I have had exactly the same experience as Angry Nomad. Having been a customer of HSBC for a number of years I fell into difficulty with credit card payments. I contacted them straight away to explain that it was due to a change in circumstances and I would need help. I agreed to a payment plan of what I could afford until I got back on my feet again. They have been an absolute nightmare and my complaint is with the abroad call centres. First of all are the consistent, nuisance phone calls from 8am until 9pm sometimes up to ten times a day. Every time I explained that I would only answer calls between a certain time as I have two very small children who would often be disturbed by calls when in bed. They took no notice at all. These calls were often in the tone of 'you haven’t paid/you have paid less than required/payments were late' and most annoyingly why I couldn’t pay. Their questions and tone were rude, offensive and obtrusive. I felt that I had to explain my situation over and over again. They tried to make me pay more. The best bit was I have been in an agreed payment plan with them for over 8 months paid by standing order and have never faulted which they only acknowledge when it suits them. I have learned that you have to make notes of dates, names and conversations because they do not add anything to your records and will refuse point blank that you have called or made any arrangement also they refuse to confirm anything in writing. There is no internal communication and I cannot believe that staff are fully trained to carry out their jobs. As for my payment plan they keep denying that there is one in place but although I have names, dates etc, they are more than happy to accept my money every month. I have to argue regularly over late payment fees added to my account when payments are made by standing order and received by HSBC a week before the payment date. Today's argument has been that my payment plan was only for two months. My concern is that they feel that they can terminate this without informing the other party? Lastly, you can expect to be on the phone for approx 1 hour as you are put through to different departments and left on hold for 10 minute intervals (from my experience). Today, I complained and asked to speak to a Manager. I was then put on hold and left and left until I gave up the will to live. Another letter on its way to HSBC Complaints Department. This is the worst bank I have ever had dealings with.

Posted by Sara on the 4th February 2010

Firstly some of the comments here have been a bit unfair. 'all call centres seem to be in far flung parts of the world and you can not understand what they say' this is completely unreasonable! The bank is one of the biggest international banks in the world, so of course they are going to have call centres across the globe. Other banks/organisations do this a lot. HSBC still have call centres in the UK, for instance Leeds, Edinburgh, Hamilton, Swansea, Sheffield... and is it really that difficult to understand people. I think that is bordering on being a little racist and stereotyping. I have called call centres from abroad and not had any difficulty in understanding, maybe the people that think that it is hard to understand should try and be a bit more cultured and not expect a company just to have call centres in the UK.
I have never had a problem with HSBC, they are always friendly and offer to help. They have the most sophisticated branch network, giving machines that can do most of the simple tasks people need to do for everyday banking. Call centre staff are knowledgeable and if they cant help straight away then they will find someone with the right skills. All I would say in closing is don't forget which banks managed to make it through the recession without the help of the government!! Only 2 come to mind...

Posted by Ashley on the 13th January 2010

I have had a few problems with the HSBC collections department. It was for account which was overdrawn by £150 to £300 every month. After repeated attempts of explaining the situation and giving them a promise to pay the amount off when I got paid, they still continued to call regardless of the time of day, which for them was 8.00 am until 9.00 pm. They called once day at first and then it stepped up to twice a day or more.

I got really fed up it and I got to the point that I would answer the phone when I heard the letters HSBC. I jumped in and told them they had already called and they have the information which has not changed. Then I told them I had lodged a complaint with the HSBC Quality Services Department.

The complaint that I lodged dealt with the persistent calls, information not being added to the A/C notes and being lied to by their call centre staff and that any communication regarding my account should be done in writing. Reason being that I was lied to and information and requests that were agreed to were noted on the A/C. The calls did stop but the communication in writing part did not happen.
I suggest that if you have suffered from either or all A) persistent calls, B) information that is not being added to the A/C notes C) being lied to by the call centre staff take a note of they time they called, the name of the person and complain to the HSBC Quality Service Department.
No one should suffer from bad service even if they are overdrawn on their accounts. Remember these people that call are supposed to be trained and they follow a crib sheet and if the crib does not allow them to answer the question say that you want to escalate the call and speak to a British HSBC representative that will get the problem sorted out and until you speak to one you will not answer their questions.
I have dealt with Indian call centres before and HBSC, Orange and Singapore Airlines must have given out the contracts to the worse trained Indian call centres and I have dealt with the people in call centres in the UK but at least they know how to approach people and know when the problem can’t be resolved by them and so pass it up the line.

Posted by Angry Nomad on the 8th January 2010

My husband has banked with them for 17 years and me only 10yrs, we were given a good overdraft, high limit credit card and flexi loan, then last year they cornered me in branch refused to hand over my new card until I promised to call the sales team, they cleared my loan, credit and overdraft for 1 monthly payment then cancelled them all! I tried t apply fo a £100 overdraft for emergencies and was told by call centre not too bother even trying. They put a admin charge on my husbands account and caused it to go overdrawn then called me twice a day for over a week, I asked them if it was urgent to speak to other half they said no not urgent, the charge was refunded however, now hubby has black mark on perfect credit report which is causing problems. Complaint made and waiting response. Also came across a group on facebook where a member of staff has taken it upon himself to say what he thinks of the customers! We bank with COOP now fantastic bank always helpful nothing is ever a problem.

