HSBC premier card, any way to apply/upgrade online?

pjread

due to other cards cashback being nerfed, I'm planning to get the HSBC premier credit card and rack up some avios instead.  Niggle is I have an HSBC advanced account; you need a premier current account to apply for the card, but they aren't processing upgrades over the phone apparently. 

Anyone managed to upgrade in the last 12 months or so?  Wondering about just applying for the premier current account online, but it says that's for new customers only....  & I'd rather retain account number etc.

The_Urbanite

My advice would to be to get it processed in branch. Someone who knows what they’re doing will handle the application and they can help get it approved there and then. Heard some not great accounts of Premier onboarding online. 

knightfox

HSBC expect you to open an account in branch
Due to Covid HSBC wont allow appointments
The only wat is to open a new account online using your login then open a new account for the premier account
I havent done this, i have only been told by other people the route they used.
If you do find another way, please tell me. Thank you.

MDMD

I was about to call them next week to do the same upgrade, I.won’t bother now if they don’t do it over the phone….

Umiamz

I enquired a couple of weeks ago and was told that I needed to visit an HSBC branch with ID and they would arrange a telephone "interview". From what I've heard, it is like an interview, too! I know a couple of people who qualify on financial grounds for the Premier account but were not accepted.

I qualified because of the amount I had invested with them, but I've since moved a large proportion of that elsewhere, so no longer qualify.

The_Urbanite

If they accept you, they will allow a few weeks for you to qualify if you hold funds elsewhere. 

MDMD

I qualify based on gross income, although it drops below the limit when I make large workplace  pension contributions a few months of the year.

pjread

Thanks all.  Qualifying isn't a problem, but going to a branch is.  I'm kinda amazed they won't process an upgrade online or over phone to get a 'sale' of the credit card product.

knightfox

I agree with your comments about the opening I presume the sales pitch needed in their view to be personal. Other banks have sorted opening accounts easily over the past year with restrictions in place.