Concerns re: Multiple bank accounts?

Tianlong

Hi folks,

I went into HSBC today to ask a couple of questions about my new Basic Bank Account, and enquire about the best sort of savings account to use. The very irate man I saw seemed not only disheartened at my having a Basic Bank Account, but went on to say how horrible and restricted and nasty they are - going so far as to say that I'd be better keeping my normal current accounts with Lloyds TSB than to have a Basic bank account with HSBC themselves.

After explaining that I'd gladly suffer six months of restrictions to get a normal current account with HSBC (and escape the dreaded Lloyds), he went on to say that the law was very specific about Basic Bank Accounts, and that I am not allowed to hold any other current account, and that HSBC couldn't even offer me an online saver account because of this apparent set of legal restraints.

Now, I don't remember this being in the terms and conditions for my account, and haven't seen anything online saying "you are allowed one Basic Bank Account. and no other type of bank account" - so I suspect this is rubbish designed to scare me, or someone not happy about missing a potential commission from a big-savings-investment-deal.

Does anyone have any thoughts, opinions or legal experiencen who can say whether oe not I can have, say, a NatWest current plus accountm(gives me a visa debit card), as well as my HSBC Basic Bank Account (bank I want to build a relationship with) ???

peachyprice

Tianlong wrote: »

Hi folks,
he went on to say that the law was very specific about Basic Bank Accounts, and that I am not allowed to hold any other current account, and that HSBC couldn't even offer me an online saver account because of this apparent set of legal restraints.

Complete and utter bullsh1t, you can have as many basic and savings accounts as you want.

opinions4u

he went on to say that the law was very specific about Basic Bank Accounts, and that I am not allowed to hold any other current account

He is talking tosh.

shegirl

He's talking absolute rubbish!

I have several bank accounts!Normal current accounts,savings accounts and one basic account that I use for online shopping so if anyone managed to get my details they wouldn't be able to take much money!

I'd try talking to someone else and if they say the same go to a decent bank (they can't be that good if they give such advice)

vaporate

Where do they hire such cashiers?

Tianlong

This is what I suspected/hoped, thanks for confirming it, everyone.

In 6 months I'll hopefully upgrade this HSBC Basic bank account to a normal current account, Visa debit card, et al. In the meantime, NatWest have actually given me a Current Plus account, which gives me aforementioned Visa card.

What I'm hoping to do is.. close my day-to-day Lloyds TSB current account, work on repaying the overdraft on my other LTSB account, use the HSBC basic for day-to-day stuff, and the NatWest just when I need the Visa debit card... then in six month I'll hopefully have been upgraded with HSBC, repaid Lloyds TSB off (and dumped them right after), and then dump NatWest, too. Probably sound complicated / like a lot of hassle, but it should get me where I want to be

pmduk

I've been told exactly the same tosh. Some bank staff are trained so badly these days. Whenever I'm told that something is the law nowadays, I always ask which law?

PROLIANT

I once went in to open an account with HSBC, got taken in to this office very old and smelt of damp.

The branch was clearly old school as the staff addressed senior staff as Mr. or Mrs., Anyway he went thought the application with me and snarled at me when the computer declined me, he mumbled "thought so", and I asked what do you mean? He replied judging by your appearance you must no be able to pay your bills!!!!!!, I see people like you everyday (must be comparing me with the local dole scroungers) I walked out.


At the time, back in 2006 I had fraud markers, 200 linked addresses my files were so bad, and all this due to ID theft so I could not even get a basic account. I also had just left the ex and had very little in the way of nice clothes or [FONT=&quot]possession[/FONT], I was working and needed my own account instead of using my sisters.

Just goes to show there is a level of snobbery and judgment against people who might down on their luck or do not live up to the expectations of the bank manager - a final thought; Get this bank managers, you are dinosaurs and the internet has replaced you, which keeps me in a job, now whos snarling!

hippey

I love it when bank staff do that. When the wife and I opened our Lloyds account a few years ago we went into the branch in our scruffy clothes as we had just packed out suitcases for the US and had very few clothes out.
We also took our (at that time) small baby into the branch on a weekday afternoon and the lady who was dealing with us just constantly looked down her nose at us, it was only after being told all about the basic bank account she started to ask about us.

She got very embarrassed when she found out we both worked and what we earnt! And the computer said we could have the pick of all the accounts they offered, she even apologised for her earlier behaviour as she thought we were just timewasters!

I still get treated badly when I visit some banks as I'm often in my cycle gear and don't look that smart!

PROLIANT

hippey wrote: »

I love it when bank staff do that. When the wife and I opened our Lloyds account a few years ago we went into the branch in our scruffy clothes as we had just packed out suitcases for the US and had very few clothes out.
We also took our (at that time) small baby into the branch on a weekday afternoon and the lady who was dealing with us just constantly looked down her nose at us, it was only after being told all about the basic bank account she started to ask about us.

She got very embarrassed when she found out we both worked and what we earnt! And the computer said we could have the pick of all the accounts they offered, she even apologised for her earlier behaviour as she thought we were just timewasters!

I still get treated badly when I visit some banks as I'm often in my cycle gear and don't look that smart!

The old saying....."Never judge a book by its cover".

pmduk

Just remember, it's the customers who buy their smart uniforms and pay their wages, either through charges or taxes. They've had more handouts recently than the average claimant!