HSBC credit card Reviews

Now they insist that I go to one of their branches to show my ID to a bank teller... Their nearest branch is 60 miles away (120 miles round trip). There is no end to the amount of your time they are willing to waste. There are lots of credit card companies, you don't want to apply for their card, it's not worth it. They are inept, disrespectful, and their horrible customer service is well documented on sites like this... They have a TERRIBLE reputation across all platforms. Avoid HSBC as if your credit rating depends on it.

I returned home and tried again to add my information to their app. Although their instructions told me there were add buttons for adding other outside bank accounts, no such buttons exist! Once again I talk to a fourth chat person, who again stated you could not make a payment using their app but that she would take the information over the phone and charge me a late fee as it was after 5 o’clock now.

I forgot to mention that on my way home I called a second time to the bank. Apparently their credit card people go home before 4 o’clock California time. The second time I called, some guy in India took 10 minutes worth of information from me and assured me that the credit card people are still there, but when trying to transfer the car found out that they were not there and immediately hung up on me. Who has heard of a bank that will not let you make a payment on your credit card using their application? Who has heard of four different people giving you different information? Please be aware before you go to this bank you will be lied to...And be charged late fees regardless of your due diligence. By the way, their mobile app is one of the worst I’ve ever seen and I worked for three different banks.

I tried to get through other times with the same result. I still never received a statement. I then setup my account online to make automatic payments. The next month went by and still no statement. I called them again to get help with the auto payment since the auto pay was not working. They assisted me and setup the auto pay once again. It didn't work. I attempted to call them again several times but could not get through or due to the time difference was calling at the wrong time of day.

Eventually I got through and made a large payment to cover the previous months. They then said my account had been closed. I called and complained but said my account had been turned over to collections. I have had many credit cards and bank accounts and never have I had such a problem simply to pay them what I owe. If you call them, be prepared to talk to someone in a different country like, India, Vietnam etc.

Another issue is they want to repeat the same sentences over and over; Thank you for that question, that is a good question.... (read a script)... Just answer the freaking question or pass me to someone who can!!! NEVER do I go through hours and multiple people when it's a USA based calling center. Remember! People in the USA can lose their jobs if the customers satisfaction is low and people stop doing business with them but in outsourcing they get paid whether they help you or not. Most of the time they can't help; they only answer "simple" questions like balance, due dates, etc. They kept saying I'll send you to our "fraud team" after the rep said "Yes, I am the fraud team that will be helping you"! Yes you are helping me see that I don't want this bank or this Credit card!!!

If you value your time DON"T use them!!!! There is NO USA based call center!! I asked over 82 times!! Went to the bank but they can't help with credit card issues; only payments. Hate dealing with these incompetent call centers. Will go back to the greatest card company who is US Based and answers all their calls promptly without the run around bouncing back and forth!! Life is too short to hear repeats of the same scripts!!!

I received my card, along with TWO ADDITIONAL LETTERS: one had an electronic banking code, and the second had a 6 digit phone access code. Together with the card, this was three separate pieces of mail from HSBC (I'll tie all this together, just be patient). I activated the card using the website address on the sticker affixed to the front of the card, and went online to change the 6 digit access code. BAM! After I changed the code, I was notified there was a security hold on my card. A card I had NEVER USED. I called the number on the card, and was transferred 3 times, after being told I needed the "fraud apps" team. FIVE ** HOURS ON THE PHONE, and by the time I got a live person, and had to answer a barrage of security questions REPEATEDLY, I was told that department is closed FOR THE WEEKEND. What legit credit card doesn't have 24/7 access and support? NONE. That's how many. NONE.

I would have forgotten the card, but as mentioned, my daughter has medical expenses, and that $5,000 was going to help. So I called again on Monday. FOUR HOURS ON THE PHONE. They sent a letter requiring identifying documentation: EITHER a passport, driver's license or ID as photo identification, a form from the social security administration to verify my social security number, and a request for a utility bill or bank statement to verify my home address. I sent a copy of my passport card. NOPE.

After another 4 hours on the phone, was told it had to be the actual passport, not the card. Sent that. NOPE. I completed the PRE-APPROVED application using my driver's license number, so they needed that, not my passport. REALLY? Your letter said I could provide a passport OR driver's license. Now you need both? Okay. Submitted that. But it has my mailing address/office on it, whereas my bank statement has my home address. So now I need to submit documentation to verify BOTH addresses - my home and my mailing address. Hey, morons. You sent me the card at my mailing address. You sent me the access code I'm using to call you to that address. If it wasn't a real address, we would not be having these (now over 20 hours) of ** conversations.

