Concerns re: Multiple bank accounts?

PROLIANT

The HSBC uniform does nothing for me, on the otherhand the Natwest.....:D

Tianlong

..is it worth writing to the branch to ask why this representative told me this, and to ask for a copy of the relevant law/registration? And if they can't do that, ask to find out why I was misinformed, and then talked/looked down to and dismissed?

I'll admit I looked for comfortable-and-casual than crisp-and-clean. I'm in a wheelchair (which was dirtied by splashback from puddles), and a pretty standard "university-style" hooded top and didn't look as spic-and-span as the bank's adviser was. Incidentally my usual attire of shirts/ties, dress trousers, et al. had to be dismissed as *they* would end up covered in dirt/splashback, and looks much worse for it than a big sweater-like top.

If this guy is wrong in what he said, I want to take it up - as I'm going through the restrictions of this Basic bank account just to _be_ with HSBC - who I had found to be nicer than that..

olly300

Tianlong wrote: »

..is it worth writing to the branch to ask why R****** told me this, and to ask for a copy of the relevant law/registration? And if they can't do that, ask to find out why I was misinformed, and then talked/looked down to and dismissed?

Yes but do it as a formal complaint i.e. put the title "Formal Complaint" on the letter.

In the letter put as much detail as possible i.e. name of man or his description plus the date and time you were in the bank. Ask for the law on it and then state if you don't hear from them with a detail explanation you will report them to the FSA.

Then wait for their reply and if it isn't a grovelling apology with the correct information in it photocopy the letter you sent to them and their reply to you, and send it to the FSA.

The FSA will take months to answer but in the mean time open an account elsewhere.

wontfallforit

As advised, this is of course rubbish.

I've never personally had any issues with HSBC, but I'll never forget standing behind a man in the queue in a branch, whilst he asked to speak to somebody in private. The cashier was quite rude, and informed him that there was no such facility in the branch. Turns out that the man had just been awarded a six-figure sum in accident compensation, and was going to invest some money via HSBC, but funnily enough, decided against this immediately.

Tianlong

olly300 wrote: »

Yes but do it as a formal complaint i.e. put the title "Formal Complaint" on the letter.

In the letter put as much detail as possible i.e. name of man or his description plus the date and time you were in the bank. Ask for the law on it and then state if you don't hear from them with a detail explanation you will report them to the FSA.

Then wait for their reply and if it isn't a grovelling apology with the correct information in it photocopy the letter you sent to them and their reply to you, and send it to the FSA.

The FSA will take months to answer but in the mean time open an account elsewhere.

That's some great advice, thank you very much - is it worth calling the branch to try and find out the surname of the person I saw? (I've already got their first name)

olly300

Tianlong wrote: »

That's some great advice, thank you very much - is it worth calling the branch to try and find out the surname of the person I saw? (I've already got their first name)

No a good description of him with his first name and the time you went into the bank will be sufficient. Most companies refuse to reveal the full name of staff as you could stalk and attack them.

There was a report on basic bank accounts last year by one of the charities which stated that staff would do their up most to prevent customers opening a basic bank account in lots of different banks.

Orders like this come from management as banks don't make money out of basic bank accounts. So you really want to have a go at the bank's management for telling their staff to tell customers rubbish to prevent them opening such an account.

gilligansyle

olly300 wrote: »

There was a report on basic bank accounts last year by one of the charities which stated that staff would do their up most to prevent customers opening a basic bank account in lots of different banks.

Orders like this come from management as banks don't make money out of basic bank accounts. So you really want to have a go at the bank's management for telling their staff to tell customers rubbish to prevent them opening such an account.

Also presumably basic bank accounts don't count towards any performance points or however they work out bonuses these days. If you only have a basic account the chances are you won't qualify for the stuff gets the manager his bonus.

I have several accounts with NatWest, including a basic account I use for bill payments.

Mr.Mulla

I know as well that you can have as many accounts as you want. It's not even a credit card, it's a savings account. What the bank staff just told you are just garbage. You should file a complaint. They should be thankful that you are investing with them.

wontfallforit wrote: »

As advised, this is of course rubbish.

I've never personally had any issues with HSBC, but I'll never forget standing behind a man in the queue in a branch, whilst he asked to speak to somebody in private. The cashier was quite rude, and informed him that there was no such facility in the branch. Turns out that the man had just been awarded a six-figure sum in accident compensation, and was going to invest some money via HSBC, but funnily enough, decided against this immediately.

Too bad, they just lost a customer worth 6 figures of investment. Some staff are just plain stupid and rude.

PBA

While you can have as many accounts as you want, there are different standards of ID needed for a basic account as opposed to any other account. If you didn't have passport or driving licence with you this may explain why they wouldn't open the savings account.

Tianlong

PBA wrote: »

While you can have as many accounts as you want, there are different standards of ID needed for a basic account as opposed to any other account. If you didn't have passport or driving licence with you this may explain why they wouldn't open the savings account.

It wasn't a question of ID - I needed the same ID for getting the Basic Bank Account as I did applying for the normal Bank Account, and as I've needed for any other bank acount.

That aside, it never got to that stage. The man at HSBC simply said, "a basic bank account means you are not legally allowed any other kind of account or any other services, come back in six months and see if you can upgrade."