HSBC or RBS?

fly-catchers

Thinking of transferring my Tesco Bank to either HSBC or RBS for their bribe! But which might be less hassle? As going through various threads HSBC might be worse! And as I am still having problems accessing and using my new Virgin money account don't need any more complications if I can help it!   

NottinghamKnight

Anecdotally RBS should be easier and less likely to be rejected, however you may well have to go through verification, was more hassle than most accounts when I opened one recently.

colsten

RBS definitely easier IMO. Also pay a lot less than HSBC. Both can be a bit picky. If I were you, I would get myself another donor account and try to switch to both. I say try because yoy can’t be sure you’ll get accepted at either.

Polly05

RBS. I switched to HSBC last year and it was a hassle. Couldn't get into online banking. Then once I could, I couldn't set up a payee. On the phone to them for hours. Multiple times. They tried. Said "right it should be there". It wasn't. Eventually gave up and never been able to add a new payee. Luckily I wasn't using it as my main account. 

oldagetraveller1

In my case it would be RBS. Only because HSBC rejected my "bribe"application and RBS accepted me.

HSBC seem to be more "picky" about who they will take on.

By coincidence it was a Tesco Current account switch too.

blue.peter

I wouldn't touch RBS with a bargepole.

I fell for one of their introductory offers last year (£125 now + £50 if you stay a year), and regretted it. Opening the account was fairly easy, but having it was a Chinese water torture for me - a long stream of minor frustrations, inconveniences and irritations. No single thing breached any of their Ts & Cs or policies, or justified a complaint. But the cumulative effect was horrible. I found it so bad that I switched my account after 10 months, and so forwent the remaining £50 of their offer.

colsten

blue.peter said:

I wouldn't touch RBS with a bargepole.

I fell for one of their introductory offers last year (£125 now + £50 if you stay a year), and regretted it. Opening the account was fairly easy, but having it was a Chinese water torture for me - a long stream of minor frustrations, inconveniences and irritations. No single thing breached any of their Ts & Cs or policies, or justified a complaint. But the cumulative effect was horrible. I found it so bad that I switched my account after 10 months, and so forwent the remaining £50 of their offer.

Sounds you have been extremely unfortunate, and were paid £125 for the 'torture'.

I have only been with RBS for a couple of months now. Since then, I have lined up £150 offers (£100 for switching, £50 for their Investment accounts) and 2 x Reward accounts, which will net me £3 each a month = another £72 over 12 months. Whilst the application of the first Reward account was a bit hit and miss (was turned down by email, then received card/PIN/activation code by Post), I cannot complain about the operation of the account. 

northwalesd

blue.peter said:

I wouldn't touch RBS with a bargepole.

And I wouldn't touch HSBC with a bargepole - they couldn't even get my account opened properly, though I did get the switch incentive and £50 compensation for the 'torture'. In my experience, HSBC couldn't organise a pee-up in a brewery.

ZeroSum

I haven't had either of these directly but have had ones with First Direct (HSBC) & Nat West (RBS)

FD was a nightmare to set up all the online banking, I've never experienced anything so complicated. 
Nat West, I'd echo comments above about RBS. Just loads of little irritations, wouldn't want them as my main bank. Plus we use them at work, and I think they're woeful.

So would imagine HSBC & RBS are similar, and going by others comments, sounds like they are

Polly05

I've had no problems with RBS. 

gsmh

Both banks are at the very bottom of the ethical league table so if you care about that sort of thing you wouldn't open an account with either.