“HSBC is really the most disgusting bank of all time. Worst customer service experience I've ever received. Won't be using them for my student account.”
“Beyond appalled. Having transferred to Santander, hsbc employee didn’t understand the switch guarantee. Because of his advice I have paid out fees which are standard in all banks to bank a dollars cheque. I could have had a refund and it would have gone into my new account via switch guarantee, Santander knew this why didn’t the hsbc employee?
Further your Indian call centre staff are most rude and I’m very happy to leave hsbc”
“To be honest, I don't know where to start.
HSBC is a bank full of wicked, unempathetic advisors both in branch and over the phone. In fact, it would be inaccurate to call them advisors at all.
I am an international student and I get money transferred to me regularly to pay for my tuition and rent, as well as my monthly living expense.
On the 21st of June 2019, I had money transferred to me form my monthly living expense. However, this amount was not credited to my account.
I called HSBC customer service and a very rude customer service advisor informed me that my account is under review. I then asked her what that meant and a timescale as to when my account would be unfrozen. She informed me that she could not give me any information and advice me to go to the branch. I pleaded with her and informed her that I had literally no money to get breakfast and I depend on y monthly allowance to survive. After she hung up on me, I decided to quickly rush to the Birmingham New Street Branch.
At the branch, I informed them about everything that transpired earlier that morning and the advisor told me that she would call and get some information for me. After making me wait for 1hour which b the time I was extremely late for my lecture the customer service advisor returned and informed me that there was nothing she could do. She further told me that the branch could not help me and I would have to wait to be contacted. I begged and informed her once again that I had no money to live on but she and another colleague told me in a very cold demeanour that there was nothing that they could do and gave me no information. I then asked if I could call and talk to them myself, at this point, I was in tears. But they told me that there was no use calling and I am wasting my time sitting here waiting for a solution. I was shocked by this response and how rude and unempathetic the where.
I left but still called another customer service advisor that could at least give me some information because at this point I began to panic that truly I would not be able to afford breakfast, lunch, dinner or to survive at all. When I called the customer service advisor told me the exact same thing and told her that I wanted to lodge a complaint because of how I was treated over the phone and the inconvenience. she alright told me that she does not see grounds for a complaint. I was still in tears and at this point, I asked her if the bank wanted me to go on the to beg. She laughed at me and asked if there was anything else.
I still did not give up, I called a third time. At this point, It was 3 pm and I had missed school. The customer service advisor that picked up told me that she had spoken to the review team and the person reviewing my account would give me a call the next day at noon. I was relieved. there was hope.
The next day I waited for a call but no call came so I decided to call. The customer service advisor I spoke to informed me that the person I spoke to yesterday gave me incorrect information. No one was scheduled to call me about my account. I was persistent I gave her a record of the previous day but she told me that the account was still under review and no one would be contacting me that day.
I then lodged a complaint describing all the inconvenience and frustration HSBC had caused me. I again asked her if I could at least get some money from my account so I can survive but she said no and told me to borrow money from my university mates. I was At this point, I had only 5 pounds with me and no means of buying a bus pass back home so I had to walk 50 mins back to my house from the university.
I still haven't been contacted by HSBC and the customer advisors are even ruder and rush me off the phone every time I call.
As a customer, you are supposed to trust your bank. They are supposed to make sure your financially safe and well informed about your finances. HSBC bank especially the branch in the Birmingham New Street is a disgrace and frankly, the advisors should be ashamed of themselves for looking down on people they lead to financial ruin.”
“I’m strugging financially. My fault, but aided and abetted by HSBC when they allowed me a 13k credit card limit and massive overdraft. Then they charged me 16% interest on a consolidation loan. At a time when they were advertising 3% loans. I had no bad credit at this time. This week I was over my overdraft limit. I needed some money for essentials until pay day at the end of the month. I had nowhere to turn so I took out a payday loan. HSBC blocked me from accessing the £75 I loaned. I have £3.40 in 5p pieces to get me through the next 4 days. Thank you HSBC.”
“By far the worse experience I have ever had with a bank.
Credit card account was blocked by HSBC for what they call unknown reasons.
Asked them to unlock the account they said they need to send me a code via the post. Didn't receive it. So called again. They said they would send it again. Didn't receive it. Called again asking for my credit card balance as by this time I had enough. They couldn't give me a balance. Stated they need to send me a code first. Haven't received it. So if cancelled my direct debit. And I'm sure they will contact me saying. Sorry sir your direct debit has been cancelled you need to pay today. Sure I'll say. How much is my balance. I'll then pay it all off. Cancel the card and live happy ever after.
Please stay away from these useless people.
