HSBC won't let me pay money into my own account

noclobber

I tried to pay roughly £8000 cash into my account.
The notes were clean.
They asked where it came from. I told the truth, that it was from my wife's father, he was paying back a loan. They won't accept the money under any circumstances. I'm feeling pretty messed about as I waited for over an hour while they decided what to do.

What are my options? pay £2000 a day for four days in those paying in machines?
Say goodbye to HSBC, since they want to mess about like this? If so, which bank do I switch to?

Thanks

Wilkins

Why didn't your FiL do a bank transfer? I think any bank would baulk at £8000 in cash because of anti-laundering regulations (although especially HSBC at the moment, actually).

grumbler

noclobber wrote: »

What are my options? pay £2000 a day for four days in those paying in machines?
Say goodbye to HSBC, since they want to mess about like this?

Both.

If so, which bank do I switch to?

This depends on your needs, but HSBC seems to be unique in their recent AML madness.

• Best Bank Accounts

noclobber

Cheers, I have done exactly as SPnomore suggested (after being with HSBC about a decade)

grumbler

That fast?
If so, you missed £50ish cashback for switching HSBC to Santander.

Archi_Bald

Although I am a big fan of the Santander 123, and I find some of the news on here about HSBC rather weird, don't count your chicken before they are hatched. All banks have their peculiarities. Santander are famous for holding up larger fast payments for up to 24 hours. They are not breaking any legislation, just making their customers (incl myself) hopping mad at times with what they say are "security measures" that protect customers' money. I haven't (yet?) heard that HSBC, or any other bank, are delaying online payments by as much, and as regularly, as Santander do. So moving from HSBC to Santander might just be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Regarding the OP's complaint, I think it is quite outrageous that an HSBC (or any) bank clerk should determine whether someone can rightfully deposit several thousand pound in cash into their own account. The bank should take the money, and if they think they spotted a criminal, they should report that person to the police and have the law deal with the matter.

It is unacceptable that a bank bestowes themselves with a judge and jury role, and that such a role should be delegated to a cashier. No offense to cashiers, but these guys and girls aren't trained and educated in legal matters, and anyway, the law in the UK is that people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, not in a bank Branch, and not by the say-so of a cashier (or even the branch manager, or anyone else in the bank).

If you feel your bank thinks they can be judge and jury, or just treat you like an infant, calmly and politely affirm them about your rights and the limits of their abilities. If you do not succeed there and then, lodge a written complaint (which, of course, can take weeks or months to get resolved to your satisfaction). Before you even get stumped, make alternative provisions in case they throw obstacles in your way - i.e. have banking facilities at more than one financial institution.

Go to the Press if a bank is truly unreasonable. Use the power of the internet (petitions etc) if there is gross injustice. Though be very sure of your case before you ask others to support you.

jonesMUFCforever

I wonder...................??
Oldie posters will know what I mean.

JuicyJesus

Archi_Bald wrote: »

If you feel your bank thinks they can be judge and jury, or just treat you like an infant, calmly and politely affirm them about your rights and the limits of their abilities.

You have no "right" to deposit money into an account and they are under no obligation to accept it.

Archi_Bald

JuicyJesus wrote: »

You have no "right" to deposit money into an account and they are under no obligation to accept it.

Show me the T&Cs that spell out what, when & why I cannot deposit into my accounts.

You might be right that there are some, just I am not aware of any. The T&Cs I have seen usually specify unlimited deposits, or one-off sums, mostly by any method I choose (cheque, cash, bank transfer).

One condition I can think of that prevents me from making a deposit is that I have more than £2m in my account. But I don't think we are talking about this.

BMN

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Show me the T&Cs that spell out what, when & why I cannot deposit into my accounts.

You might be right that there are some, just I am not aware of any. The T&Cs I have seen usually specify unlimited deposits, or one-off sums, mostly by any method I choose (cheque, cash, bank transfer).

One condition I can think of that prevents me from making a deposit is that I have more than £2m in my account. But I don't think we are talking about this.

Conversely, where in the terms and conditions does it show that they have to accept a deposit?

Twopints

BMN wrote: »

Conversely, where in the terms and conditions does it show that they have to accept a deposit?

Well, sure, they are a bank, why would they want to allow people to deposit or withdraw cash? Outrageous expectation, whatever next, pubs serving beer? Where will it all end....