HSBC Everyday Global

This bank needs to be investigated by the Australian regulators. I first fully investigated and then spent several hours opening an account, reassured that I could manage my account using internet banking. I will not use a digital app/phone banking. I lost my username. I was told the only way to recover it was to go into a branch - 300ks away. So… Read more

then I tried to close the account. The oh so intelligent person told me that I had to go online and do it. Buy hey, I have no username, remember? More than 4 weeks of trying to get the account closed. I have never activated my card, nothing. But they are stalking me with emails and texts. Activate your card. Our terms and conditions have changed, Activate your card. There is no option to Unsubscribe. Today, after 4 weeks of lunacy, someone actually provided my username and I managed to log in. But I cannot close my account until I transfer the $1 that is sitting in the account when I first opened it. I tried to transfer it back to my oh so lovely bank account. I tried to Bpay. It would not let me. I followed the website advice:-

"If you would like to add and save a new payee you will need to log on to online banking on browser and delete a payee before you can add and save any new payees.

How can I add a new payee? To make a domestic transfer to a new payee, go to My Banking > Move Money / Pay a bill > Pay someone in Australia. Then select the account you want to transfer from and select ‘New payee’. To make an international payment to a new payee, go to My Banking > Send money overseas. Then select the account you want to transfer from and select ‘New payee’. To pay a bill to a new payee, go to My Banking > Pay with BPAY. Then select the account you want to transfer from and select ‘New payee’."

So I did that and guess what? You have to download an app, create a digital account to get a damn pin to confirm the payee - phone banking, to then go back and use your online account,

Nowhere does it say this anywhere on HSBC's website . Not even in the guide to adding a new payee. And, here is the rip my hair out bit....I cannot close my account because there is $1 in it.

How many laws is this breaking? Advertise one thing and do another.

Need any more reason than this to run a million miles away? READ this feed on Product Review

Fantastic card to travel with – On a recent trip to UK, Greece, Italy and Turkey the HSBC Visa Global Credit Card was brilliant. Easy transfers between currencies and worked flawlessly everytime with payments and cash withdrawals.

The best purely for Apple Pay type transactions, otherwise nothing else – At the time of review, this HSBC debit card is the best I’ve found for “physical” transactions, specifically for the 2% Cashback on Apple Pay (and PayPass etc). For anything else, this is a waste of time and you’re better off sticking with anything popular that offers no fees, no international fees, better spend tracking, etc. such as ING.  Show details

Worst card. It charged me 8$ more than the visa exchange rate for AUD to EUR conversion. I got this debit card as I'm travelling to Europe and this card said no ex-rate conversion fees. TBH I would have be better off if had paid the ex-rate fees with my normal card. It didn't charge me any fees but the ex-rate was so bad it charged me $8AUD more… Read more

and 3.5% exchange rate would have costed me only $3AUD dollars for me. Stay away from this card. WASTE OF TIME

The worst bank I've ever had to deal with in my entire life. I deposited money and for no reason they've deactivated my account and provided me with no communication as to why they deactivated my account. I'm now spending time chasing them to get my money back. NEVER AGAIN

Recently moved my salary into this account for daily transaction 2% rebate. My card was suspended for sending $200 to my wife's HSBC account. Then I want take all my money out to my account with other banks but not allowed again. Transactions can be easily identified as fraudulent then need you to call them. Terrible experience with this bank.

Pathetic customer service – My HSBC debit card has never been a problem until today. HSBC blocked my card for no reason having used the card today for two totally legitimate transactions. Tried to rectify the situation as this will cause me maximum financial pain. I came across two absolute dummies on the phone who said that I failed their verification. This is despite… Read more

the fact that I had given them my date if birth, card and account number. How do you fail verification on your own account? These fools need to be completely retrained in customer service. How about giving me a call or email before blocking the account.

