Urgent Easter weekend only Free £80 from HSBC

codetown

On the phone they will tell you sort code and account number (ask if they don't). Also on the phone, after the details and after you choose your security code they will give you an Internet code (IBxxxxxxxxxxxx), so you can login straight away while on the call.

The sort code and account number is also written online after you login.

I am not sure if they will send me any other letter afterwards confirming codes or other, but I have now all the data I need to manage this account anyway from immediately.

BTW: I did not have to provide anything at all (no bills, no photocopy of anything). I never sent HSBC any physical letter (I only filled the initial online form submission via internet) They must be using some form of electronic automatic id checking to verify your address

sloughflint

codetown,
Did you have to pay your £500 during the phone call or will you just transfer via internet banking?

codetown

I paid on the phone. They simply asked for the direct debit card number and how much I wanted to transfer. I guess I could also have refused to transfer any money in and have done a BACS transfer later.

But I had no problems. The letter had warned to prepare a debit card and i had the money ready on my current account for the transfer.

tomstickland

Letter has arrived today confirming provisional acceptance.

schiff

My set-up went very smoothly today - after I got my letter.

Young man I spoke with was very solicitous and couldn't do enough - and he didn't appear to be in India (unless India is now using cheap British labour to staff their helplines!). Opened the account with a Debit Card transfer - as expected. I have a HSBC credit card as well so I didn't have to provide ID and, as I'm already online for the CC, I had no need to be set up for online access etc for the new account.

Not necessarily going to close the account after the £20 is credited as the interest rate is very good for this type of account, and I can manage without the £500 for the time being! The only thing to watch of course is the no interest if there's a withdrawal in the month. This is a big marketing mistake by HSBC (IMHO) and I think it will be the single factor stopping people staying with it and moving funds in and out.

I was advised not to be afraid to phone 0800 328 1420 (the number on my letter) if there was anything at all I wanted to ask about! You can't do better than that!

gingercordial

sloughflint wrote:

Did you have to pay your £500 during the phone call or will you just transfer via internet banking?

You don't have to pay the £500 during the phone call, I didn't have the right debit card on me so they said it was fine to pay by BACS, though they did encourage me to do it that same day and said they would call to follow it up if it wasn't in the account within a week.

Walshy

realaledrinker wrote:

I got a letter today saying they sent out a letter on 18 April to which I had not responded. So did the wife. Yeah right. Clearly from the above no such letter was ever sent out.

I had exactly the same letter. Why do they lie? Why can't they just say that they were overwhelmed with the response from the promotion, instead of blaming Royal Mail?!

Anyway, the account is now open and funded with £500. Guy on phone was helpful - and not based in India which was nice.

sloughflint

Their hours ( for an online account) are very unsociable. 9 to 5 weekdays. Hubby was going to open an account also ( for the £20) but can't call during those hours as: 1. he is busy when at work 2. he is not in an environment conducive to confidential conversations.
Pity. Would have been an easy £20.

sloughflint

I opened the account and paid £500 over the phone last week but haven't received any paperwork re internet access. How long should I wait before getting worried?

brranger

If you have the sort code & account number plus D.O.B and pin that you gave them, you can set up online banking yourself as it will then issue IB number write this down as you will need this to log in next time. that easy I did it while on the phone to them and they where faffing trying to work out if my card had an issue number.

PS: when using IB number to log in you must put IB at the begining.