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See the Best Banks in 2019 as rated by Australians on ProductReview.com.au.
Will NEVER use HSBC
I applied online for a Low Interest Credit Card to help pay for a holiday. HSBC was recommended by the company I was booking with and told it would be an easy and fast process. It was a horrible process and because I needed it quickly rang them almost every day to see if it had been finalised and in the end, after being promised I would be called about the final outcome after receiving initial approval, they sent an email saying that my application had been rejected by HSBC!
I am extremely angry, frustrated and disappointed by my whole experi...Read more
ence. Not only has it taken a week to have my application finalised, their website wasn't working properly and it took me 3 hours to complete an application that should have taken 30 mins. The system never seemed to update itself so you never knew if they had the information they needed or not and in the end I had to ring someone to get that information. Even the emails I were sent were wrong. When I rang it got worse as I kept being promised my application would be finalized within an hour and it never was! I was promised this 3 times in 1 day & had to ring each time they didn't... When I told them this I was then told that I should never have been told that! To top it off the last time I rang after I was contacted again for more information again they promised it would take 1 hour!!!! Retrieving my application online was also an issue and it didn't matter what device I used to try to locate it! So after 7 days, at least 7 phone calls and more hours then I would care to remember I am no better off than when I started. Don't make the same mistake I did. Find someone else. HSBC is not worth the time and effort.Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
HarrySydney, NSW
TERRIBLE - Would not recommend to anyone
I tried to apply for a HSBC credit card. The online application process was torture as it went around in circles asking for the same documents to be scanned in more than once. It was difficult to follow. And, after going through this terrible process and waiting over 2 weeks, it took ME to call them to find out the status of the application only to find out it was declined. Not sure when they planned on telling me.
Plus, they couldn't give me ANY word as to why it was declined. I applied for 2 other credit cards with major Australian banks and was approved within 4 business days for both. Horrible customer service and procedures. Would never deal with them again.
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tonyvSydney, NSW
- 7 reviews
- 5 likes
Worst experience
I joined this bank to get their global card when travelling overseas. I've never experienced such a complex online security system in my life. Dont get me wrong, ive got nothing against online security but the HSBC login, transfer money process is a joke. It is too complex and takes too long. I mean, logging on, generating the secure keys based on what transaction your performing etc. I do internet banking with ANZ and its easy to use
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Rachel J.South East Queensland, QLD
horrible to deal with- blocking cards no reasons
I was waiting on my card in the mail, the card never arrived. Called - lady said it was blocked (how can you block a card not even received) said I had to do a cross country trip to my ‘local branch’ (which is a 2 hour round trip! Not very local), to verify myself. Sorry but isn’t the verification done at the time of reviewing an application?? If not then they would be ‘ irresponsibly lending’. Basically treated me like a criminal not telling me why and kept changing their story to ‘the card must have been lost’ to ‘it was never sent’. My emai...Read more
ls asking me constantly to activate it stays otherwise! So so happy I didn’t change over all my banking. Thought I would do one thing first and then see how it goes. This was after being with another bad bank. HSBC is no better than the big 4!Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
realbuyerWestern Australia
- 2 reviews
pretty hard to make payments online
they block payments like no tomorrow so it's no user friendly, you have to call them to ask them to remove the restriction each time. pretty annoying I mean seriously they even block Facebook
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Che
- 2 reviews
- 2 likes
Pathetic
Applied for CC got conditionally approved and next day their customer rep made a call to verify and he just stupidly converted out home mortgage to Philippine peso just because he is based in Philippines! What a shame!!! after asking me for Billing statement declined my application! it is so pathetic why would you hire for customer rep based offshore and would convert the money to other currency?!?! Hsbc time to move your customer rep back to Australia!!!
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RSSSydney, NSW
Terrible App and unreasonable staff
I have a credit card with these guys and one day they called me to tell me too much money has gone into my credit card as payments in the last few months. The staff member questioned me on where I am getting money to make payments from? Just because I made some extra payments they call me to ask for an explanation on why I am paying extra?
A few weeks later they contacted me again to tell me that I am now actually spending too much money using my credit card. I have never seen this happen with any bank in my life!
Like what the heck is that?...Read more
Dont bank with these people theyre nosey and ask for information that isnt any of their business! How about they spend more time fixing this ancient banking app theyre forcing customers to use for the last 3 years +. The app looks like a web based app made in the early 2000s and functions like I have dial up Internet.Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
corinne L.South East Queensland, QLD
Terrible mobile banking app
I moved our home loan to HSBC about a year ago because they were offering a great rate and the loan suited our needs. We also moved the rest of our banking. No issues with the loan so far but I’m seriously considering moving all our business elsewhere because the mobile app is so shocking. Is this really a global bank with such a terrible app experience? I have no patience for it and would rather move all our banking than have to deal with the frustration caused by this primitive app.
