change of bank when im debt free. :rotfl:

x

miffed79

I did actually tell them this and they still continue to harass me so now I just don't answer private numbers or 0845's....with this in mind looks like I have enough of a case to complain.... your a star!

dancingfairy wrote: »

Am sure you can also tell them to communicate with you only in writing and send them a letter to this effect. If they continue to harass you tell them you wish only to communicate in writing. If this fails they are then harassing you and can be reported to the OFT I believe and possibly trading standards. Am sure if you make a post headed 'letter requesting com. in writing' or 'bank harrassment' or words to that effect someone will give you a copy /link to a letter. Failing that pm RAS he/she is usually only too happy to help and will no doubt tell you what you should quote at them and who to report them to.

Do not let HSBC bully you.
All the best
df

miffed79

I'm not sure - I'll have a search on here though as you suggest. I did think that a financial institution has some legal responsibility to supply it though....?

dancingfairy wrote: »

The 'all the info they hold on you thing' isn't that a SAR (subject access request) ? or is it standard access request ? am sure you could google/search on here for info on that as well.