Posted by Victoria on the 2nd December 2009

I can only assume HSBC have been asking staff to leave positive reviews about the service they provide looking at this site. I have been with HSBC since I opened a midland pound account when I was 11 years old 22 years ago at my school branch. The service they now provide it absolutely awful. Here are some specific examples, 1. They took it upon themselves to cancel my debit card because they changed their service provider from maestro to visa debit, leaving my unable to pay for my shopping in the supermarket. 2. They changed their Visa payment system from being a 4 day payment to being a 1 day process and accidentally did not make my visa card minimum payment then charged me for their mistake and gave me a black mark on my credit rating. 3. You can not get to speak to anyone who can make a decision and all call centres seem to be in far flung parts of the world and you can not understand what they say and the lines are terrible and they NORMALLY take 10 mins to answer your call and when you do get through they are worse than useless. 4. HSBC encouraged me to stop receiving statements and to go to internet banking. I did it but when I wanted a statement to apply for a mortgage with another bank they could not print me a statement at the branch, it would take 10 days 5. You will find that most HSBC branches do not have a position closed sign any more, because they only have 1 cashier desk, you can use an array of 20 different machines and computers that are unable to do the job e.g. you normally have to queue for 20 mins at most HSBC branches if you want to pay in Scottish pound notes as their machines do not handle them and they have removed all the cashier counters (except 1) so you can not complain about positions being closed. 6. If you go to your local HSBC branch you will find they do not have a manager any more. If the cashier can not deal with your query they have to call a manager at a regional Hub who will speak to you over the phone and tell you the same thing usually NO 7. You can almost NEVER get through to your local branch. HSBC as so profit focused they have forgotten what banking and personal service are all about. Try a proper bank like Barclays who have the old fashioned customer focused approach! I have just moved all my accounts to them (I earn about 120k per year and do not have time for their mess), how they dare say they are Local in any way baffles me as everything seems to be totally computer controlled and centralised. Everyone I know who banks with HSBC shares my view on how bad they are at customer service. It is a shame it is so much hassle to change banks.

Posted by Fraser on the 24th June 2009

I have been with this bank since they were Midland and yes they could never be as good as they were in the day - no phone calls about your overdraft with a mention that if its not sorted out by the end of the week they might have to start charging anymore. Yes it did become bad after it went to HSBC and I did move over to Alliance and Leicester but I moved back very quickly and I'm glad of it as except for problems setting up a share account they responded within a day when I simply told them I would go elsewhere for that service. This is a very good time to be in the HSBC, lets hope they keep getting better and actually fix problems for good.

Posted by LJ on the 13th March 2009

HSBC has to be the worst banking organisation I have dealt with. I have been a customer since the days of The Midland Bank in 1990 and have to say that enough was enough last year and I moved to a bank north of the border. Better service, better customer care and, best of all, English call centres and branches you can ring up. I will never darken the door of an HSBC branch again.

Posted by Colin Brooks on the 4th March 2008

I've been with HSBC / Midland Bank since year dot. I have always found the staff very helpful. Internet banking is very good. They do now own first direct and I have found the level of service with FD to be very good as well. However, I have to complain about the way they have "modernised" the local bank. Everything is automated (paying in cheques, coins; getting out statements etc.). If you need to chat to the cashier (all of 2 desks) it is more than likely that you will have to stand in a queue for sometime.

Posted by Neil Ridgway on the 24th January 2008

HSBC victimised our company seemingly trying to put it on the point of collapse. Two business managers were controlling our Invoice Discount and pulling many rugs from under our feet at a moment's notice without putting it in writing and quite often within 24 hours of advising us of there intentions. We had deaths in our family but HSBC shown no compassion and offered No Help. We have been with them for 6 years and paid 10's of thousands in fees to be told in polite terms to go away and in so many words, we don't trust you and we are not helping you any longer.

Posted by Lee Gorton on the 29th October 2007

I have always found HSBC to be a fantastic bank. Staff are always friendly and helpful. great range of accounts, much better than many other high street banks!!! HSBC rocks!!!

Posted by Kristien on the 26th October 2007

In my experience HSBC staff prefer to avoid working. If you phone, they will tell you to go to a branch. If you go to a branch they will tell you to phone. No matter want you want. It requires a great deal of patience and persuasion to get anything done at HSBC. If you do finally get someone to agree to do their job, expect them to get it wrong. Good Luck! They have a good online banking system though, and if you can get by without ever needing customer service then they are ok.

Posted by Desmond Hillary on the 22nd October 2007

I've banked with HSBC for personal and business banking since 1997. They provide a very reliable and professional service. One year I decided to open an Abbey Bank account and it was only then that I realised how good HSBC is. People take things for granted when they work. In contrast, Abbey had misleading advertising, poorly trained staff, an inferior online banking website and a overall poor level of service. I would certainly recommend HSBC.

Posted by Steve Hayes on the 21st August 2007

Use HSBC as a secondary account. On holiday in the Peak District some years back I bought some items in a Co-op store by debit card. Twice it was swiped and said transaction failed both times: I ended up using a cheque.

Lo and behold both failed card payments had gone through! Co-op store was 150 miles from home so i couldn't get refunds from them - explained this to HSBC who refunded both payments immediately from their own pocket. Excellent service.

Posted by John on the 1st July 2007

The Midland Bank was one of the best banks I ever used, but when they became HSBC their quality of service collapsed virtually overnight. They may have improved since I got out, but I don't hear good things about this bank often.

Posted by Jude Rawlins on the 3rd June 2007

I have always found the HSBC immensely helpful, courteous and friendly. I thoroughly agree with Hannah.

Posted by Sarah T M Bell on the 15th May 2007

Been with HSBC for about 9 years and they have always provided a great service. I do most of my banking online and it is a really easy to use system. Customer service on the phone is good too if you ever have to use it, never have to wait very long at all if I want to speak to a human.

Posted by Hannah Shanks on the 16th March 2007