HSBC account closure

zay

So I've had a look on a few forums with similar issues with HSBC, they closed my account a few weeks ago without giving a reason which implies they thought I was involved in money laundering (my parents live abroad and I have been unemployed for almost a year until recently as I have been suffering from depression, so my parents were helping me out financially and sending me money for my rent/food/etc from abroad). To be honest, this is the part I have the least problem with, because I dont want the account reopened because I have no interest in banking with HSBC in future, however technically they gave me no notice. I received a letter in March (I was abroad at this time visiting my parents) stating that HSBC will be closing my account on the 13th May, that I was to withdraw all money from the account and return my bank card before this date. I returned back from holiday and my account was still open, I called to inquire about this on the 16th May and the person I spoke to said my account was still open, it would remain open, and that there were no issues for me to be concerned about. I left it at that, but some point between 13-17 june they closed my account. Obviously as I was unaware this would happen, I didnt get my money out nor did I print my bank statements. I called to ask about it, and was transferred to someone who did nothing to help other than read me the terms and conditions. As far as I can see, if the letter states they will close my account on the 13th May, then thats what they should have done, but by them telling me there were no problems with the account made that letter void. I went to the bank and they refused to accept that by giving me 0 days notice they are in breach of their own T&Cs, I got the money back after a few weeks of hassling them, and requested that I get my last 6 years of bank statements as I have not received statements for years and have banked online throughout so have no copies whatsoever of my banking with them. I refuse to pay £1 per page, and I cant afford to take them to court. How can I get my statements for free?

Please help.

Lokolo

You cannot get your statements for free if they don't allow it.

HSBC are a fussy bank and you were unemployed, therefore they didn't want you as a customer, you are not useful to them, so they closed (within their rights) your account down.

33.10. We may end this framework contract and close your account for any other reason by giving you at least two months’ written notice. This does not apply to any account you have with us during a fixed term, for example HSBC Advance, HSBC Advance (Graduate) or HSBC Passport Bank Accounts, which have an initial 12 month fixed term.

They gave you 2 months written notice. It's likely that the telephone operator couldn't tell anything was wrong with your account, so you "0 days notice" isn't true, as they sent you a letter 2 months previously.

zay

Lokolo wrote: »

You cannot get your statements for free if they don't allow it.

HSBC are a fussy bank and you were unemployed, therefore they didn't want you as a customer, you are not useful to them, so they closed (within their rights) your account down.



They gave you 2 months written notice. It's likely that the telephone operator couldn't tell anything was wrong with your account, so you "0 days notice" isn't true, as they sent you a letter 2 months previously.

When I spoke to the bank manager he said everyone at HSBC has the same information available to them on their system, they should have been able to tell me that my account would be closed when I called, even if they couldn't tell me the reason why. They in fact did the exact opposite, which led to me being 100% unaware that my account would be closed. They closed it a month after they told me my account was fine, and also I had money going into my account every month so its not like the account was unused or that I was overdrawn ( I was £900 in credit when they closed it, I rarely go into my overdraft ). The phone call counts as a verbal agreement that my account would not be closed, them changing their mind a month later is not acceptable without them notifying me first. If they send a letter saying they will close my account in May, mislead me for an extra month and eventually close it in June whilst all the while telling me nothing is wrong, they cant expect me to be aware that the account is due to be closed.

Lokolo

zay wrote: »

When I spoke to the bank manager he said everyone at HSBC has the same information available to them on their system, they should have been able to tell me that my account would be closed when I called, even if they couldn't tell me the reason why. They in fact did the exact opposite, which led to me being 100% unaware that my account would be closed. They closed it a month after they told me my account was fine, and also I had money going into my account every month so its not like the account was unused or that I was overdrawn ( I was £900 in credit when they closed it, I rarely go into my overdraft ). The phone call counts as a verbal agreement that my account would not be closed, them changing their mind a month later is not acceptable without them notifying me first. If they send a letter saying they will close my account in May, mislead me for an extra month and eventually close it in June whilst all the while telling me nothing is wrong, they cant expect me to be aware that the account is due to be closed.

How much do you have going into your account each month? HSBC requires a minimum of £500 a month.

The reason they closed your account doesn't matter, they can do it for no reason at all if they like.

And they did tell you your account was closed, by letter, in March.

KingElvis

Lokolo wrote: »

How much do you have going into your account each month? HSBC requires a minimum of £500 a month.

Yep, they have to pay for that huge tower in London somehow :rotfl:

izools

Just two points you've failed to take into account:

> You have a contractual obligation to advise HSBC of your current correspondence address at all times - you broke this condition of your account. Not only is it your fault you didn't get the letter - by not telling them where you can be reached - but you broke the terms of your account in not doing so

> Having your mail sent to an address you don't reside at likely resulted in the correspondence being returned to sender resulting in the account being closed due to your being Gone Away Without Notice. They will probably have placed a GAIN notificataion on your credit file.

Just guessing here, but I reckon your a/c would still be open if you'd adhered to the terms of your a/c and given them your correct correspondence address

zay

izools wrote: »

Just two points you've failed to take into account:

> You have a contractual obligation to advise HSBC of your current correspondence address at all times - you broke this condition of your account. Not only is it your fault you didn't get the letter - by not telling them where you can be reached - but you broke the terms of your account in not doing so

> Having your mail sent to an address you don't reside at likely resulted in the correspondence being returned to sender resulting in the account being closed due to your being Gone Away Without Notice. They will probably have placed a GAIN notificataion on your credit file.

Just guessing here, but I reckon your a/c would still be open if you'd adhered to the terms of your a/c and given them your correct correspondence address

They did have my correct address, I was on holiday (I assume you dont have to give them an address for where you're staying if you're away for a few weeks?) Also the account got around £750 a month, and up until about 6 months ago I had around £5k put aside to do my masters which was in my savings account.

Lokolo

zay wrote: »

They did have my correct address, I was on holiday (I assume you dont have to give them an address for where you're staying if you're away for a few weeks?) Also the account got around £750 a month, and up until about 6 months ago I had around £5k put aside to do my masters which was in my savings account.

I am surprised they did close it with £750 a month going into the account, but none the less, just go elsewhere; Lloyds, Halifax or Co-op are the most recommended ones.

zay

Like I said, I really don't care that they have closed my account, they've done me a favour if anything. I just want my bank statements, I'm not asking for compensation, I'm not taking them to court, I'm not even making a formal complaint. I just want a record of my finances over the last few years, which I thought I had safely tucked away in my internet banking until they took it away without warning (some of you will disagree with that statement but had I known my account would be closed I'd have printed them off and taken my money and wouldnt have wasted anyones time having to read this or listen to my complaints). They misled me by telling me my account would stay open, if they had told me the truth I would have had a whole month to sort my finances out and be rid of them.

Is there a maximum they can charge for statements?

JuicyJesus

zay wrote: »

Is there a maximum they can charge for statements?

Providing copy statements is a service which they are legitimately allowed to charge however much they like for.

izools

However they are also legally obliged to send you all and every last scrap of information for £10.

Send them a Subject Access Request under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act.

£10, and you get all your statements, plus all the other data they hold on you that you wouldn't normally see.