But and miss – I find the global card very hit and miss. I went into a grocery store and worked fine. Went into shop next door, to buy some wine to go with the groceries. Tap and go refused, tried pin number, still refused. However My HSBC debit card acceptable. Global card IS a debit card??. Hard to explain that logic. Show details

NOT RECOMMENDED OVERSEAS – This card does NOT work at international ATMs. Lucky we had backup cards.... Absolutely useless product, only works for tap and go purchases but so does every other card so you may as well use something else. User beware

HSBC card did not work once - hopeless! – We travelled with this card from HSBC to the UK and Europe and didn’t work once! Thankfully we had another debit card which was brilliant.

worst transaction history system, search by date is not working, debit/credit in messy order – i just want to use another bank for less trouble. this is the worst banking system. the transaction history is messy and not in timely order, the search function is not working, unbelivable.you can't find what happened in the last 3 months. it's just not transparent and not available. come on, how could you make such terrible banking system. Show details

Horrible travel card to use while travelling – DO NOT GET THIS CARD FOR OVERSEAS TRAVEL I took out a HSBC global travel debit account for a 1 month trip. Loaded on four different currencies SGD, EUR and GBP and AUD to start the transferring money between accounts The card did not work in any ATMs. We contacted the online help centre and changed the pin and no luck. We then spoke to someone… Read more

at call centre when in Singapore who after 5 minutes hung up on us

The card didn't work majority of timss at eftpos machines for food purchases over 50 euro amount.

When the card did work at eftpos machines we paid in EUR but it took it out of AUD funds.

The app is also hard to use.....and yes before we went away I went into the HSBC branch in Adelaide so the app was set up properly for the trip and all the card details linked correctly.

Our trip has been made very difficult due to this and having to use our AUD cards at times and then paying a premium for this.

My strong advice is don't use the HSBC global debit card for an overseas trip.

Can't even lodge an application – I write this as I am 20 minutes on hold after being directed from the number to call on screen which kept me 30 minutes waiting. I have spent several days going through the process of asking a question about this product: "CNY is subject to currency regulations". What regulations? It turns out that CNY cannot be deposited in advance for use… Read more

during a visit to China. CNY can be deposited for subsequent transfer to a bank account in China. The visa debit card can be used in China (by attaching to WeChat Pay), with the payment settled in AUD at the time of the transaction. Not a big deal, but explaining this on the web page instead of endless phone calls would have been helpful. I even waited in vain for 20 minutes in a line at a branch. A message to HSBC's complaints team resulted in a reply using a phone number marked as "spam" by Google. Does HSBC recommend that I answer "spam" calls? Having lodged the application, I received a reference number and a promise that confirmation would be received by email. No email, and follow up through HSBC's website provided the message "something's gone wrong". Hence my endless wait on the phone. Having got through after a second 30 minute wait, there is no explanation as to why my reference number doesn't work; why the number on the "something's gone wrong" screen is wrong; or why I did not receive any confirmation email. I now have to wait another day for an agent to call me back (he went home while I was waiting). Even if I finally obtain a global account, I am concerned that any issues arising from its use might result in the same level of service I have received to date. I am not sure that I want this risk.

Selling point is 2% cashback on purchases under $100 – I started using the account in 2020, the reason I used it was because they offered 2% cashback on purchases under $100. It is a handy and money saving feature for daily spending. Their customer service and their mobile app are ok but not good.

HSBC Everyday Global Account – Does not allow money to be withdrawn from international atms or 7 Bank (711 convenience store ATMs). Only works for tap and go for small amounts. If my daughter did not have WISE we would have been stuck in Japan with no access to cash. $15 phone call to Australia got us no where. Assured everything was ok. Still didn’t work. Do not get this… Read more

product. It does not work. Wise is a much better product for this purpose. This HSBC product is not fit for purpose and you take a big risk depending on it overseas.

Everyday Global Account Visa Debit Card is useless for travel – I joined HSBC so that I could access CASH foreign currency overseas while travelling to the UK. I transferred all my money into from the AUD the GBP account. In the UK, the following happened: - Tried to use my card - VISA payWave = failed every time. Void or failed. Even tried to put a balance in my AUD account and buy something small = failed -… Read more

Tried to make a purchase with the card using the card reader... Ask would you like to pay with AUD or GBP > select GBP = Failed - Tried to withdraw cash at a non-HSBC atm = Void or failed, won't even allow me to enter my PIN

What a joke of a product - it only works at HSBC ATMs. Very inconvenient, waste of time and effort.

This product will leave you paying more money and having to use alternative method of payments.

The HSBC exchange rate is also not the best. I would recommend getting a Mastercard with no international fees. The exchange is slightly better and you don't run into issues.

I contacted the call centre multiple times... one person said select "credit" when withdrawing cash. Another person said select "current account". Even the staff have no idea...