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ApricotGreater Melbourne (Inner), VIC
Terrible
I had my mortgage with HSBC AU mainly because I had accounts with them and their advertised rates were very attractive. I qualified for first home owner where the tax was supposed to be waived etc but HSBC insisted I prepare the funds (even though it is not necessary as per phone calls to the authorities). After a couple of stressful days of getting the sufficient funds transferred at cost of penalty charges etc from early withdrawal, cancellation of accounts etc, the money was not even used or deducted from account by HSBC. During the mortgage...Read more
loan application, the officer offered a credit card that apparently if we signed up for, will be applicable for lounge access and no annual fees. We happily signed up but after another messy problem of wrong gender on title in card, wrong name and wrong type of cards sent (my first card had my gender wrong, I complained and new card was sent with my first name shortened but I decided to keep the second one; spouse's first card was wrong type and liable for annual fees). And when we finally decided to go overseas and use the lounge facilities, we were turned away at the lounge causing great embarrassment even though before we travel I had emailed them to reconfirm the eligibility of the cards as I couldn't register online. Came back, they told us that as our cards were signed on as a promo package with loan, they are not eligible for the lounge access. Just a sorry and if you want, you have to reapply. Just FYI, the normal card has the same no annual fee etc anyway. So I don't get the difference. Their officers and so-called relationship managers do not reply emails or return calls so the if you run into any problems, you have to keep calling until someone picked up. Horrible horrible service even though their counterparts from other countries were much better.Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
disappointingPerth, WA
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
Find another bank
I have been a customer for over 8 years (savings accounts only) with the only deposits coming from regular salary deposits from the same employer. Recently, I was contacted by an officer requesting information to update their records. The information requested was extensive and akin to what would be expected if one was to apply for a bank loan and more. The officer advised it was to comply with banking regulations but could not specifically state which one. Then the story changed and it was for HSBC internal regulations. I declined to provide t...Read more
his as I thought it may be an over zealous officer trying to sell me more services and heard no more, then when I walked into a branch a month later, I was told that my account would be closed for non compliance. When I lodged a complaint, the correspondence continued by email and the story changed several times. It was now the "safeguard" provisions from the banking association and then it was anti money laundering. I was confused as my circumstances had not changed and the same source of income could easily be verified by the bank, so there was no reason to suspect money laundering. An officer later agreed that they needed no further info on source of funds but they still continued to cast the net wide, requesting comprehensive financial information and threatened to close my account again. My emails requesting transparency on exactly what internal regulation, anti money laundering act provision or changes to the bank's Terms and Conditions they were following to request such extensive information to hold a savings account was never addressed. I have since moved my money to other banks and none have requested this level of information to open a savings account. Friends who also have HSBC accounts have not been subjected to this, so I am not sure why they are targeting me. All this while, no one from the bank bothered to even call me to discuss and work things through. Just a stream of emails from a number of officers . A good loyal customer whom they have now lost for good ! I wonder if their board of directors are aware of these complaints !Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
DisappointingSouth-Eastern Region, NSW
Poor Experience Opening Saving Account
Very poor experience during opening an account online. The number of questions and type of questions is pretty "impressive", for example, I was opening a SAVING Account and the question was what would you use the account for? Well, let me think before I will give you an answer. Dear HSBC, opening an account in the 21st century using modern technology should take no more than 5 minutes!!
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Tracey. NTGreater Melbourne (Inner), VIC
- 2 reviews
Terrible customer service!
Called to have a card close as I haven’t used it for over 7 years. They ID me, in the end they said they couldn’t closed the card, asked me to go into a branch ( the closest one to me is 30mins away).
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RRR_10Metropolitan Adelaide, SA
Terrible Customer Experience
Just signed up for their everyday global account as they offer an $100 bonus and 2% cash back on paywave subject to certain conditions, which is great.
The app is terrible. Extremely Slow, looks super ancient and I've found it to be buggy. The set of security questions, passcodes and passwords required to get the account fully working is nothing short of ridiculous.
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Andrew TGreater Melbourne (Metropolitan), VIC
Worst bank in the Western World - I'm dead serious
Outdated processes (requirement to fax forms in 2019!!), useless offshore call centre staffed by people who are in no way empowered to help with anything, total lack of customer centricity.
