I don't want my debit card sent at my home address, what should I do? Please read, diff story & Qs

Eholic

Hello community,

Please accept my apologies for posting a similar post but the other post is not recent and I have few questions which previous post didn't address.

I am planning to open an account with HSBC, (please exclude Barclays, Natwest, I might consider other banks) but more keen on HSBC.

I cannot receive my card at my address due to domestic issues, nothing as serious as physical abuse but actually mentally strangulated by the relative I am living with, with abnormal controls from my daily routine how I do things and when to life changing decisions (I am 26 years old) . So as first step of my plan involves getting a separate bank account which involves obtaining a debit card.

Do HSBC have a minimum deposit amount requirement to open a current account?

If I open the current account at a branch, will the card be instantly issued to me there and then? (Barclays had issued me with an instant card replacement in branch when their machine swallowed my card and I couldn't retrieve it back)

Can I have my card sent to the nearest branch and I will collect it myself with ID as I don't want to receive it at my address for personal reasons mentioned above?

Or can I have a courier collect the card for me and deliver it to my address at a set time by me (when alone)? I know such courier service.

Can I open a current account over the phone?

Sorry if my post is all over the place, I had to write it as quick as I can.

Thank you and I am looking forward to your input on this

mab3000

If you are open to other banks Metro Bank print your card there and then when you open the account in branch. They are the only bank I am aware of that do issue the cards straight away. (You mentioned Barclays have printed you off a card same day before, very few branches have that facility now and I believe they issue replacement cards only not new account cards). 

I can’t say for HSBC but I know of another bank that would in exceptional circumstance have a card delivered to branch instead of the home address, but again only replacement cards and not brand new account cards. 

Zanderman

Opening an account with HSBC, in most people's experience, involves loads of paperwork sent by post over a long period.

They are also one of the fussiest over who can open an account, depending on which account you want.

If you have trouble with mail at home I wouldn't choose HSBC.

And I doubt any bank will send a debit card to another address - it breaks the basic rules of security.

One of the fintechs might suit you better - Starling or Monzo for instance.  Hardly any paperwork with them.

PS Your reference to a previous thread is confusing.  You're logged in as a new user, so there's no way to refer to any previous thread related to you.

Eholic

Zanderman said:

Opening an account with HSBC, in most people's experience, involves loads of paperwork sent by post over a long period.

They are also one of the fussiest over who can open an account, depending on which account you want.

If you have trouble with mail at home I wouldn't choose HSBC.

And I doubt any bank will send a debit card to another address - it breaks the basic rules of security.

One of the fintechs might suit you better - Starling or Monzo for instance.  Hardly any paperwork with them.

Hello Zanderman, regarding the paper work from HSBC, can't I tell them to have all communications paperless?

I do have a Wise (formely TransferWise) account but the relative is aware of that account

Zanderman

Eholic said:

Zanderman said:

Opening an account with HSBC, in most people's experience, involves loads of paperwork sent by post over a long period.

They are also one of the fussiest over who can open an account, depending on which account you want.

If you have trouble with mail at home I wouldn't choose HSBC.

And I doubt any bank will send a debit card to another address - it breaks the basic rules of security.

One of the fintechs might suit you better - Starling or Monzo for instance.  Hardly any paperwork with them.

Hello Zanderman, regarding the paper work from HSBC, can't I tell them to have all communications paperless?

I do have a Wise (formely TransferWise) account but the relative is aware of that account

You could try, but I doubt it will work for account opening.  Paperless is for ongoing accounts (statements etc) not for opening (which requires signatures etc)

sambaird

Have you considered using Royal Mails redirect service to have your mail sent to a separate trusted address?

Whatever bank you choose could be set up under your address, but the associated mail would be redirected somewhere else.

If you want something within the HSBC group, you could consider First Direct.
Recently opened an account with them and application was fully online - only things posted were the card and PIN (separately). 

Did take a while though (2 weeks), which may actually give you time to set up the redirect.

Eholic

Zanderman said:

Eholic said:

Zanderman said:

Opening an account with HSBC, in most people's experience, involves loads of paperwork sent by post over a long period.

They are also one of the fussiest over who can open an account, depending on which account you want.

If you have trouble with mail at home I wouldn't choose HSBC.

And I doubt any bank will send a debit card to another address - it breaks the basic rules of security.

One of the fintechs might suit you better - Starling or Monzo for instance.  Hardly any paperwork with them.

Hello Zanderman, regarding the paper work from HSBC, can't I tell them to have all communications paperless?

I do have a Wise (formely TransferWise) account but the relative is aware of that account

You could try, but I doubt it will work for account opening.  Paperless is for ongoing accounts (statements etc) not for opening (which requires signatures etc)

For the account opening I would be fine to collect it from the nearest branch.

Eholic

sambaird said:

Have you considered using Royal Mails redirect service to have your mail sent to a separate trusted address?

Whatever bank you choose could be set up under your address, but the associated mail would be redirected somewhere else.

If you want something within the HSBC group, you could consider First Direct.
Recently opened an account with them and application was fully online - only things posted were the card and PIN (separately). 

Did take a while though (2 weeks), which may actually give you time to set up the redirect.

Since I don't have another address to receive my card, It seems I might need a virtual address or a PO box to redirect it, that could complicate things as I would then need to pay for a courier to collect the mail from that PO Box to deliver it to my address at a time frame of my choice.

Eholic

sambaird said:

Have you considered using Royal Mails redirect service to have your mail sent to a separate trusted address?

Whatever bank you choose could be set up under your address, but the associated mail would be redirected somewhere else.

If you want something within the HSBC group, you could consider First Direct.
Recently opened an account with them and application was fully online - only things posted were the card and PIN (separately). 

Did take a while though (2 weeks), which may actually give you time to set up the redirect.

Also how is the Royal Mails redirect service used?

Barny1979

Just sign up online, think you can do 6 months or a year. https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

colsten

sambaird said:

Have you considered using Royal Mails redirect service to have your mail sent to a separate trusted address?

Whatever bank you choose could be set up under your address, but the associated mail would be redirected somewhere else.

If you want something within the HSBC group, you could consider First Direct.
Recently opened an account with them and application was fully online - only things posted were the card and PIN (separately). 

Did take a while though (2 weeks), which may actually give you time to set up the redirect.

The RM redirect is an excellent idea. Though not necessarily 100% foolproof

First Direct is without a shadow of a doubt the very worst bank when it comes to sending you post on account opening. I would avoid them for that reason.