PominOz1

This is normal for a large, multi-national bank. I will now be dealt with properly, glad to have helped those who are in a similar position and amusement for the rest.

jimjon

Thanks for sharing your experience - we can all learn from each other.
HSBC are making insane profits on the back of high interest rates atm, there is no excuse for such poor service.

Did you have a Zoom meeting to verify ID documents? Assuming you have applied to International services for the 'Overseas Account' (as below) and not the 'Expat Account'?
Do you know if any or what fees apply to the account? TIA

https://internationalservices.hsbc.c...count-opening/

PominOz1

I didn't have a zoom meeting as the person who I was dealing with appeared to be in a public phone box on a main thoroughfare in India - She confirmed my details, including comparing my passport with a mugshot taken by my phone during the course of the interview. I have received an account opening pack with the acc number & sort code but nothing more as I am in limbo because they have not provided a security number - they wont proceed until I quote that number back to them and they just hang up when I try to advance the issue. I had hoped the person I saw in their main branch in central Melbourne might help, but similarly she just ignores everything.

Their problem is that HSBC pass a complaint back to the person who was originally complained about (she was a bully and kept repeating her questions as she didn't understand the answers and refused to answer any of mine). So I suspect she's just ignored everything hence me eventually contacting the CEO via email directly (see above).

Yes that's the account I applied for and no fees were ever mentioned but you can always confirm that using the email above.

Like many others here all I want is a simple 'letterbox' account to receive my UK private pensions in sterling and hopefully my state pension in a few years time. I can then undertake any forex conversions with a provider of my choice at the time of my choice, not theirs. It isn't rocket science.

Good luck.

jimjon

Thanks - funny I just did a Zoom to confirm everything - this for the International Overseas UK account (not Expat account) the end of the discussion says two to three business days I will be contacted for the next stage of setting up the account.
So far they have been fast to respond...I only submitted the documents an hour ago and thus already verified

Yes I am quite nervous about this whole thing and giving out our ID like this - I do hope we are SAFE!

Its either this or a Wise account....but I think HSBC on the whole is potentially the better option especially long term...I hope!

PominOz1

Yes Jim, mine were verified instantaneously but after that everything went sh1t-shaped.

After this fiasco is over I'll contact a mate who still works in International banking and see if the organisation he's working for can set up a project to identify expat customers who require this simple service. Afterall, expats as a rule have funds sitting in active accounts that the banks can leverage off. I see absolutely no need to pay any account activation or operational costs.

GL.

tdrinker

You can't be sure. HSBC is a proper bank account, with benefits of deposit security, some institutions refuse to transact with Wise, etc. But with one bank after another closing accounts for non-residents, it's possible HSBC will do likewise one day.

Jakeinaka

Hi all, new member here, how are you all doing?
Well I had the same letter, I've been living in Asia for some years and have over the last 2 or 3 been receiving private pension payments from my provider. These have been paid into my UK high street account which I kept since I moved away. Of course this has now changed.
I had thought about using Wise, but my provider doesn't accept it, as it's not a regulated bank. Fortunately for some years I have maintained an international account in the IOM. I was slightly concerned whether it would be acceptable or not, IOM isn't actually in the UK.
However, I've found that as the bank is British, with a UK sort code etc, it's OK. There are a few banks there offering international accounts, the required deposit is high in some cases, but it's a solution. So IOM, Jersey, Guernsey are doable.

jimjon

So my update - I have been told my account application has been accepted and an electronic letter is on its way with all the details - also coming is a Card and a HSBC Pen! apparently. Now I wait and see if it materialises.

dcw

Has anyone else actually tried to close their Barclays accounts as they've asked? I've moved all the money out so the balances are zero, and then tried to close them online. Apparently can't do it online. Just got a long winded message about doing so by phone, post or in person. So presumably going to have to spend ages trying to do it by phone. Is anyone else bothering or can we just let them close it?

Jakeinaka

Online with the chat function should do it

dcw

Thanks, I'll give that a shot

dcw

That seemed to work well. I was assured in the chat that they my accounts will now be closed. Thanks again to @jakeinaka