Difficult to retrieve lost card – They have the worst way for people to retrieve their lost card. You need a username to sign in before you can do anything. There is no other way to retrieve a username. You also need to log in the portal first before you can chat to anyone online. I called their call centre today at lunch and the operator found my account but instead of resetting… Read more

my access to the account I need to fill in a form !! They made you jump through hoops to use the service. Forget it there are many bank out there.

Do not use this product – I would give this product negative ratings if I could. Got the card to minimise ATM fees while overseas also stupidly believing they had an international presence so support networks would be in place if problems arose. Worked fine for taking money out of an ATM the first few times. Then their fraud algorithm decided to put a block on the card. … Read more

Rang HSBC got the block removed ( a travel notification had been previously lodged ). Few days later while using a HSBC ATM, the ATM had an issue didn't dispense any cash. Rang the bank lodged a dispute, 2 days later money was refunded but then received an email informing me that my card was believed to be compromised and they had cancelled the card.

Rang the bank and was told the card had been cancelled and they could courier a new card to me in 10 - 14 days. Leaving me with no money overseas, no offer of a digital card or similar to use in the interim. Stupidly this was the only card I had, so I had to rely on money from others until I could apply for another digital card from another bank to get me out of the tight spot they had put me in.

Upon complaining HSBC replied they reserve the right to cancel a card at any time. Keep this in mind if using their product overseas, they put me in a really dangerous situation and I would not recommend their services to anybody.

US dollars – I transferred US Dollars from Australian dollars. Went to America. First week worked great, after that 3 hotels charged US account but pending. After 3 days these amounts were charged to my Aus account. Still pending on US account. Phoned 3 times and still not resolved. Spoilt my trip. Yesterday I got a call from debt collector asking if I have… Read more

a problem paying debt???. I told her to check my US account as still pending over $1,000 US dollars plus our deposits. Won't recommend this card. Hopeless as call centre staff blamed me for transferring amounts. Then they told me for some reason the card number had been charged instead of account number ???. Still un resolved.

Application still pending – Application was still pending even after several after days had to call them everyday to know the status of what's happening. After a week they tell me that my application is still pending due to ID verification so asked me to go to the nearest branch. Lots of hassle when even smaller banks do an instant ID check and can open a bank account in 5 minutes. I told that I don't want to proceed anymore and I terminated my application. Bye bye. Show details

HSBC global card verification useless – I have a global card from HSBC, I'm traveling and have purchased a local sim card in Thailand. I changed the details in my account to show the Thai number, but they still send the one time password code to the Australian number, even though it's been updated to the Thai number. This costs me a fortune as I have to change back to my very expensive… Read more

Telstra sim everytime I book a flight etc. There system simply doesn't update. Now at the end of 6 weeks in Thailand and I'm trying to book a return flight from india in another 6 weeks time and all of a sudden they message me to say the otp will be on the Thai number, which is really funny (not) Because there's no message there except to say my details were updated when i went into my account and tried to check what was happening. It would be laughable if it wasn't costing me a fortune. Then there's the support?¿???? What support? Who ever they have hired to do there tech development should be sacked immediately!

Fail. Twice – Trying to add a currency onto our joint global everyday account is THE WORST BANKING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. TWICE. Wife couldn't do it via app or online, had to call up. She was then assured I would get messages alerts via app etc to finalise it. Nope. Nothing in my app, nothing online. I then waited for 53 mins on hold to the international… Read more

banking section. Rang off, called back, pressed the "apply for a home loan" option and got through in 2 mins. Couldn't get in done over the phone, since my wife was at work and apparently she had to be on the call as well even though she's already added the currency. Couldn't just add her into the call. Their IT and systems for doing a simple job are RUBBISH. Half a star out of five,and then only because the guys on the phone were nice and actually tried to help. And also a real shame they haven't fixed it since the last time we added a currency, which was a labyrinthine shambles as well.

