HSBC want to see me?

Pete268

Hi,

I bank with Lloyds TSB mainly (current Account) where my salary and War Pension etc get paid into. I also have a basic cashcard account with the HSBC which I have had for about the last three or so years. I use this account purely as a 'slush fund' to save up for my quarterley energy bills and Christmas time etc. I only pay ad hoc travel and expenses cheques and other small amounts in. The balance varies, never more than about £600 but it has never had less than £50 in it all the time I have had the account and I am happy with the way it works.
However I have today received a letter from HSBC asking me either to call in, or ring their call centre quote ' to discuss the operation of my Cashcard account'. As I am only a 'small' customer with maybe only one or two transactions per month, and with the credit crunch etc and having read a few threads on here I am rerally worried they are going to close my account as they may not want my business with it being so 'tiny'.
I like having this second account for emergencies as well, such as if I lost my Lloyds card etc, I would stil be able to have immediate access to a few pounds whilst my other cards were replaced (I keep the HSBC cashcard hidden at home unless I am going to use it).

Has anyone else been called in by HSBC or could there be another reason for them calling me in? Are they trying to get rid of small customers like me? I am quite worried about it.

Thank you.
Peter

sutton111

i would Ring them first and find out what they want don't worry they may want to offer you a current account. let us know what they say.

Pete268

sutton111 wrote: »

i would Ring them first and find out what they want don't worry they may want to offer you a current account. let us know what they say.

Hi and thanks,

I tried to ring their Telephone Banking call centre place (the 0845 one) this afternoon but I ended up speaking to a foreign chap wherever whom I could not understand at all but he said something about useage levels? To cut it short as I couldn't understand the chap, I said I will call in to my branch on Friday morning. I will report back after I have been in.

However, I am just wondering if banks (well, HSBC anyway) are trying to divest themselves of us small 'second account' customers?

Peter

sutton111

ring 08000130130 or may be 0800130130 they may be better they seem to speak english

AJ1982

I had a similar letter from my bank (RBS), turns out they wanted to sell me more stuff, closed my account there and then.

Inactive

Sounds like it may be just an " Account Review " which actually means that HSBC just want to flog you something.;)

ShelfStacker_3

Inactive wrote: »

Sounds like it may be just an " Account Review " which actually means that HSBC just want to flog you something.;)

No, we don't usually send out letters for those, and the OP's letter is talking about a specific account.

OP: is the account a Basic Bank Account? If so, you're not allowed to have one as a secondary account - it has to be your only bank account anywhere, as it's specifically for people who otherwise can't get bank accounts (even existing HSBC customers with Current Accounts aren't allowed a BBA in addition to it). If they're closing your account, they will most likely do so for that reason.

If it's an Instant Access Savings Account (the old Flexible Saver, with a card), then what I'm saying is rubbish.

wendy_ann1983

i went into HSBC a few months ago to open a BBA with my now ex, explained to the girl that it would be a secondary account to use to help us budget (idea was to have DD going from main account into BBA for about £100pm for monthly spending) and she didnt say anything about not being able to have it as a secondary account, i never succeeded in fully opening the account as there was a problem with my address details but the ex still has his with no problems.

Pete268

ShelfStacker wrote: »

No, we don't usually send out letters for those, and the OP's letter is talking about a specific account.

OP: is the account a Basic Bank Account? If so, you're not allowed to have one as a secondary account - it has to be your only bank account anywhere, as it's specifically for people who otherwise can't get bank accounts (even existing HSBC customers with Current Accounts aren't allowed a BBA in addition to it). If they're closing your account, they will most likely do so for that reason.

If it's an Instant Access Savings Account (the old Flexible Saver, with a card), then what I'm saying is rubbish.

Hi,

It is just a basic bank account (like a current account) but no cheque book etc, just an ATM card and if I wished, Direct Debits etc.

When I opened the account, I fully explained to the lady it was going to be my secondary account just to use for paying in ad hoc expenses cheques and small amounts of cash, mainly to put towards quarterly bills and for Christmas etc - usually just one or two transactions per month. They were more than happy to open the account on this basis and I have run it for around 3 years as such. It has never, ever been less than £50 in credit. I am perfectly happy with it.

If HSBC offered better rates I may have been tempted to open a deposit account as well and transfer my £40k savings which is on deposit at Lloyds where I also have my main current account, but as HSBC currently offer me less interest I don't see why I should have to tranfer my deposit just to be able to keep my secondary current account with them. If they wish to close my secondary account then even should they ever offer better rates I would not be inclined to use HSBC. In anycase HSBC are not aware of my deposit (well I have not informed them) so that should not really be an issue anyway.

From what you say, it really does seem they do not want 'small' customers for some reason?. I was under the impression I could hold as many current acounts as I wish, but if they no longer want me I feel my meeting with them on Friday could be interesting.

Peter

ShelfStacker_3

Pete268 wrote: »

From what you say, it really does seem they do not want 'small' customers for some reason?. I was under the impression I could hold as many current acounts as I wish, but if they no longer want me I feel my meeting with them on Friday could be interesting.

Peter

It's a possibility, I'm not saying it for definite. But HSBC is on a real push atm to have more people pay their salaries into their current accounts with them, rather than just use them as backup accounts (hence the Advance account thing).

Pete268

Hi,

Just a quick reply as I am now away from home for a few days. I went into the HSBC this morning with the letter and branch staff could not find any reason whatsoever for me being called in and casually said just to ignore it.

Anyway, as usual they took the opportunity to try to sell me home insurance, apply for a credit card, open a deposit account, ISA et all. They then tried to get me to upgrade my account to a full current account etc etc. None of which I either want or need as I am happy with my current arrangements.

As I would not play and take up their quote 'exciting offers' the lady got quite shirty with me. I had to point out that I was attending at their request as per the letter and it was my time and 20 miles worth of my fuel for the round trip that was wasted (no offer to refund my fuel was forthcoming).

Consequently as I left the branch I helped myself to lots of their leaflets, brochures and other giveaways which I then happily deposited in the nearest rubbish bin. I then used the ATM to happily print off as much as I could (using up their till rolls) which I happily shredded once home and now in the recycling bin. Petty and childish maybe, but so was their attitude.

I have thought of closing my account, but as it costs the HSBC for me to keep my meagre amount of money there (for such as statements, ATM wihdrawals, ATM cards, postage of statements etc etc) I figured I will keep my account open as it is and try to cost the HSBC as much as possible in running it!!

Sorry to those who work there, but I rerally do not take kindly to having my time and fuel wasted.

Peter