HSBC Credit Card - speak to UK call centre?

Brendan_Townsend

My greatest problem by far with HSBC, or indeed any security-sensitive service using Indian call centres, is the proliferation of scams and fraud from India - on an industrial scale.

The security-savvy amongst us ask the caller to verify THEIR identity (such as being able to quote the first line of home address and postcode, or account no., or transaction amount, etc), but many don't. Expecting an Indian support agent can have serious security implications.

I'm aware that if scammers are caught and prosecuted in India, they are fined typically anything from $150-$600 and released again, and so it grows.

Twice last year I was called by clearly Indian scammers each claiming to be from HSBC, the second time (following a large transaction the previous day), and was claiming the call was concerning a recent transaction. HSBC do this also for 'security safeguards' (with Indian agents) so almost had me drawn in, until I asked the caller to verify my details, and couldn't of-course.

A third time I had an Indian caller also claiming to be from HSBC, but the caller stumbled a little when I asked them to confirm my details, so I just put the phone down. As it turned out however, the caller turned out to be genuine.

I suppose cost is king to wealthy institutions, with sanctimony and 'feel-good' rhetoric to passify concerned customers.

Stay safe 🙂