Wol

I have often recommended HSBC as a fee-free banking facility in Australia.

No longer.

I thought to check my online savings account this evening to see if my pension was in: there were four messages from HSBC there. All said the same thing - that a payment I had set up to pay my credit card bill had not been actioned. In fact, today is the due date.

Naturally I got on the phone straight away and, after literally ten minutes and uncountable auto-menu selections actually got to speak to a real person. As usual, communication was difficult, as I don't speak Cantonese or Mandarin.

To cut a long story short - they have "blocked" my account. Eventually I pulled the information out that mail to me had been returned to the branch - so my account was blocked. Yes, they have my correct address, phone no. and mobile no. But no, they do not consider it necessary to call me and tell me that I can't pay anyone or take money from my account. If I hadn't fortuitously seen the messages I wouldn't have had any idea.

So now I face penalties and charges on my credit card.........

This is the second time HSBC has done the same thing - last time I was told at a new chequebook (which I hadn't asked for since I already had two) had been "returned": it turned out that the branch posted it to themselves, then stuck it into a drawer and a month later destroyed it and blocked my account - naturally without telling me anything!

Rant over - but I'll certainly NOT be recommending HSBC in future.

:thumb down:

Sherlock Holmes

I think banks in general are just absolute sh1te. Generally I have been lucky but there is always SOMETHING:curse: that comes along when you least expect it that will bugger you up. My condolences to you.

Sally Simpson

Hope you get it sorted soon & good luck finding another bank. I hear under the mattress is quite good!

Wol

Thanks - which bank apart from HSBC does no-fee transaction accounts, online?

ABCDiamond

I seem to be recommending NAB a lot these days, due to their no fees accounts.

expatasia

Tell me about it, mine (not HSBC but similar size) back in the UK have taken customer disservice to a new level - tried to phone them now, gave up and rang their major call centre who tried and failed to get through to anyone at the branch!

Last time I actually spoke with them I was told the reason they had not contacted me was that the only phone in their office that can make international calls is out of order! Of course they 'don't do email' for security reasons.

Buzzy--Bee

Citibank. We moved from HSBC to Citibank about 10 minutes after we arrived in Australia.

BB

Sally Simpson

Are they everywherein Aus BB? I can't recall seeing a branch in Cairns

We use Commonwealth & so far so good but I am touching wood as I type that!

kaishang

I've worked in several countries and used to use HSBC.

Without fail, in every HSBC bank I've used throughout the world, they have screwed up. It's not banks in general, it is just HSBC who can't do their basic core business functions properly.

I've now closed the last of my HSBC accounts - approximately 1 year since I have closed it, I haven't had one single banking screw up despite still having accounts with other banks in 3 countries.

Ditch HSBC and you will find most of your problems go away.

Alfresco

Phew! We opened and account with them. I hope they're ok.

Sally Simpson

We have had no probs at all & their internet banking is very straight forward, so much so that even I can do it!

Sherlock Holmes

Just a word to the wise with Comm bank.....the charging of fees is at the branch managers discretion. If you have more than $50,000 with them, all your banking can be free. BUT, they don't tell you that, you have to go and tell them!!

Alfresco

I plan to tell them exactly that. Thank you.

Sally Simpson

We pay $2 per month & nothing else & we have 2 accounts. I pay all the bills through transfer or BPay & have a debit card.

B1K3R

ABCDiamond,

Are there enough NAB ATM's and branches around in Bayside?

Cheers
B!K3R