HSBC Closed account!

SLZ

GingerBob wrote: »

Well if that's the view they take on money transfers from/to Thailand it just confirms to me that HSBC doesn't deserve to be called a bank. They are no better than the scammers who they say they are trying to protect us from. A large number of young people from the UK head to Thailand for gap years or whatever, so money transfers involving Thailand must be a very common occurrence.

The current money laundering rules stink! As does the interpretation of them by scammers like HSBC.

I wouldn't have thought that these are transfers to a Thai bank for those on gap years, more like a British bank for which they then use over there (that's what my cousin did anyway), only was it he was in Australia did money get transferred to a foreign bank account).

I'm not opposed the anti-money laundering rules, I think they're there to serve a purpose and I'm sure for the vast majority there is no blow back as with what happened here.

stonehedge

If it makes you feel any better a friend of mine recently had his HSBC account closed without a given reason. His account was in good order and his main current account to which his £750k a year salary was paid (I know!).

The only transactions on his account that were out of the norm were a handful of payments to his USD accounts in the USA. We think he triggered a risk threshold of some sort.

He is furious but plenty of banks are keen to give him somewhere to deposit his money.

bigadaj

mgdavid wrote: »

Then go do something about it and stop wasting your energy and time perpetually ranting about it.

Well he's often sick out of the window, might be a variation on a dirty protest?

Alienna

eskbanker wrote: »

It's the other 10% of occasions that cause the problems though....

My original post was in regards to the below:

Any half decent banks still left out there? Ones that have yet to disappear behind min-wage teenagers sat behind computers pretending to offer 'customer service'. Andy

Yes it is that 10% that cause the problems. But that's 10%. Remember for every one person you have an issue with, there are 9 people you don't. Don't 'tar everyone with the same brush'. Especially not teenagers who are just starting out and learning - everyone has got to start somewhere.

Usually, if someone is deemed unhelpful, it is down to the companies policies and procedures. These poor frontline staff are stuck between a rock and a hardplace - face an annoyed customer, or break the rules and potentially (in worst cases) lose their job. It's not an easy position to be in - and yes - they're on minimum wage. They don't deserve to be spoken to rudely. (I am speaking from experience.)

As I said before, unless they are rude to you (that's the 10%) then the problem is higher up the chain.

d70cw6

sue must be a saint!

underwurlde

Alienna wrote: »

Hey! Many years ago, I was a "minimum wage teenager". Not with a bank, but still in retail, offering customer service. I was young then and still learning the "tricks of the trade", which I bet these are too, earning a wage, maybe even starting their career.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and along the way, they have to follow the directions of their bosses - they're the ones who set the rules.

Please don't ever complain about anyone on the front line who is just telling you things you don't want to hear. Nine times out of ten they are just doing their job. If they're rude, fair enough. But even if you perceive them to be unhelpful - it is probably because they are unable to get the information you want to hear. It's a vicious cycle.

"Hey!" back at you. Let me get this straight: At NO point in any of my posts was I having a pop at minimum wage teenagers. PERIOD. And I would NEVER hold them or anyone at the front line 'accountable' nor would I EVER be rude to them. PERIOD. I work with young adults and have mentored many of them over the years. FWIW I strongly feel that my country has let this younger generation down in so many ways I've lost count (and the older generation too).

I was trying to have a pop at the bank in a round-about manner but I guess it may be difficult to read between the lines sometimes. I am on your side with backing up these people, just wanted to get that straight.

Also, this (was) my wife's main account, used on a daily basis. After having just set a mortgage up with them too, they have our home, work & mobile telephone numbers as well as email addresses etc. Hence in my mind sending a letter of this nature (not that I got it, but don't doubt one wasn't sent TBH) is paramount to telling someone to f-off.

Oh, and they Know Sue is Thai. They've got a copy of her f-ing passport (part of the mortgage application) so PROBABLY, just PROBABLY this would account for a few low cost transfers to bl00dy Thailand?

Anyway, I've wasted far too much of my time on this now. Thank you all so kindly for your responses and debate. We have now opened a joint account with Nationwide so ta-ta HSBC.

Cheers,

Andy & Sue.

underwurlde

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Though your story doesn't stack up with regards to overseas activity.

Oh & why is that?

mgdavid

underwurlde wrote: »

Oh & why is that?

in post #1 you said 'Some overseas transactions, about 3-4 in total.'

and in post 9 you said 'Maybe it was the foreign transactions. Countries concerned (from memory) were:
Norway,
Sweden,
France.
Regular payments to Thailand (ongoing for as long as the account was opened'

major contradiction.

underwurlde

Norway...1, Sweden...2, France...3 & Thailand...4

These were one-off payments apart from a few to Thailand. So, no 'major contradiction' in my mind. And I did day "about".

Mrs_Ryan

There are some really rude bank employees out there. I've encountered two spectacular examples- once when I needed to urgently transfer some money to a friend to get me something because I was bedbound with a fibromyalgia flare and the employee cheekily said 'you've previously used your card in shops so there isn't anything wrong with you and you aren't bedbound' and then a Lloyds employee on the phone who told me snootily that the fact I haven't any hair now (I've been diagnosed with cancer and alopecia since my passport photo was taken) would be grounds for them not to accept my passport as 'I clearly wouldn't look like I do on the photo anymore' I went into branch and told them this, the poor girl who I spoke to couldn't apologise enough and was almost in tears with mortification.
My account was opened in branch and they had no issues at all with the passport- the lovely young man who opened my account said he could clearly see the person on the passport was me.
It isn't always the case they're 'doing their job'