Online banking alert – HSBC unfortunately fail to offer anything like service.They encourage all activity to be done online or via their APPS.These however, continue to fail.Requests for them to reply to continual complaints, normally receive no reply.They change terms on money transfers with no advice. Worst bank I have ever dealt with

Terrible. Absolutely Terrible – I wanted to travel abroad to UK and Japan. Transferred money to GBP (terrible exchange rate). Got to the UK. Many HSBC branches are now closed down, so took a train to HSBC branch. ATM would not accept card. Staff in Branch were unhelpful, told me I had to contact Australia. So international call, guy was absolutely terrible. Took ages going… Read more

through security, just playing games. Told me problem was fixed, so I went back to ATM, card still work. Another international call, got the same guy. An absolute age going through security again, this guy in the Philippines definitely playing games. Card finally fixed. Managed one or 2 withdrawals and then got email saying card had been compromised and cancelled. Complained on website but of course didn't hear back. Service cost me in exchange rate, international phone calls and time. I couldn't use the service which should have given me free withdrawals from HSBC ATM's and I can't use the card to pay for stuff without incurring charges. Only alternative is to use foreign bank account and get charged for everything. Be warned.

Unable to perform ATM withdrawals – I loaded Euro in advance of a trip to Austria. The card works fine when paying for goods at retail outlets however I have tried several ATMs from different banks including Bank Of Austria and get the same rejection at all. They all say that the card is not supported. Not being able to withdraw cash in the local currency is an important failing.

Staff are either poorly trained or disengaged from their job function – This card is said to be useful when making purchases in foreign currencies. If the customer says wants to buy something in USD but only has say AUD, EUR and GBP attached to the card, hsbc will debit his AUD for the USD equivalent. Sounds fair. Two months ago I bought USD 100 worth and had no USD in my account. I expected to be debited in AUD at… Read more

the true exchange rate not a rate biased in favour of hsbc. Guess what? There was no debit to my AUD account, at any exchange rate. Instead hsbc put my USD account, which has zero funds in it, into debit. I received two notifications that I was in overdraft. I did not look closely if I was slugged a penalty for hsbc putting me into overdraft.

I complained in February and was told they will fix it. It’s May now and clearly they didn’t do a thing. Or whatever they did, failed. Today when I complained I was told to transfer funds to remove the debit. Excuse me? You read right. Hsbc stuffs up and I have to arrange transfers to cover their mistake. The fact they make profits in Australia demonstrates just how poorly served consumers are in this country and that criticism about the banks is very much justified.

UPDATE as at 19MAY23

Fed up every time I log into the bank's website only to be greeted with the following *** "you have overdue or overlimit accounts. Please review these now" ***

I decided to visit a branch on 10MAY23 asking staff there to correct the so called "overdraft" and remove the offending message. I assumed they themselves possibly could not fix the problem but thought that an internal email within HSBC - from one branch to the back office or whoever is responsible for internet banking - would get a better result than yet another email or call from me. So far my calls, emails and online chats since March have got nowhere with the "overdraft" issue.

A week later I contacted the same branch because, surprise surprise, they never got back to me with the fruits of their internal email. Apparently others in HSBC were lethargic in getting back to the branch. The next day 19MAY23 the branch replied to me, reading from the same script as was read to me months earlier: that I should transfer funds into the USD "wallet" to cover the bank created "overdraft". Of course I refuse to fix the bank's problem. Even if I wanted to, how much should I transfer in AUD?

Here's a radical idea for the bank: own YOUR problem and fix it.

As to removing the offending online message, see above, HSBC had no comment.

Appalling customer service – I have an existing Everyday Global account with HSBC, which I took out around April 2022. I am very happy with the account and it worked exactly as I expected when I travelled overseas last year. When I took the account out, I specified that I would need to utilise CAD and GBP, so the account was set up so that I could transfer between them and… Read more

AUD. It all worked seamlessly.

This year I intend to travel some more, and it would be useful to add at least USD and Euros to the currencies I can access. I thought this would be a simple matter that I could arrange via the HSBC app or online. That was my first mistake. I could not find a way to add the currencies, so I rang HSBC. Second mistake. Their automated answering system is tedious and not intuitive. After pressing many buttons, I finally was able to talk to a person. This person told me I actually had to make an online application to add currencies, so she talked me through the application and I submitted it, receiving an online message to the effect that I should contact HSBC again if I did not hear from them within 24 hours.

Now it is 3 business days later and I had heard nothing, so I rang HSBC again. Third mistake. Once again I had to battle with the automated system, which never actually gives a useful option if you want to do anything more complicated than check a balance etc. Finally, after a long wait on hold, someone answered and I explained what I needed, only to be told that I actually needed to talk to the sales people.

In what universe does this make sense? I am an existing customer, although probably not for much longer. I need to update an existing account. This should be easy. I told the representative I wanted to escalate the issue and asked to speak to a supervisor, only to be told they were all in a meeting. Finally I did speak to someone more senior, to be told the same thing, there was nothing she could do to help.

