HSBC account opening

Liam2594

Tried to open an account with HSBC on 25th July (switch offer and Natwest frustrate me), however I got a text saying things are taking longer than normal two days later, but still haven't heard anything. Do they normally take forever to open new accounts?

Thanks.

Nebulous2

Yes. I opened an HSBC account for a switching offer about 3 years ago and the process was remarkably frustrating then. Most people seemed to find opening an account with them challenging. Goodness knows what it is like now, with a pandemic to deal with.

I missed the date I needed to have it open by but a complaint saw me credited with the bonus almost immediately. 

Liam2594

Thanks for the above, seems to be a waiting game with them. We'll see. Half considering the Halifax Ultimate account offer now to be honest.

GalacticaActual

I applied to open an account online with HSBC UK during the first lockdown (April 2020) on a Wednesday evening at about 9pm. On the Friday that week (2 days later) I received the debit card through the post and the following Monday the PIN arrived.

The only problem I had, if you could call it that, was setting up online banking and also the telephone voice ID/password. That was a bit of a palaver. 

pokora

It tooke me around 15 days to get my Hsbc account. Lucky it was a secondary account.

solentsusie

Well here is an odd one.

I applied online to get the switch offer on the last day they were offering the £125 switch, as I had just heard that Tesco Bank were closing their accounts, not sure how long ago that was.  Following the application I just got a message saying that they were having delays, then a letter through the post saying I didn't qualify for the account and to check my crdit rating, so I thought I had been turned doen because of this which, I thought was strange as my behaviour has been very solid for a long time, not even a missed payment on my record for years, but then the letter said they would like me to bank with them so pop into a branch to look at alternatives, I duly ignored the letter as I wanted the switch option which I didn't think I would get as it had expired and isn't on their other more standard account.

Then today I get a email saying my Advance account has been opened and to expect my card and PIN in the post in the next few days...

I went online, as I already have a HSBC credit card, and low and behold the account is open.

I am slightly confused at what they are playing at...

WillPS

You can only presume from how bleeding long it takes that opening HSBC accounts must be a *very* manual process, which I suppose leaves the door open for somebody to hit the 'send decline letter' button as well as the 'open account' button.

Either way, as long as you meet the offer terms, you should be golden now.

solentsusie

WillPS said:

You can only presume from how bleeding long it takes that opening HSBC accounts must be a *very* manual process, which I suppose leaves the door open for somebody to hit the 'send decline letter' button as well as the 'open account' button.

Either way, as long as you meet the offer terms, you should be golden now.

I'll wait and see... 

Had a text message from them as well just as I finished writing my first post, saying my card/PIN are on their way and that I'll get my telephone banking security number etc. etc.  But it mentions nothing about my switch request.  Do they do that separately?

Phoning them is so utterly painful and I amy trying desperately to avoid that, I had to do that once before.  Funny how they seem to have such good online/telephone service for First Direct yet their HSBC arm is so utterly bad...