HSBC - hopeless

fifty

I opened a new HSBC account on 30 October, to take advantage of the £150 switch offer. I opened it online, and there was a messsage that I would be contacted by phone in 2-3 days re. switching. I had a brief letter with my account details, then heard nothing until 9 Nov. when I had a text asking to supply ID. I went into a branch, and they said that they didn't need to see ID,as it had been checked electronically.

I didn't receive my debit card until 3 December!! The PIN came 4 days later. I tried to set up internet banking, but discovered that I needed to set up telephone banking codes first. This took about half an hour on an 0345 no., which I have to pay for.


The switch could only be done by phone - another 0345 no.

I then found that, in order to do internet banking, I needed to download the banking app to give an extra level of security; but my phone and notepad were both too old for the app to work!

I had to go into a branch again, where they said that I needed to apply for a device to generate the security code.

The only way I can access my money at the moment is by going into branch! I'm not even sure if I will get the £150, because it took more than 30 days from application to do the switch.

My advice is, it's not worth the hassle. And, the internet banking site is the worst I have ever seen!

tacpot12

Perhaps you could post the details of your phone and tablet so that others who have the same devices can avoid the problems you have had?

Norscbu

HSBC were the worst of all of them over the last year of opening/switching I have done. I ended up being sent 2 debit cards for 2 different types of current account, being told I needed to provide ID in branch (I didn't, I was told when I went there) and the forgot to "tick a box" to process my switch even though I witnessed the staff member do everything in front of me on her screen.

First Direct were not far behind them on the incompetency scale, just about to finally get an m&s account opened (after 4 weeks since applying)... not looking good for that either.

the HSBC group are a joke IME, I hope to never have to deal with them again.

Bloomberg

fifty wrote: »

I opened a new HSBC account on 30 October, to take advantage of the £150 switch offer. I opened it online, and there was a messsage that I would be contacted by phone in 2-3 days re. switching. I had a brief letter with my account details, then heard nothing until 9 Nov. when I had a text asking to supply ID. I went into a branch, and they said that they didn't need to see ID,as it had been checked electronically.

I didn't receive my debit card until 3 December!! The PIN came 4 days later. I tried to set up internet banking, but discovered that I needed to set up telephone banking codes first. This took about half an hour on an 0345 no., which I have to pay for.


The switch could only be done by phone - another 0345 no.

I then found that, in order to do internet banking, I needed to download the banking app to give an extra level of security; but my phone and notepad were both too old for the app to work!

I had to go into a branch again, where they said that I needed to apply for a device to generate the security code.

The only way I can access my money at the moment is by going into branch! I'm not even sure if I will get the £150, because it took more than 30 days from application to do the switch.

My advice is, it's not worth the hassle. And, the internet banking site is the worst I have ever seen!

HSBC are hopeless, they are technologically in the dark ages. When I was with them they has a pathetic app - fast balance which allowed you to view accounts which you had a card for. You couldn't transfer money or make payments. In the meantime the other banks were offering fully functioning apps. What a bunch of clowns. Barclays put them in the shade.

colsten

HSBC, FD and M&S are great for decent switching offer payments, as well as for their Regular Savers which have interest rates now only matched by Nationwide.

If either of these offers tickle your fancy, it's well worth persevering.

Otherwise all three of them they are pretty uninteresting, not least because their online banking is stuck in the dark ages. M&S are the worst as you still need the stupid calculator-thingy to log in, and it hasn't even got an eyelet so can't be attached to a keyring and is really easy to lose. My HSBC app twice stopped working after an automatic update was downloaded and it's a PITA to re-install it. Still, I value that I can get £800 a month into 5% Regular Savers, and the sign-up offers were great.

I also had a nice surprise when M&S offered me an unexpected extra £25 when I took out their credit card (on top of the £25 I got for signing up through MSE). The extra £25 came in form of a voucher which their tills couldn't process for some reason. Whilst it cost me half an hour to get this sorted, they gave me a £25 gift card as an apology - and they handed me the original voucher back. So I was a total £75 up by that stage, and the £25 voucher was subsequently accepted in different M&S. I am also still having an M&S gift card being topped up with a tenner each month, as part of their £220 switch deal. A total of £320 over a year for doing nothing much, plus the 5% interest on the RS, and that was just from M&S. Sorry for the brag - just thought it might help someone to see there could be value, after all.

dktreesea

I've used HSBC for over a decade. The best way to deal with them, I find, is over the phone. I'd never use their internet banking - it's like a decade out of date. If I were into internet/mobile banking, I'd go with Barclays, possibly Santander.

Cretaphile

I notice Nationwide mentioned. I have banked with them since 2005 and would not move!! Their internet banking is great (I don't use my mobile for banking) and any issues I have had in the past have been dealt with promptly and the branch staff are fab. Just don't think it worth switching for a few extra quid and then getting rotten service.

mt99

I agree with that - Nationwide are just excellent! I use their mobile app as well and that is excellent too.

Zanderman

fifty wrote: »

...
I then found that, in order to do internet banking, I needed to download the banking app to give an extra level of security; but my phone and notepad were both too old for the app to work!

I had to go into a branch again, where they said that I needed to apply for a device to generate the security code. ....

HSBC - and M&S Bank, First Direct etc - have always required a 'device' to generate a code in order to use intrenet banking. It's not particularly unusual or a problem, surely? Actually quite reassuring compared to some banks systems.

And you don't need to use their app (unless accessing from a mobile) - so the age of your phone doesn't matter really.

Yorkshire_Pud

The only thing worse than being rejected for a current account with HSBC is being accepted for a current account with HSBC:)

Whatever they spend their money on its not internet banking usability.

However now all is set up and running smoothly after lots of initial faff I find it easy enough to use to monitor the linked Regular Saver about once a month, but relieved I don't need to use on a daily basis that would be painful.

I did it for the incentives;)

WindSnowflake

Hi guys,

I fully agree with everything regarding HSBC...But I am so tempted to open a new account in order to get £200! Only problem is, I would have to switch to do so and I am happy with the other accounts I have. I was debating opening a basic NatWest or Barclay's account and switching straight to HSBC, do you feel it is a) doable and b) worth the hassle / £200?

Cheers x