I am currently on hold, waiting for the sales team to answer their phone. It is now exactly an hour since I rang. So, my advice to anyone who is thinking of using HSBC, is not to bother. You will rue the day, if ever you need customer service. If I could give a minus star rating, I would.

Prospective customer – Many thanks to those who have written previous and helpful reviews. From what I have learnt it informs me to look elsewhere for a suitable debit card to use whilst visiting other countries. It almost appears the positive reviews are too well written to be actually genuine and my advice to HSBC, if my assumption is correct, would be to "dumb-down" their reviews to appear more realistic. Show details

Hidden Fees for Foreign currency - website misleading – Website states "transfer currency anywhere in the world for $8" What they neglect to tell you is that the $8 is added to the $30 to cover "beneficiaries fees" regardless of whether the target bank has any fees. To to transact in foreign currency you have to pay an inbound fee + $8 + $30 Very misleading - stay away

Very poor experience – For the first time in about 30 years I opened a new bank account. After reading a number of review sites I chose the HSBC global account. Sign up was easy and straight forward and in 10 mins all I had to do was wait for my new card to arrive in 2/3 days. After a week, I rang, it’s been sent if it hasn’t come by Friday (another week) give us a… Read more

call. I called, they cancelled that card and express sent another. It didn’t come after another week. I rang again. After a frustrating call and no help I lost the plot, transferred my money out went online signed up with Macquarie and had a digital card in my apple wallet in 10mins. Moral of the story: HSBC very bad, Macquarie very good but you can read that positive review elsewhere!

WOEFUL EXPERIENCE -HSBC Emergency Card Replacement due to theft – I lost my card in Milan 26 May 22 while travelling in Europe and was advised by HSBC support that after cancelling my orginal card they will issue a new card and courier physical card to my Madrid hotel in 7-10 days. Unlike Westpac HSBC do not offer to issue a new virtual immediately so you still have access to funds by linking to Google Pay. … Read more

Instead you are advised to arrange emergency assistance through Visa Cards . Lesson not to put eggs in one basket and be left with nothing but egg on your face. It took HSBC future 72 hours to reissue new card and i was advised by SMS 24 hours later that i could link new card to Google pay. However, until i receive physical card cannot withdraw cash or purchase online as you are unable to view new card and no expiry date or CCV advised . You cannot view details of new card online via APP or via online banking. As your original card has been cancelled any future scheduled payments for hotel accommodation are declined. You cannot update card without expiry date and CCV . You cannot purchase tours online. To rub salt into the wound, there is no notification that physical card has been despatched , no courier info or tracking information. No confirmation that the address to send card to is correct . There are no HSBC Retail banking in Spain Croatia or Italy . No one you can go to for support. I arrived in Madrid yesterday 08 June 22 over 10 days since reporting card stolen and replacement card issued. I had to call HSBC twice to find courier details for delivery. Client support do not have details on historical record linked to your account. Enquiry is passed to colleagues in back office to find tracking number.Cant be done immediately.Wait until they respond. Next day 12 hours later i call HSBC back as no-one has called me. I am amazed that the tracking number and courier details are not advised to clients via SMS once tranaction is complete. The tracking number may be DHL or FEDEX , he does not know as he did not organise despatch. Sorry not authorised by HSBC to contact courier on clients behalf or track delivery. AFTER 30 minutes trying to track delivery, i found out not tracking for DHL FEDEX or UPS. I had to call DHL Sydney to find out letter or parcel may be through DHL Global Placement. More anxiety... I then thought it may be Australia Post. Yes it was an Australia Post tracking number. Why send document by express post to Overseas destination when it should be by International Courier Document delivery door to door,? This appears to be result of incompetence .instead of following through on urgent important procedure the card has been placed in Express Post prepaid evenlope for overnight delivery within Australia. The address may be correct but the postage excludes overseas addresses. The tracking indicates package sorted in Surry Hills NSW and held in safe place as cannot be delivered. ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. Now back to square one with no access to cash and prepay issues. I am Europe until 19 June. Wondering if i survive this ordeal. Too much stress for senior traveller of 72 years hoping to enjoy my twighlight years after retirement. Good luck to you if you are in similar predicament. HSBC needs to review and improve service delivery ASAP. Meanwhile stick with proven products from more reliable banks.

Will