A UK Citizen banking with HSBC, on a passport account.

gouki_mee

I am returnee to the UK from Australia after a 15 year absent and the first thing I wanted to do was open a bank account. My Australian friend was able to open an account from Australia with no problem and no monthly charges but somehow I was offered a passport account and have to pay 6 pounds a month service charge.

According to the "friendly" branch that I signed up, I was told that when I get a permanent address with bills to my name then I can switch to a normal savings account.

About a month later, I found a place to rent with bills included and I have a letter from my landlord stating my proof of residence. This was not good enough according to HSBC. I need a utility bill under my name or a British drivers' licence to change my account, but the worst news was that I am contracted to a 12 month term for having a passport account!!! I was told by the first person that I didn't have to do this because I am a British citizen and was born in this country, the transition should be smooth for me.

So what can I do about HSBC and do other banks offer no-fee paying saving accounts or are they all the same? I have never had to pay for a monthly fee for the 5 different countries that I have lived in until here.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

globalds

I lived abroad for a few years and all the time I was abroad I kept a savings account open with HSBC ..I only had about £150.00 in it ..
This helped when I settled back in UK as I still had a history with the bank .

poppy_f1

why dont you see what other banks will offer you

gouki_mee

Thanks I'll do that, I don't really know which bank is ideal for my situation as there seem to be a lot (I only picked HSBC because its international).

Megalomaniac

I'd stick with in for the year. It's not a great account, but you get a debit card with it. After a year, then you can look elsewhere into opening an account. Meanwhile, think about making your credit active by obtaining a credit card, such as Capital One. All this will look better in a year's time when it comes to applying to a much better current account which you won't have to pay for.

This is what my girlfriend is going to do (she has this account), has been accepted for a credit card, and after the year's, we'll look at current accounts and find the best one for her then. I just need to get some bills in her name, such as electricity and her credit rating will be going from nothing (Was in America previously) to something respectable!