HSBC: I wouldn't have believed if i read it on the web

Jimmicus

About two weeks ago I was in the supermarket grabbing my lunch when I found that none of my HSBC current accounts cards worked. Now I've been there before and normally it means that the wife and I have overspent. Christmas had just gone, but overspending like that is very rare for us these days following some bad experiences in the past (and good advice form this site). SO I call the wife, who looks after the finances for us both. She assures me that there is money in the account. Shrugging my shoulders I slim down my lunch order and pay with some remaining small change I have.

So what's happened? Well, it turns out that the HSBC closed an old business account belonging to my wife that hadn't been used for almost two years. However, not being satisfied with that they also close the other two current accounts as they are 'linked' and also 'not being used' and then charge us around £200 per account for the privilege! :mad:

I was utterly blown away. It's one thing to close an account and charge such a hefty amount to do it, but to then close two obviously functioning accounts with two sets of wages, benefits and dozens of transactions going on in both beggars belief. I was quite literally speechless when I found out.

Since the aberration occurred we have been giving the bank hell as you can imagine. The live accounts have been re-instated and the charges on them removed, but we were forced to pay on the original dead account until such time as someone checks out the history and our claims to have never been contacted about it's closure. The one good thing about all this though is it finally gave us the nudge we needed to move our accounts to another bank. It remains to be seen if we'll ever see that £200 though.

As I say in the title, if I had read this story on the web I would have had trouble believing it. My advice, stay clear of HSBC!

Nile

Hello Jimmicus


Welcome to the MSE site.:wave:

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. There is a thread which may be of interest to you in the 'This Site: Questions & suggestions' board.........look at this thread. It explains how to get a free MoneySavingExpert car sticker.

The sticker says 'Screw the banks before they screw you!'.:D

I think you might be happy to display the sign in your car.;)

Kind Regards

Nile

star1_2

Your story sounds pretty grim !!

I would suggest going with the Abbey for Business Banking .... It's FREE (providing you stick within their T&C's) .... Thats one way to sell the HSBC to "stick it"! and take advantage of NO charges ! :cool:

Swattie

Ask HSBC for their complaints policy and follow the process (Should also be ontheir web-site). They can't close an account without notifying you of their intention and as you had linked functioning accounts - no excuse that they didn't have recent contact details.

You should get your £200 returned.

Jimmicus

Thanks for the suggestions and advice folks, apologies for not replying before as well. I just had a nasty gastric virus that put me on my back and my toilet (not at the same time) for a few days.