The Subject of HSBC
Jun 11th 2008, 5:59 am
#16
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,252
Re: The Subject of HSBC
I wasn't a premier customer and got unsecured credit card and line of credit okay. There's no set of rules for dealing with new customers, it seems completely random - dig up any thread on the subject and there are those who've got what they wanted and those who haven't.
I didn't know there were 2 branches in Winnipeg but that would be double the number in the UK cities I lived in (and banked with HSBC) before leaving, so an improvement for me
I didn't know there were 2 branches in Winnipeg but that would be double the number in the UK cities I lived in (and banked with HSBC) before leaving, so an improvement for me
Then last year in December i believe they opened another on on Kenaston (where the new strip malls are).
For me they are not very well placed as i live in the north end. Downtown parking always sucks. and kenaston is a long drive. but they are good for some people.
Jun 11th 2008, 6:37 am
#17
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: British Columbia, Canada
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Re: The Subject of HSBC
The first person I spoke to at HSBC in Calgary told me that they two banks were separate companies which happened to have the same name, so he couldn't help me! Undeterred, I tried speaking to someone who knew what he was talking about and was offered an unsecured credit card before my PR application had even been opened in Mississauga. It seems to be a case of finding the right person to get what you want.
Our realtor has also assured us that his mortgage broker has obtained mortgages for a number of immigrants based entirely on overseas credit ratings. We're yet to put that one to the test, but I'll report back when I find out whether it's true!
Our realtor has also assured us that his mortgage broker has obtained mortgages for a number of immigrants based entirely on overseas credit ratings. We're yet to put that one to the test, but I'll report back when I find out whether it's true!
HSBC in Canada overid the decision not to give us a card because they could see our credit history in the U.K was good, so the account manager overid the electronic decision. We were offered a $1000 limit with no deposit to put down from day one (with no credit history in Canada !!!)
Again it seems to be pot luck which branch you open the account with and who you deal with, but anything that can increase your chances of getting credit as soon as you get here, you should do !
Whats the harm !
Jun 11th 2008, 6:40 am
#18
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Location: Windsor, ON
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Re: The Subject of HSBC
I've recently rang HSBC international and got the forms for opening an account in Canada - they will open an account and provide a credit card, transfer credit history from the UK, however, this costs £100 if you're NOT a premier customer (which I'm not).
I'm thinking of doing this anyway, even though it costs a ton, as I'd like it to be all in order before I get there....
EDIT: Just checked the brochure that came with the forms - says in order to get credit history transferred, you must have been a customer for 12 months and then it is subject to a max of USD $5000. This is for non premier customers..... if you qualify for premier then they're likely to give you credit regardless (and the silver spoon treatment others have mentioned)
I'm thinking of doing this anyway, even though it costs a ton, as I'd like it to be all in order before I get there....
EDIT: Just checked the brochure that came with the forms - says in order to get credit history transferred, you must have been a customer for 12 months and then it is subject to a max of USD $5000. This is for non premier customers..... if you qualify for premier then they're likely to give you credit regardless (and the silver spoon treatment others have mentioned)
Last edited by G77; Jun 11th 2008 at 6:52 am.
Jun 11th 2008, 12:07 pm
#19
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 428
Re: The Subject of HSBC
I've recently rang HSBC international and got the forms for opening an account in Canada - they will open an account and provide a credit card, transfer credit history from the UK, however, this costs £100 if you're NOT a premier customer (which I'm not).
I'm thinking of doing this anyway, even though it costs a ton, as I'd like it to be all in order before I get there....
EDIT: Just checked the brochure that came with the forms - says in order to get credit history transferred, you must have been a customer for 12 months and then it is subject to a max of USD $5000. This is for non premier customers..... if you qualify for premier then they're likely to give you credit regardless (and the silver spoon treatment others have mentioned)
I'm thinking of doing this anyway, even though it costs a ton, as I'd like it to be all in order before I get there....
EDIT: Just checked the brochure that came with the forms - says in order to get credit history transferred, you must have been a customer for 12 months and then it is subject to a max of USD $5000. This is for non premier customers..... if you qualify for premier then they're likely to give you credit regardless (and the silver spoon treatment others have mentioned)
your right it does say you have to have been a customer for 12 months, although we had only been a hsbc customer for 3 months, and everything went through fine when we got to Canada ! we felt this definately helped us when we got to Canada !
