HSBC my vote for New Zealands worst bank

[skid]

We had a home loan from HSBC[good rate at the time]
Since then they have never given an inch on negotiating with the next round of fixed term mortgage rates.
Because of the loan we were called "premier'' account holders and sent these unwanted glossy mags for the rich and famous.
We have recently paid off the loan and low and behold,we now have a $50 fee tacked on to our checking acc. for [you guessed it-not being a premier acc. any more]
They are now saying they want to charge us $15 a month for each acc. we have, since we are just riff raff customers.
Is it just me or does that SUCK.
We now have to get tenants to change thier AP details to another bank acc. [one thats in the real world]
As soon as thats sorted Ill be glad to see the back of these guys..

[TheLiberalLeft]

I think HSBC is an awesome bank. I get that magazine, and I don't hold a mortgage with them, skid. I prefer my banking to be well away from the proles, thank you very much. I like that the premier service is within a separate part of the branch, away from the riff raff (as you say), where I can read the paper, get a coffee or watch the news on the tv while my banker does the necessary paperwork.

Yep, they are indeed the bank for me.

[TheLiberalLeft]

HSBC also allow me to transfer money around the globe in different currencies free of charge. They are marvellous and I'd recommend them whole-heartedly (though jacket & tie is the preferred attire when visiting the premier area). No one wants the labouring classes to get wind of their services.

[artemis]

I had several loans with HSBC over many years. Their rates were good, but agree they weren't very flexible. My main gripe was their call centre. Expect they were Chinese speakers. We ended up spelling words out to each other in order to communicate. Frustrating. I complained eventually and they gave me a personal banker, which was a huge improvement.

[revdev]

They also have a very nice private lounge at Istanbul Airport - free to use, for those with a Premier Credit Card..

[McDuck]

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited is listed as the number one shareholder for all of the Big Four Banks. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings Plc – HSBC Bank owns more than 10% of all of the big Four.
Quote from spankyourbank.com

I think they want you to give them your money via the middle men, (now that you’re small fry).

[flyernzl]

I had a couple of interest-only mortgages with them years ago.
Yes, communication in Chinglish was always a problem.

The crux came when mortgage renegotiation time came around - they'd send me letters like.

Dear Sir,
We need to renegotiate the rates and terms on your mortgage.We are pleased to offer the following options:

Yours Sincerely
. . . .

When approached, they'd say "Yes, verry sorry, we can see the problem. We'll send you another letter with full details".
Then exactly the same letter would arrive again.

Great relief all round when they sold their mortgage portfolio to AMP.

I hope to have nothing to do with them ever again.

[Perry]

Seems you're not alone, flyer. Either way.

HSBC also allow me to transfer money around the globe in different currencies free of charge.
They are marvellous and I'd recommend them whole-heartedly (though jacket & tie is the
preferred attire when visiting the premier area). No one wants the labouring classes to get
wind of their services.

Do you need to speak Cantonese or Mandarin to get
noticed if the jacket and tie are at the dry cleaners?

TLL now replaced by TRR = The Regimented Right

[TheLiberalLeft]

Poverty, Perry, is not the preserve of the left.

Despite the acronym HSBC, I consider them a solid British institution.

They were great last time I was in England. I forgot to bring my UK Switch card, so they replaced it while I waited in the lounge, away from the masses. Actually, come to think of it, seeing a real person (if you are one of the masses) wouldn't have been easy in that branch. The front-of-branch seemed to have only machines with queues of Brits waiting their turn, who of course I hurried past on my way to the decent part of the branch.

None of which affects my liberal leanings, I might add.

[donna]

Yes my experience is from the online bank FirstDirect which is owned by HSBC. It was the first British online bank with no branches set up in the 1990s and it was great and I guess it still is.

cheers,

Donna