Best Balance Transfers / MoneySavingExpert.com discussion area

grumbler

Martin is very slow with updates. Next time look here: http://www.stoozing.com/0fees.htm

jennyb_2

I applied for a credit card with HSBC on Boxing Day, to take advantage of the 0% balance transfer. 1st of feb now and theyre still faffing around with a second-round request for identifying documentation, and I'm told I shouldn't expect to receive the card until the end of next week. I'm told that they can't do a balance transfer until after I've received the card, but as I've put a couple of large purchases on my existing card recently I really want this to happen before they start incurring interest, on 6th Feb. They are apparently unable to fast-track the application, despite me registering a complaint about the abysmal quality and speed of service.
So - so far my recommendations for HSBC would be:
1. If you really want this card, apply 2 months in advance of needing to balance transfer.
2. take a day off work if you want to go into the branch - their queues are astonishing.
Don't apply for this if you think you may ever want to use a branch for any reason whatsoever - every time I walk past my 2 local branches they are absolutely stuffed full of customers. I was told that if I didn't arrive at 9am I could expect a half hour wait before I could see someone.
Don't expect to be treated as a valued customer or an individual; they didn't seem too fussed that I was going to complain. I spent an hour in the branch this morning with no acceptable result. In another branch I found staff offhand to the point of rudeness.
Don't expect to be able to contact them by email either, even if you apply online. I looked all over their web site for contact email addresses, to no avail.
The phone number they gave me to contact them on about my application is only available weekdays 9-5, and when I did ring from my office, after waiting on hold for 10 mins I was told that I couldn't query the application without providing sensitive data, which of course in an open-plan office is not a good idea. I wasn't offered any other phone number (until today) - rather I was told to go into a branch if I wanted any information.
If I'd known this, I would never have bothered - if time is money, I've wasted more than I would save by transferring a couple of thousand to them for 9 months.

glitter58

jennyb wrote:

I applied for a credit card with HSBC on Boxing Day, to take advantage of the 0% balance transfer. 1st of feb now and theyre still faffing around with a second-round request for identifying documentation, and I'm told I shouldn't expect to receive the card until the end of next week. I'm told that they can't do a balance transfer until after I've received the card, but as I've put a couple of large purchases on my existing card recently I really want this to happen before they start incurring interest, on 6th Feb. They are apparently unable to fast-track the application, despite me registering a complaint about the abysmal quality and speed of service.
So - so far my recommendations for HSBC would be:
1. If you really want this card, apply 2 months in advance of needing to balance transfer.
2. take a day off work if you want to go into the branch - their queues are astonishing.
Don't apply for this if you think you may ever want to use a branch for any reason whatsoever - every time I walk past my 2 local branches they are absolutely stuffed full of customers. I was told that if I didn't arrive at 9am I could expect a half hour wait before I could see someone.
Don't expect to be treated as a valued customer or an individual; they didn't seem too fussed that I was going to complain. I spent an hour in the branch this morning with no acceptable result. In another branch I found staff offhand to the point of rudeness.
Don't expect to be able to contact them by email either, even if you apply online. I looked all over their web site for contact email addresses, to no avail.
The phone number they gave me to contact them on about my application is only available weekdays 9-5, and when I did ring from my office, after waiting on hold for 10 mins I was told that I couldn't query the application without providing sensitive data, which of course in an open-plan office is not a good idea. I wasn't offered any other phone number (until today) - rather I was told to go into a branch if I wanted any information.
If I'd known this, I would never have bothered - if time is money, I've wasted more than I would save by transferring a couple of thousand to them for 9 months.

Yup ditto here as well !!! I applied first week of january and still no nearer getting the card.
My husband applied to Ba amex 27th january , were told they will send out forms etc and !! what do ya know!! the card arrives in the post this morning. 7th feb
Not holding my breath waiting for hsbc.

themadbird

HSBC - well we applied for one, waited and waited, OH called them - they lost the paperwork. They sent more forms out, filled them in and sent them. Phone them a few weeks later - still had no paperwork, so asked OH to send off a letter to them about it. Forgot about them - waste of space!

Applied for Lloyds Plat - all done and dusted within about 5 days. Perfect.

TonyEVS

Ive no doubt i am mistaken in my thoughts but have something bugging my brain. Under the consumer credit act all fees have to be included in an APR statement. How then can there be a ZERO % APR if there is a balance transfer fee?

Donegal_Paul

I must have been lucky with the HSBC, granted all took about a fortnight but managed to get one with a balance of £3250. In the application i told them that i wouldnt be doing a balance transfer, figuring that I may get a slightly higher balance and that i can always change my mind later, I like options :-)

Anyway, ive now today done the online balance transfer of my egg card (£2490) and my Cap One card (£313) though it does say they have to approve the transfers which could take up to 10 days so i guess i just wait and see now.

renagade

Hi there

This is great, for the first time thanks to "the money diet" I am Starting to understand about money, interest and how to be a better consumer. The best book i've read for ages, ( and i've read alot of books).

I wonder if anybody can help me, i want to apply for an egg card online but I am still a little bit confused, will there be a 2% fee for balance transfer or is there any way i can avoid this fee.

cheers

:beer:

Renagade

TILLY4

Has anyone had HSBC O% int for 9 months credit card application approved and then had them stall sending out the card for 6 weeks?

mrperfect

been approved and still waiting for card now been charged interest on my old tarting card!! _pale_

chris1978_2

Hi, I'm not sure if this is in the right place or not - I couldn't see it elsewhere.

I was reading Martins Tips from this week regarding the best 0% cards and wanted to opt for the Barclays one purely for the 10 months option. I'm an existing account holder but can't see any way of applying online that avaids the 2.5% fee. All of the links that I have found on the Barclays site link to Barclaycard.co.uk and I don't want to have an unneccessary credit check carried out if i'm not going to use the card.

Has anybody else had any luck with this and if so do you have a link to where I should be looking?

Thanks