Almost comically complicated security screening process (comical if it wasn't so frustrating), heavy reliance on "Relationship managers" who they aren't even able to give you contact details for.
Every time I deal with them, I end up in a furious rage.. and I'm naturally a calm reasonable person. Trust me - they have an effect on you that I've not seen fro...Read more
m any other financial institution. Over time I have moved all my bank accounts (business and private), credit cards and home loans away from HSBC, one more to go and when done I will be burning all my HSBC cards and telling everyone I meet just how bad their service is. You have been warned.Similar opinion? Write a review on ProductReview.com.au!
Steve PSouth East Queensland, QLD
- Online
- Verified customer
Worst Bank I have Ever Dealt With
No Customer Service. Never Send Statements. Useless Call centre in the Philippines. No One ever returns calls. A complete waste of time. Glad I have moved away from HSBC. Now persuing legal action for damages.
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AngeGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 2 reviews
- 3 likes
Terrible
Took 4mths to resolve an extremely obvious & significant fraud charge on my credit card. Throughout the process I was constantly harassed by their CS team re late payments but had been told not to pay any additional payments on the additional charges. I was also charged interest, & late fees and every time I asked they said they looking into it. Matter only got resolved after I made a complaint to the Banking Ombudsman. Stay clear of them!!
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Sam G.Greater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME
Absolutely the worst company to deal with. I could of got a home loan sorted in the time frame it took to approve a credit card. Over 2 months wait to just get a update on the status of my application.
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HosseinGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 4 reviews
- 2 likes
Home loan
I switched to HSBC as the home loan process was so fast and smooth, Thanks to Mortgage choice (hoppers crossing) , my home loan refinance was hassle free and saved me a lot.
Very happy with their product and serivces
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homealoneCanberra 2600, ACT
- 17 reviews
- 6 likes
- Branches
- Verified customer
Horrible customer service towards new customer who wants to open an account
Well I have to say forever in my life, I couldn't open a bank account, and that is with HSBC. It's not because of eligibility, it's because the rude and arrogant attitude of HSBC employees towards new customers. Here is the story. My mum was trying to open a global currency account with HSBC. We did online application and all went well except need to go to Canberra branch to verify her identity. We went there with all supporting documents and expect it is a simple and quick turn around, but HSBC Canberra branch employee completely annoyed and s...Read more
hocked us that opening a bank account could be that complicated and difficult. The lady serving us was not verifying my mum's identity but rather telling us something we already know from the web (like this fee that fee, interest rate blah blah blah) and also asked a lot of questions which are stupid. For example, why my mum wants multiple foreign currencies in the global currency account? I reminded her please verify the identity and those information we already know and my mum has the right to open up to 10 foreign currencies in that account (That's the product HSBC is offering) so please speed up the process. The lady said to us every customer wanted to open account with HSBC has to stay there and listen to her for minimum an hour. I said to her, fine but please hurry up a bit as I do have to go to work and can't stay that long. Then she refused to serve us and said if she wants to open the account, we have to make another appointment. Then she walked away and left us with her branch manager. I talked to HSBC Canberra branch manager but that lady is even more rude and asked us to leave. I was shocked HSBC employees could treat new customer like that. Such thing never happened in other banks. I have to say, HSBC, look at how empty in your Canberra branch. If that is your service standard, how could new customer come?1 comment
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berzy
- 6 reviews
- 2 likes
disgraceful customer service
Wish i had read these reviews before i joined HSBC they are all true. presently waiting for a complaint
to be addressed and its impossible to speak to someone who can help. Two weeks now and just
received an email to say sorry another ten business days. The customer service is dire. You have been warned stay clear of this bank.
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Questions & Answers
David Gasked
I have just opened an account and then I read the reviews. I am now thinking twice about transferring some money. What ia the bank going to do to address these issues?
4 answers
The bank does nothing.
Once it has your account that's all that matters.
No customer service from that point on.
Nothing because people just use this site only to ‘keyboard complain’ rather than contacting the bank directly to address their issues.
Ask the bank but my guess is NOTHING
Politenessasked
Is HSBC the worlds global bank
Or
is it the worlds rudest bank?
8 answers
Definitely the rudest and there are so many better choices out there. From now on I am sticking with the NAB.
The rudest, most inefficient, expensive and most difficult to deal with - and coming from an ex employee. Stick with the local banks with efficient processes and appropriate resources located within Australia.
Rude, costly and incompetent. Hugely frustrating to deal with. A bank getting worse and being left behind.
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homealone
We went to ubank instead, 5mins online application, 10 mins in post office to verify the identity, the next day ubank account is fully operational! What a shame, HSBC!