Jun 11th 2008, 1:46 pm
#20
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Joined: May 2004
Location: Amherst Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,935
Re: The Subject of HSBC
That is not correct, our credit score travelled with us, hence we were offered a 70% mortgage and a $25,000.00 line of credit (overdraft for us still in the UK)
Our Credit cards and cheque books were sent to us as were out atm card and when we went on our reccie to Toronto, we enabled the cards with a pin of our choice and the staff were wonderful to us and still are.
Also both our relationship managers have taled and corresponded on the phone with each other.
As I said we had a credit record with them, but I am sure if you transfer over in time it will be available.
I would suggest to PCUZ, for a cost of a call its worth it !
Our Credit cards and cheque books were sent to us as were out atm card and when we went on our reccie to Toronto, we enabled the cards with a pin of our choice and the staff were wonderful to us and still are.
Also both our relationship managers have taled and corresponded on the phone with each other.
As I said we had a credit record with them, but I am sure if you transfer over in time it will be available.
I would suggest to PCUZ, for a cost of a call its worth it !
That to is our experience. Our nearest branch is 2 hours away in Halifax but do all on line banking and no problems.Any problems we had whilst in the UK either the International section dealt with it or emailed our contact in Canada and they quickly sorted it out. Saying that we could have had a mortgage but opted to get one with a local bank and cos we was putting down a good deposit had no problems
Jun 11th 2008, 1:55 pm
#21
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Re: The Subject of HSBC
HSBC, Calgary have been so useless I just get annoyed talking about them.
Don't do it is my advice
Gryphea
Don't do it is my advice
Gryphea
Jun 11th 2008, 1:59 pm
#22
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Nusajaya
Posts: 2,327
Re: The Subject of HSBC
I'm not one to support any bank.... they're all blood-suckers.... but hsbc did sort me out quickly and free.... I am a premier account holder, but anyone can be if they're willing to pay 28 bucks a month.... well worth it for the lack of hassle.
Jun 11th 2008, 3:49 pm
#23
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,020
Re: The Subject of HSBC
Premier Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for HSBC Premier, you need to maintain $150,000 in personal deposit and investment balances or $350,000 in personal deposit, investment and credit balances*. Business owners may also qualify for HSBC Premier if your company maintains commercial deposits or investments greater then $150,000 or if commercial deposits, investments and credit balances* exceed $500,000.
In Canada, there is a monthly fee of $28. This fee is discretionary and may be reduced based on your total holdings with HSBC – ask your Relationship Manager for details. The monthly fee includes all that is outlined above.
To qualify for HSBC Premier, you need to maintain $150,000 in personal deposit and investment balances or $350,000 in personal deposit, investment and credit balances*. Business owners may also qualify for HSBC Premier if your company maintains commercial deposits or investments greater then $150,000 or if commercial deposits, investments and credit balances* exceed $500,000.
In Canada, there is a monthly fee of $28. This fee is discretionary and may be reduced based on your total holdings with HSBC – ask your Relationship Manager for details. The monthly fee includes all that is outlined above.
Jun 12th 2008, 1:11 am
#24
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Re: The Subject of HSBC
Le Credit Crunch??
Jun 12th 2008, 3:13 am
#25
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,053
Re: The Subject of HSBC
The HSBC in Lethbridge has been awesome, Michelle is our personal banker but Paige and Angie know us all by first names!!! (I banked with them in the UK and only ever dealt with Bombay).
They gave us credit cards immeadiately, have been great with any queries and just couldn't help us any more.
The branch manager also decided to cancel all our charges for debit use too as she heard me talking one day about being worried as I use our debit cards lots.
They have been fab.
Mrs Miggins xx
They gave us credit cards immeadiately, have been great with any queries and just couldn't help us any more.
The branch manager also decided to cancel all our charges for debit use too as she heard me talking one day about being worried as I use our debit cards lots.
They have been fab.
Mrs Miggins xx
Jun 12th 2008, 3:41 am
#26
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 373
Re: The Subject of HSBC
[QUOTE=Surrey Expat;6457330]They are separate organisations with the same name and were as good as useless to us. The computers between HSBC Canada and the UK are not linked, give them a call and ask.QUOTE]
I was told the same, but it's not true. Their computers are linked. In Calgary, he tapped my UK credit card number into his computer and was able to pull up all the information he needed.
