Switching to HSBC advance account

chriswright

Dear all
Please excuse the newbie question.
I will soon be ready to switch my current account to HSBC advance account. I am doing this essentially for the £150, and then will stay for the further £50.

Question:
1. do I open the account online and also start the switch process at the same time/, or do I open the account and then once it is open do the switch?
2. when opening the HSBC account, am I right in assuming that I will have to visit an HSBC branch to have my id verified?

Thank you for any help,
Chris

Kernow22

HSBC Advance Account; here's a watchout based on my personal experience. Completed the online application. Received a letter to say there was a problem and I should produce photo id and proof of address in branch. Phoned the call centre (who were helpful, credit where credit is due) to establish what was wrong with my online application. I had inadvertently not included my middle name (unusual for me but everyone makes the odd error) so even though I am a mortgage customer, I had to find a branch close to work to visit during banking hours. ID was accepted and they updated the application accordingly. Great;sorted you think - no, a week or so later I receive another letter, they need proof of my salary, in branch. At this point, I shredded the letter. If you have a branch convenient to you, go ahead but if not be prepared for the obstacle course ahead.

clivep

My wife & I applied online and issued the switch instructions at this time. We did choose a switch date near the 30 day limit to cover any difficulties with the process and make sure we had received the Yorkshire Bank bonuses.

My wife's account was opened fairly quickly although the first we knew of this was when her debit card turned up... no need for a branch visit for id verification.

Mine on the other hand was not so easy. Eventually a letter arrived asking me to visit a branch with the id in order to progress the application. I checked on the phone and was told no appointment was necessary but when I turned up they said they could not take copies without an appointment. I made an appointment to continue the application as well as presenting id which was a good idea as they were unable to continue the application and had to start another from scratch.

I believe my difficulties were due to previously having a joint a/c with them (closed several years ago) that they still retained the details for. I had been registered for internet access on this old a/c whereas my wife had not. Some details held for me were different than on my new application (mobile number maybe?) and this is what caused the problems opening the a/c and subsequent difficulties setting up the internet banking on my a/c.

Both switches went through smoothly and the bonuses were paid 14 days later.

eskbanker

chriswright wrote: »

1. do I open the account online and also start the switch process at the same time/, or do I open the account and then once it is open do the switch?

Open first, then initiate the switch once the account has been confirmed as up and running. The offer requires that the switch is started within 30 days of opening the account, which highlights that they're two separate steps.

chriswright wrote: »

2. when opening the HSBC account, am I right in assuming that I will have to visit an HSBC branch to have my id verified?

Not necessarily, as with other institutions they'll try to verify your ID electronically and only request in-branch processing by exception, as it's not in their interests to do it all manually either....

chriswright

Thank you everyone.
Can I assume that it is also the case for Halifax that one opens the account first and then initiates the switch later?

18cc

with all banks you can apply for an account and either 1. fill in switching details there and then as you apply or 2. wait until account is open then request a switch. Your choice - no right or wrong way.

Badger50

I've opened numerous accounts with other banks without difficulty. HSBC are the exception, asking me to take photo ID and proof of address into a branch. I did so and copies were taken. The branch offered to complete the opening process there and then but said it would take an hour. As I had already been waiting 45 minutes I said I would let the online application take its course. I can think of reasons why they wanted ID in branch - I think I'm on the electoral roll under a different address; I was once a First Direct customer and my name might not match (middle name used/not used). And I have opened a lot of bank accounts.

Curls2208

Worst banking experience I've ever had was definitely the recent Yorkshire and Clydesdale. In the end they just stopped contacting me having never solved the switch , and me having giving then all the new and different info they asked for on my end. Awful awful experience with them. Anyway this is kind of off topic, I just fancied a little moan.

System

Curls2208 wrote: »

Worst banking experience I've ever had was definitely the recent Yorkshire and Clydesdale. In the end they just stopped contacting me having never solved the switch , and me having giving then all the new and different info they asked for on my end. Awful awful experience with them. Anyway this is kind of off topic, I just fancied a little moan.

It's fairly idiot proof if the CASS is used as it's automated.

Did you try to alter something or have a problem with something not matching?

ValiantSon

eskbanker wrote: »

Open first, then initiate the switch once the account has been confirmed as up and running. The offer requires that the switch is started within 30 days of opening the account, which highlights that they're two separate steps.

Most banks allow you to fill in the switch application at the same time as account opening. Do HSBC not do this?

ValiantSon

chriswright wrote: »

Thank you everyone.
Can I assume that it is also the case for Halifax that one opens the account first and then initiates the switch later?

I think you have been misled a little. Most banks (including Halifax) allow you to apply for the switch at the same time as you complete the account application. It should all be fairly straightforward and obvious using the online service.