i am an international student studying in UK...hopefully can share some of my experiences through ci...
i am an international student studying in UK...hopefully can share some of my experiences through ciao...that's all!
Member since:18.10.2006
Reviews:4
I am an international student studying in Cambridge. During my first year here, my seniors told me to apply for hsbc as it was one of the major banks around.
FIRST INCIDENT WITH HSBC:
The first bad service i came across was when i was setting up my account. The hsbc branch from my hometown told me that the account was up and ready. However, when i went down to the hsbc branch in uk, they told me that i am unable to open my account due to some admin matters. I asked the person-in-charge whether there was anything i could do but she just shrugged and told me the only way is to either go back to my hometown (which is far from uk) or to ask my parents to send me some package.
A few days later, after i had enough of hsbc and decided to start an account with natwest, hsbc uk contacted me and told me that my account is finally up. Throughout this commotion, they have never apologised and treated as though students were not their priority customers.
TRANSFERRING OF BANKS
As i am in my second year now, i have been checking out interest rates of banks and becoming wiser. I realised that a citibank account offers a higher interest rate and decided to apply for one online. After i did, citibank informed me that i had to send photocopies of my passport to them, with the 'certified true copy' stamped on them.
I went down to hsbc and asked a lady for help on this matter. She remarked with a 'so u transferring funds to citibank ya?' After which, she went into a room for what seemed like ages. She then told me that hsbc does not provide such a service anymore!!! what rubbish! A global bank unable to stamp some forms??
i approached natwest that day even though i did not have an account with them and without much explanation, i got my photocopies stamped by them.
ONE ADVANTAGE
The only gd thing thus far i have encountered with hsbc is their internet banking. But even so, their replies lately have been getting really slow and i had to send multiple queries before they bothered to reply. probably due to outsourcing i suppose.
CONCLUSION
Bottomline: Most other banks around have pretty comparable rates to hsbc and definitely more flexibility. As a global bank, i thought their service should be better, But i suppose they're looking for richer customers.
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thanks for comments Shoka and HotBabes! done and done!
Shoka 24.10.2006 14:39
Welcome to Ciao, A good review, but you would get better ratings if you made it easier to read. Headings for each section would be really good. If you update your review just let me know via a guest book message and I will be happy to re-rate. Shoka
HotBabes 24.10.2006 14:15
Please don't think I'm being picky but it would make your review easier to read if you used capital letters for 'I' and at the start of a sentence. :-)
Oct 23rd, 2006
(Oct 24th, 2006)
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