HSBC Advance Accout Opening Problems

SuiDreams

I rang HSBC over a week ago to open a HSBC Advance accout. All approved online and verified. Was told I didn't need to go into Branch as the ID etc had been verfied during the application process. I was told some paperwork would come out to sign and send back for the account to be opened. On Monday a Welcome pack arraived but no forms to sign, so I rang HSBC. I was told these had been sent out separately and to call back if they hadn't arrived on Wednesday.Called HSBC back on Wednesday and was told relevant department closed and to call back next day. Called on Thursday after a long wait on the phone, they had arranged for someone else to pront off te forms again and they would call me back when this was done. Didn't recieve a call back yesterday so called again today. This time I'm told these forms can not be sent to a home address and must be signed in Branch only. Can not get an appointment in Branch so apparently have to just turn up and hope someone can help me, but there won't be anyone available on a Saturday.It all seems to be a bit of a mess, never had to turn up in Branch before to open an account when ID has already been verified. Has anyone else had similar trouble with HSBC

piker1957

Oh yes. We decided to open an HSBC Advance account primarily to take advantage of the linked savings but also because the location of their branch is much more convenient than the Nationwide where we currently bank. I knew I'd have to take ID into the branch, but thought it would be quicker to open the account on the phone and just pop in with the ID. Boy was I mistaken.

First call to establish "profile" took 25 minutes and their system crashed. Had to call back and because I got a different adviser had to go through establishing profile again, because we wanted a joint account that took 35 minutes, then transferred to agent who could actually open the account, after 10 minutes on hold person who answered said we needed another hour, wasn't convenient to take so long having already spent 45 minutes on the phone, therefore she said OK why don't you call back when you have more time.

Called back again later that evening and was forced to answer the profile questions again - third time for me! Only took 25 minutes and after the obligatory 10 minutes on hold eventually got through to an absolute prat who was theoretically meant to open the account. I say prat because I didn't need a lecture on why I was totally non-environmentally friendly because we said we'd need a cheque book; also being asked 4 times why we wanted to open the account was rather excessive, so after 50 minutes of stupid behaviour from him we gave up.

Called back the next day and although we had to go through everything again, this time with a very helpful and apologetic lady which only took an hour, we then went to branch and had to go through virtually everything again which took another 40 minutes. In total it took over 4 hours to open the account - for our inconvenience we've been given the princely sum of £10.

So in my experience opening an account as a new HSBC customer is a nightmare and whatever interest you might earn on a linked savings account is not worth the aggravation. Certainly don't waste your time and try to do it over the phone, go straight to the branch.

veryintrigued

Another elongated experience here.

Painfully slow for such a large company

colsten

It might be faster to open a normal bank account online and then upgrade to the Advance. The upgrade phonecall will still take half an hour or so and are known for asking quite intrusive questions. Doesn't mean you need to answer them all.

Harveys_2

Recently opened an advance account, regular saver and cash ISA - no problem at all except the calls last 30 to 40 minutes...

plus trying to sell you other products...

SuiDreams

Glad its not just me, having problems, can't believe the different information I've been given though. I don't understand why I need to go into branch when they don't need to check my ID. They originally send they would send paper work to my home for me to sign, then suddenly your not allowed to sign up at home only in branch. Seems really bizarre, no other Bank has ever asked me to come in just to sign something.

SuiDreams

Harveys wrote: »

Recently opened an advance account, regular saver and cash ISA - no problem at all except the calls last 30 to 40 minutes...

plus trying to sell you other products...

Was this as a new customer, they didn't ask you to sign up to anything?

Harveys_2

No I've held the same current account for 23 years from graduate to standard to advance etc

To be fair I just use the account for my salary to be paid in...I hardly keep any money in it.

I'm taking advantage of the regular saver and the new cash ISA...otherwise I use other banks for better customer service and/or interest.

Javens

colsten wrote: »

It might be faster to open a normal bank account online and then upgrade to the Advance. The upgrade phonecall will still take half an hour or so and are known for asking quite intrusive questions. Doesn't mean you need to answer them all.

Don't do this!!!

This was my exact thought, applied online for standard Bank Account, was then going to phone to upgrade to Advance, however they will not do it as they want the account to have 3 months of history before running through an application.

I also had a nightmare trying to open the bank account - they sent a form for me to sign and return, however the included prepaid envelope was the wrong department (it had PPI Complaints on it). I went to branch and they sorted it in the end.

Have just phoned HSBC as haven't received a debit card. Turns out one was never ordered when the account was opened. Have just had them order me one and a pin number.

Not the best of services, but got/getting there in the end.

norm_

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

I'm having the same problem, open last month, been waiting for the debit card and pin, sent back the letter wanting my signature.

Sounds like an absolutely hopeless way of opening up an account. Security questions asked name and dob, then said I'd failed the security?? Now going to send out another letter which will take 5 days and then another 5 days after that to get a debit card.

I'm in the exact same boat.

I applied start of March, got the signature form within a few working days, signed that, sent back. Then I got the welcome pack. Fast forward two weeks, I don't have a debit card or pin, and when I phoned them up, I went through the security questions, to which the advisor said I passed, then I was put on a hold for a minute, after which they came back and said it failed and I would have to be sent a security code in the post. :rotfl:

My M&S account which I applied around the same time, is now all setup. Supposedly run by the same bank ...

piker1957

skcollobcat I thought the same because the account opening was painful and they've messed up loads of other stuff, no hint of compensation because they don't place any value on a customer's time - genuine quote from HSBC Customer Care. However I and my wife are each able to transfer in £300 from prior year ISAs, which we've done to take advantage of the Save Together £10 per month bonus, so an effective 40% interest rate. We've also opened two Regular Savers to get the 6% interest. I'm going to transfer in the £1,750 and immediately transfer out £1,250 so just leaving enough to fund the maximum into each Regular Saver. After all the hassle it gives me a small sense of satisfaction that they're not going to make anything out of me and I'm taking maximum advantage of them.

Opened a Club Lloyds which took minutes and that will now be our main account instead of the HSBC Advance. Oh and yes I've applied for an HSBC standard current account which can be done online for the sole purpose of being a donor account for the Co-op!