Thank you”
“Could not be less helpful, received an email asking me to contact their call centre, first person i spoke to kept pushing me to log in on line, i explained that i was asked to call, again, use the website, i asked if he was able to help me, with a huff he agreed, then went to a second person, he advised there was nothing he could do to help, so i still have a problem that needs fixing and no one seems to be able or wanting to help get it resolved. such poor customer service”
“Extremely bad service. I wanted to change addresses for myself and my 12 and 17 old children. They changed mine after 1/2 hour. Then they told me even though I opened their accounts myself and am 3rd party authorised, I couldn’t do it. The Gloucester Road manager, Zhang-Su Thomason said she couldn’t help. The options weren’t there even to do it by completing a form. She was ok about losing 3 customers if I wished to close all our accounts. Such a horrendous service. I had to take time off work just to waste it there. Never would recommend them.”
“This is one of the few sites with 'reviews' of HSBC where I have actually been able to leave a review... Interestingly it is also one of the few which seem to echo my opinion of the company's management of my account.
I make almost daily calls to HSBC to try and make payments (which I try to do entirely online) I am told each time that the fault is with the receiving bank only to find out that this is not the case.
I have repeatedly requested email communication yet not received a single email and instead am told that I couldn't be contacted.
Every large payment has taken me days and multiple phone calls, each time with a different explanation given.”
“I had a massive issue with HSBC this week. I was trying to log onto online banking, which I do daily. I have had the same log-in details for years. However, this time the system kept telling me that I was using the wrong log-in details (which I wasn't). Then it locked my account.
I had a long and frustrating phone call with a lady who could hardly speak English, telling me that it was my fault and I was entering the wrong details. Made me feel like a complete idiot! I know my own log-in but she would not have it.
After 3 days I received a reset password in the post, but unable to do any banking online - and I need access numerous times a day.
During this time my son tried to make some online transactions using his account and card, all were declined due to an error, so please do not tell me that HSBC did not have and issue and blame me.”
“A car hire company put a reserve on my credit card of 850€. The car was returned ok, and signed off by them as undamaged etc. However, more than two weeks later, they haven't released the reserve. They don't respond to emails or phone calls, and HSBC say they can't do anything. Basically that hold can stay there forever, reducing my credit limit accordingly. Supposedly the hold should only be there for 5-7 days but 16 days later HSBC say I have to contact the hire company. Argh!!!”
“spent four days trying to open a bank, used the phone set up, used the online help - all useless. Nothing worked, they try to cut staff and do everything online which does not work”
“On-line fraud
We have been holding a regular account (no business) with HSBC for 14 years, mainly used to pay utility bills and regular expenses.
We have been victim of a fraud by a hacker.
During the on-line fraud, my wife alerted HSBC whilst the transactions were still happening.
Our call was on hold for about 15/20 minutes before been able to speak with the fraud team.
HSBC has been unable to stop a 15k transaction to a fraudulent Barclays account.
After days we received only a letter blaming us for lack of protection of our secure details.
Nothing was mentioned about them releasing an unusual payment of 15k without any check… no call or text has been made.
Nothing was mentioned about lack of security from Barclays opening fraudulent accounts.
We are a standard family planning ahead every investment and this matter has permanently affected our future plans.
Now we are no longer HSBC customers anymore.
I am writing this to warn future consumers.”
“My relative is UK born, but has lived in Zimbabwe for past 60 years. She has a HSBC account in UK which HSBC made dormant and are now refusing her access to her savings until she proves her identity. HSBC had no problem with her identity talking to her by phone over past 10years; no problem with identity supplying her with a debit card sent by courier service and no problem with her identity sending private & confidential statements to her home in Zimbabwe.
She is now terminally ill, confined to a wheelchair and has not been able to leave her home for 4 years. The mental stress is unbelievable,
but HSBC seem quite happy to condemn her to a premature death, by withholding her only means of buying the health care she desperately needs. They even asked her to supply a copy of her bus-pass!!! She lives 6,000 miles away and has not set foot in UK for over 20 years!”
“Hsbc closed my sons account in Jan19. He was advised a cheque would be put in the post on the 1st Feb we are now on the 11th April. No money no cheque.
8 to calls no solution 11th april i have been advised the cheque will be put in the post today.”
“Never open an HSBC bank account! The app is rubbishy I cant manage my direct debits or transfer money between accounts.
Telephone customer service is a nightmare. Two hours on the phone trying to close my saver account and get it transferred to current account. The customer service personelle are in another country and don’t seem to know what they are doing, putting me on hold for long lengths of time.
I am closing my account as soon as possible moving to another bank.”
“I got into big financial difficulties, with HSBC giving me massive credit card and overdraft limits. I had a couple of other credit cards too. Virgin Money at least stopped the interest on my credit card while I pay it off over the next 5 years. HSBC greedily charged me 16% on a consolidation loan for my debt with them. They are making around £10,000 in profit on the loan. And they love it. Scum.”
