Credit Card Complaint

gilesp99

I was wondering if I could have some advice. I recently complained to my old bank HSBC in regards to a credit card that I used to have with them. The crux of the complaint is that it was a friend who processed the application, outside of business hours and not in branch. Also when I'd had a drink. Now this was back on 2007 and it isn't since he's left and I've started working in a financial institution that I've realised he shouldn't have provided me the card especially as at the time I was working part time and the rate ended up at 50+%!!!

HSBC have come back to me and said that they simply cannot consider the complaint as they have destroyed any applications etc that would be pertinent to the product. I spoke to a member of their complaints team, Murray, and he simply said as it is there word against mine there is nothing I can do other than go to the FOS, who he things will not help me because of the time frame as well.

Is it worth me going to the FOS given that Murray did state that it would be a huge breach of their regulations if I could prove the complaint. Essentially calling me a liar!! Murray also made no effort to apologise for this and simply stated that all documentation in banks is destroyed after 6 years, which isn't true!

Can I have some help with this if anyone had any suggestions.

bigadaj

Sounds like you and your mate would be up for fraud charges to me, I'd leave it go if it was up to me.

Also I don't believe anyone, including your dodgy mate, followed you round with a gun to your head forcing you to buy the things you couldn't pay for.

anyway it's a free country and its up to you.

chattychappy

However wrongly the application was processed... you then spent on the card? You tendered it in return for goods and services?

In my opinion, you have no chance. Even if the application was wrongly processed and this could be demonstrated, you nevertheless took advantage of having the card and using it.

More importantly, the very fact that it was your friend that processed the form, presumably with your cooperation, suggests you were in cahoots with him. I think that this will make it more difficult for any complaint to stick.

antrobus

gilesp99 wrote: »

I was wondering if I could have some advice. I recently complained to my old bank HSBC in regards to a credit card that I used to have with them. The crux of the complaint is that it was a friend who processed the application, outside of business hours and not in branch. Also when I'd had a drink. Now this was back on 2007 and it isn't since he's left and I've started working in a financial institution that I've realised he shouldn't have provided me the card especially as at the time I was working part time and the rate ended up at 50+%!!!

HSBC have come back to me and said that they simply cannot consider the complaint as they have destroyed any applications etc that would be pertinent to the product. I spoke to a member of their complaints team, Murray, and he simply said as it is there word against mine there is nothing I can do other than go to the FOS, who he things will not help me because of the time frame as well.

Is it worth me going to the FOS given that Murray did state that it would be a huge breach of their regulations if I could prove the complaint. Essentially calling me a liar!! Murray also made no effort to apologise for this and simply stated that all documentation in banks is destroyed after 6 years, which isn't true!

Can I have some help with this if anyone had any suggestions.

I gather what you are saying is that a friend of yours, who once worked for HSBC, filled out a credit card application on your behalf, somewhere other than in a HSBC branch, at a time when you were drunk, and therefore not of sound mind. You also appear to imply that the information on that application may not have been strictly kossher. So you thereby came into possession of a credit card by less than conventional means.

The question would be this; once you'd sobbered up and saw this shiny new piece of plastic in your paws, what did you do? Did you immediately cut it up and return it to HSBC informing them that it had all been a terrible mistake?

I just have this suspicion that what you did with the card when you were stone cold sober is of more significance.

P.S. The standard limitation period is six years, so any claim you make would likely be statute barred by now.