HSBC Current Account Application - How long should it reasonably take?

eddie494

I've run the same Nat West bank account for over 30 years, however I thought it was about time I should play the field so I applied for the HSBC Current Account / overdraft + £125 incentive.
That was on 24th October, a full 18 days ago now... I've been asked twice by text to submit proof of ID and home address but I haven't received a single email from them saying they've received my information, that the application process is ongoing, not even so much as a hello! And there's been no credit search for the overdraft facility.
18 days and counting can't be normal can it? I've already got very little confidence in their abilities - now that Nat West are offering an incentive switch for existing customers I'm increasingly minded to tell them to just stuff it.

PRAISETHESUN

This is pretty standard for opening a HSBC account - they are known for being slow to open new accounts, even in normal times. It took me about 6 weeks from applying to have everything set up and working when I first opened an account with them. They tend to send most things by snail mail, so not getting any email updates is pretty standard.

If you desperately need to know, give them a call and ask whats going on - they should be able to tell you the status of your application.

cymruchris

I just did the switch myself - I applied online, and was approved with overdraft instantly. The search has now shown on my files. My debit card arrived within 5 days, my pin within 7. I'm all set up online, and the transfer is progressing. The donor closure account has been notified, the direct debits have now appeared in my HSBC account, and all seems to be going smoothly. Everything has been quick, and the communications great. I've also signed up for the 2.75 percent savings account that's already open, and my first payment gone in. Not a hitch so far. 

So that's me. Now you. There must have been some kind of flag between the information you submitted and the information they saw on your credit file. It appears they've asked for verification, and you've sent it, but heard nothing further? If I was in a similar position, I would pick up the phone and say 'Hi - I made an application, and you requested some details, I've sent them over but it's been a bit of a while and haven't heard anything, can you check on progress and give me an update please?'. Then when someone has a look, they'll at least give you an idea if you are in some kind of processing queue, or whether there's any further anomaly that needs looking at. 

I phoned them as I noticed that the telephone banking password was something that appeared as though you needed to call them for, but when I spoke to them, they said it's in the post, but as you're on the line we'll do it now, and they did. It took under 10 minutes to reach them by phone, which I thought was reasonable considering they are operating a working from home operation in many departments right now. 

pelirocco

I applied online and they confirmed straight away , they have however spent the last 10 days sending me the random bits of paper i need  to get logged online ( havent had time to check ). The debit card turned up within a couple of days

eddie494

Thanks for the responses. Quite a mixed bag then... I'd be a bit surprised if there had been any flag on the application since there is no trace of a hard or soft search on my credit record but I guess it could still be a possibility. Nothing received in the post either. I think I'll give them a nudge in the morning.

northwalesd

I applied (earlier this year), got debit card and PIN quite quickly after sending back half the rainforest they sent, then it all went wrong. Couldn't set up online banking, therefore couldn't  access the acount. Calling them got me nowehere as 'speaking to me over the phone without being fully set up with eaither online banking or a telephone banking code was a breach of data'. I went round in circles for a few weeks, their Twitter team raised a complaint on my behalf, I switched the account to another bank and got £50 compensation for their sub-standard performance (their words).

born_again

eddie494 said:

I've run the same Nat West bank account for over 30 years, however I thought it was about time I should play the field so I applied for the HSBC Current Account / overdraft + £125 incentive.
That was on 24th October, a full 18 days ago now... I've been asked twice by text to submit proof of ID and home address but I haven't received a single email from them saying they've received my information, that the application process is ongoing, not even so much as a hello! And there's been no credit search for the overdraft facility.
18 days and counting can't be normal can it? I've already got very little confidence in their abilities - now that Nat West are offering an incentive switch for existing customers I'm increasingly minded to tell them to just stuff it.

Take it that you have sent the required info back? 
By what means?

Anything like that will have to be manually processed & given the £125 offer, then they could be very busy.

MalMonroe

A similar thing happened to me when I applied online, following a nudge from this very MSE site, for a Halifax credit card. There seemed like a lot of faffing about and I checked my credit report and they'd done a hard search and then they texted me and said please provide proof of ID - without saying whether or not I'd been accepted. I phoned and found out I HAD been accepted but they needed me, in spite of submitting proof of ID via text, to actually physically take my ID proof to one of their branches within two weeks. 

So you have probably been accepted but an HSBC employee needs to see your ID. Seems like it's not unusual now, although I've never had to do that before with any financial online application.

PawFit

We have had HSBC accounts for over 30 years - not a business one admittedly but we applied for a BBL back in May, we kept checking the onboarding system, updated the info as required.  We are still waiting for an outcome!
We have been advised they have now conducted no less than 3 credit check searches on us and still we have not heard a dickie bird - once all this  is over we will be moving all of our accounts - I am pretty disgusted to be honest - I tried to make a complaint but had an email basically telling me tough I have to wait and I could complain to the ombudsman if i want, absolutely appalling customer service.  & still I wait!

jbuchanangb

My wife applied for an HSBC Current account so as to get to the Regular Saver Account. Not switching another current account. The online application went through easily enough. Bits and bob started arriving in the mail. Debit Card, PIN, etc. Frustratingly unable to activate online banking because of need for telephone banking code. Obviously keen to get into online banking to open the Regular Savings Account. After well over two weeks it did arrive in the snail mail. Managed to log on and open the Regular Savings account. Won't be using the current account at all except as a conduit for regular savings.

Katiehound

When I opened my HSBC a./c for a previous switch deal I remember it was very very much quicker to make an appointment  and go in to local branch as there was a mountain of paperwork to wade through.  I doubt the situation has improved especialy since they won't want.lots of personal visits from customers.
 I have been very unimpressed with their phone service lately especially when they blocked a payment... and then suspended the account! It was reasonable whilst it lasted!!