Transferring cash ISA from the PO to HSBC

Groggwire

I can't use the HSBC transfer-in form because it's demanding a 12 digit roll number and the Post Office only have 10 character, alphanumeric roll numbers. Each is blaming the other for the issue. This is despite the PO being listed as one of the institutions for which HSBC's online form is applicable. There's clearly nothing the PO can do about this and I have raised a complaint with HSBC for them to investigate why they think the PO can just magically produce what they need. Anyone else had this experience? Surely I can't be the only one trying to transfer between the PO and HSBC this tax year. In the meantime I'm losing money!

eskbanker

Surely the roll number field on an ISA transfer form will accommodate up to 12 characters? There's no defined standard format for these, but many are less than 12, so HSBC should be able to advise you how to complete it.

wmb194

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6664141/transferring-cash-isa-from-the-po-to-hsbc

Often a solution to this sort of problem is to pad the number with as many zeroes as you need at the beginning of the number.

flaneurs_lobster

Have you actually submitted the form (in hardcopy) to HSBC? And they bounced it?

The form is just a PDF, it can't "demand" anything.

Groggwire

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962807#Comment_81962807

According to the HSBC transfer form it requires a 12 digit roll number and will not accept anything else. I also suspect, but don't know, that it requires it to be all numeric and not alphanumeric. This is my issue.

Groggwire

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962818#Comment_81962818

I contacted the Post Office to ask them if I could do this only to be told their systems would not recognise the roll number when the transfer request is received for processing. This feels like a 'deathly embrace'.

Groggwire

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962878#Comment_81962878

No, it's an online (only) form and it won't display the 'submit button' until you have complied with all of its fields. It's not 'just a PDF', it's a smart PDF that forces compliance.

friolento

Fill in the paper transfer form. You can print this, or wait until HSBC send it to you in the post, or pop into a Branch and ask for one.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81963453#Comment_81963453

Rather my point, stop trying to bludgeon some daft bit of code into doing your will, print the form out, fill it in with a black ballpoint and send it off in the mail or hand it in at a branch (email not accepted).

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/content/dam/hsbc/gb/pdf/hsbc-loyalty-cash-isa-transfers-in-form.pdf

Diaz09

Just a thought - have you tried calling HSBC's ISA transfer team directly rather than using the online form? I had a similar issue with a different provider last year where their system couldn't handle my building society's account format. The phone team were able to process it manually using slightly different paperwork. Sometimes these automated systems are just rubbish at dealing with variations, but the actual transfer process behind the scenes is much more flexible than the forms suggest!

friolento

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81963542#Comment_81963542

have you got their number, please?