Saff_Parker

Hey

Still don't have a bank account yet. Work gave me my salary in the form of an HSBC cheque. I'm aware that the little branches in some of the malls don't have cash on site so they don't cash cheques especially for large sums. I recall meeting someone randomly recently who said they had to drive out to Deira to cash in their HSBC cheques but I don't remember the details of this conversation.

Anyone know where an HSBC cheque can be cashed? Is it only the branch down in Deira/Bur Dubai?

Thanks

commander

Don't know where you work, but there is an HSBC bank with all the bells and whistles at Jebel Ali, by Gate 1 of the FZE or in Media City if you are around there.

desert-rat

Go to the main HSBC in Bur Dubai. near to Rulers Court and Ambassador Hotel on the creek.

Meow

The merger of HSBC and Lloyds local banking is currently taking place and you should be able to cash a HSBC cheque in the old Lloyds Bank branch on Al Wasl Road, by Safa Park. Even if hasn't been fully rebranded the merger will be finalised by 15th February and back office systems are being run by HSBC.

Much easier than schlepping all the way to Bur Dubai or even Jebel Ali. You can call them on 04 342 2000 to check. (Don't forget to take your passport as proof of identity.)


You may also find that other major banks will cash a HSBC cheque too. Call some branches near to you to check.

Saff_Parker

Thanks guys for your pointers (Meow I read your message too late, I ended up going to Bur Dubai, but thanks for the advice!)

I went to Bur Dubai branch and cashed the cheque successfully. Score!

Saff

mentalist

Did you manage to find a parking space within walking distance?

Saff_Parker

I took the metro

scrubbedexpat141

Gold Class?

Saff_Parker

Nope!

Miss Anne Thrope

Just for future reference (though not for long I guess), they have created a special area for HSBC Premier banking in the old Lloyds Jumeirah branch. It is a separate section (accessed through the same entrance) off to the left when you come in located in an area around the side that was not previously open to the public. Prior to the systems merger on 15 Feb this section seems to be operating as a normal HSBC "branch-within-a-branch" and conducting any legacy HSBC business, not just Premier. They even have their own tellers and cash desk around the back - staffed by locals (male and female) who were both friendly and efficient when I dealt with them. Yes it can happen! I was able to handle a relatively complicated matter concerning an old Bur Dubai branch account with no problem at all.

Legacy Lloyds business is being conducted at the old teller desks. I guess after the 15 Feb that will become the standard HSBC counter, presumably for any account whether fomer Lloyds or former HSBC.

Anyway, depsite having had a pleasant experience in-branch, I am still running a mile from HSBC as a former Lloyds customer. One encounter with their call centre was enough to ensure that and validate all the terrible experiences I have had with HSBC in the past.

Meow

From what I see and have heard, the merger is being handled well, in a very organised manner.

There will be a new Lloyds TSB offshore office opening soon in Sunset Mall too.

Miss Anne Thrope

I'm not sure that I would entirely agree from my experience - it's a bit chaotic (I'm bewildered, not to mention annoyed, with having to "generate" my own IBAN code, for example) though nowhere near as bad as I had feared. Things have been arriving randomly and without much explanation, warning nor context. Nobody has been in touch personally via any medium even though, apparently, I am a Premier customer and assured I will have a dedicated relationship manager. They haven't done enough to keep me though I did come with a deep-seated (and fully justified) set of prejudices against HSBC UAE....

And nobody at all has been in touch from Lloyds TSB offshore with whom I am thoroughly disgusted.

scrubbedexpat141

My boss is/was a Lloyds premier customer. The other day the most basic of all HSBC accounts got delivered. He just laughed and got Barclays to come in and get him signed up to their one...6 free rounds of golf a month made it a no brainer!

Lloyds offshore - my only experience is the old man, he's banked with them in Jersey (I think, not Guernsey) for years and loves them. Part of that is the bloke he talks to as his relationship / whatever manager has never changed.

Guess that makes a big difference.

Miss Anne Thrope

I've got stuff with Llloyds offshore in Guernsey - they're fine as you say and were always handled separately from Dubai (it's Private Banking, ahem) even though I started my relationship with them from here. It's the offshore stuff that was managed from Dubai before that seems to have gone completely awry...

desert-rat

I have always found HSBC to be very generous....free membership @ Emirates Golf when I was in DXB and a free I-Phone 5 here.