I'm not a premier customer, but have had my current account and credit card with HSBC for more than a year (about 10 years in fact).
I was told the same, but it's not true. Their computers are linked. In Calgary, he tapped my UK credit card number into his computer and was able to pull up all the information he needed.
I'm not a premier customer, but have had my current account and credit card with HSBC for more than a year (about 10 years in fact).
Jun 15th 2008, 7:57 am
#27
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: T.O
Posts: 141
Re: The Subject of HSBC
Sorry to bring this backup again! 
But do HSBC in canada actually transfer you credit record over to Canada or do they just refer back to your UK credit record using HSBC in the UK?
Just to be clear if they transfer it then other lenders in Canada will see the transfered credit record, so I thought this would be really useful.
I get the feeling though that they just refer to the UK record rather than transfer it? So you still have to work seperately at building up your Canadian credit record?
Thanks,
P
But do HSBC in canada actually transfer you credit record over to Canada or do they just refer back to your UK credit record using HSBC in the UK?
Just to be clear if they transfer it then other lenders in Canada will see the transfered credit record, so I thought this would be really useful.
I get the feeling though that they just refer to the UK record rather than transfer it? So you still have to work seperately at building up your Canadian credit record?
Thanks,
P
Jun 15th 2008, 8:54 am
#28
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: NB
Posts: 304
Re: The Subject of HSBC
Useless - HSBC in the UK sent the money we had to pay to make a formal offer on our house to the wrong bank. They then repeated it about 6 weeks later when sending the money to a car dealer to pay for the car. I ended up having to hire a car whilst waiting for them to get the money back and send it to the correct place.
I've got a HSBC Premier account in the UK, my daily withdrawal limit is 1000 GBP. Here I can withdraw $500 per transaction. If I try two $500 transactions after one another is works about 30% of the time, the rest of the time it tells me to contact my branch. I've also MANY times had it fail on the 1st $500 withdrawl. I have been told now 4 times by the Premium Account Manager that the Q referral flag or something has been removed and I will NOT have this problem again. Erm....yeah right.
I bank with RBC here, no problems and find them very helpful. I've even had them email me asking if they can do anything for me. HSBC sending me an email to see what they can do for me I think not.
I've got a HSBC Premier account in the UK, my daily withdrawal limit is 1000 GBP. Here I can withdraw $500 per transaction. If I try two $500 transactions after one another is works about 30% of the time, the rest of the time it tells me to contact my branch. I've also MANY times had it fail on the 1st $500 withdrawl. I have been told now 4 times by the Premium Account Manager that the Q referral flag or something has been removed and I will NOT have this problem again. Erm....yeah right.
I bank with RBC here, no problems and find them very helpful. I've even had them email me asking if they can do anything for me. HSBC sending me an email to see what they can do for me I think not.
Jun 15th 2008, 11:41 am
#29
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Nusajaya
Posts: 2,327
Re: The Subject of HSBC
Sorry to bring this backup again!
But do HSBC in canada actually transfer you credit record over to Canada or do they just refer back to your UK credit record using HSBC in the UK?
Just to be clear if they transfer it then other lenders in Canada will see the transfered credit record, so I thought this would be really useful.
I get the feeling though that they just refer to the UK record rather than transfer it? So you still have to work seperately at building up your Canadian credit record?
Thanks,
P
But do HSBC in canada actually transfer you credit record over to Canada or do they just refer back to your UK credit record using HSBC in the UK?
Just to be clear if they transfer it then other lenders in Canada will see the transfered credit record, so I thought this would be really useful.
I get the feeling though that they just refer to the UK record rather than transfer it? So you still have to work seperately at building up your Canadian credit record?
Thanks,
P
Seems not. I just got knocked back for a Company Amex because they couldn't find any credit history for me.
Screw 'em, I'll take my biz elsewhere (if they'll have me!)
Jun 15th 2008, 7:02 pm
#30
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Coniston Nr Hull Now Lethbridge Alberda!!
Posts: 228
Re: The Subject of HSBC
I must agree with london-england - we have hsbc accounts in both countries and so far have not had any problems with the CA one - probably more with the UK one at present though. For our situation it is easier to have HSBC but that does not mean to say when we get to CA we will stay with them - we will be able to shop around even more then so will go with the best for us be it HSBC or a n other.