OH, and about that bank statement. The bottom right corner was cut off, so it wasn't accepted, although the address and all identifying information was perfectly clear. Guess that "page 1" makes a hell of a difference in identifying me. IDIOTS. Okay, so I submit my mobile bill as proof of my office/mailing address. NOPE. Need a utility bill. Hey morons, I don't get the utility bills at my office. I get them at home. And I already provided you with proof of that address.

In between this, the social security form was rejected because I forgot to check a box. I told them, "Go ahead and check it for me." "Nope, you have to do it." Which I did, and paid $7 for the post office to scan and re-send. GREAT NEWS! The social security form was accepted. Except then when I called back today to find out the status I found it wasn't accepted. "I don't see that in the notes here". "OH, and did you submit your driver's license?" "Yes, last week". "I don't see that here". "Oh, no wait...here's a note. I guess your social security administration form was accepted, but we still need a utility bill FROM YOUR MAILING ADDRESS." "Sir, once again, there are no utility bills for my post office box." But you did mail me the card and TWO OTHER PIECES OF MAIL to that address.

Is common sense non-existent on this planet any longer? I have bought cars worth $85,000 and had lines of credit for thousands with less issues than this ** $5000 card. SO...a few years ago HSBC was hit with fines for money laundering. In response, they implemented such ridiculous security measures you'd think you were buying a house worth millions. And who in the world feels comfortable email every piece of identifying documentation?? AND, their "fraud" team is only in India. Nothing in the US. Nothing in the UK. WTF? And they are closed on weekends. As if that isn't ridiculous enough, you can't even understand anyone who answers the phone. They just read off of their little script and have zero idea what you are talking about. Robots. Orwellian. Oh, and that is actually WHEN they answer the phone.

It has now been 2 weeks and my "active" card is not active, and I spent today and yesterday at the US Passport Agency and the Department of Motor Vehicles putting fraud alerts on my documentation. So now I have TSA issues to worry about next time I travel just for trying to protect myself from these fraudsters. Again, it was only my daughter's mounting medical bills that are not covered by insurance they kept me going back.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE avoid this bank and anything to do with them. It's a SCAM and you will never be able to use the card, and they will take all of your personal documentation and clone your identity and ruin your credit. Report this bank and shut them down. Some terrorist could be running around with your driver's license or passport number. And since when is a driver's license a form of ID? IT'S TO DRIVE A CAR. A passport will always supercede a driver's license. I hate these people, and I'm so angry that I was stupid enough to provide this information out of desperation to save my child. WORST BANK EVER. They are not even a bank. It is a SCAM to fund terrorists. STAY AWAY. REPORT THEM!

I have tried contacting this department 6 times over the past several weeks (different days and times in the day) and have been on hold each time over an hour and even one time I was on hold for 2 hours. I keep trying other departments to see if they can help, even tried email and chat... with the same results... NO COMMUNICATIONS and HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. This has absolutely been the worst customer experience I have ever had. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS CARD.

I told them that wasn’t aware of an outstanding amount as I hadn’t received any statements and then we discovered that the statements had been sent to my old address. They had in their possession my email address and my telephone number, wouldn’t have been difficult to contact me, knowing of my history with them and my previous excellent character. They charged me an extra £100 interest, they closed the account and put a default notice against my name. When I offered to pay them, the person on the phone said there’s no point in paying as they won’t come after me for the money. I told him that I wanted to settle the account so that it wouldn’t show up on my credit score as a default. This was in May when I settled the account and yet instead of showing satisfied on my credit score it still shows up as a default. This is an absolutely disgraceful way to treat a customer. Stay away from this company... You have been warned.

Concerns:

1. Pretend that you have transfer of $4000 (for 2 years), then you spend $500 during billing period. When statement is issued you pay $250. In these circumstances you will be billed 19.99% interest for the outstanding $4250. If you want to avoid this rip-off, you pay $500 or more. Imagine if you had transferred $1000, spent $5000 during billing period and paid off $4990. Then HSBC will charge you 19.99% interest for $6000. I asked twice “are you sure?" In my scale of values, you should charge interest on $10 only…?”, however, that is what I was told by the representative on phone when I asked how they calculate.

2. Pretend that you have transfer of $4000 (for 2 years), Then you go to Harvey Norman and purchase laundry machine for $1500. Then you decide to return the product as it does not fit ion your environment. Store, of course, returns money to your credit card. HSBC though, allocated money towards $4000 that you have borrowed and at the end of billing period you MUST pay anyway $1500. Otherwise 19.99% applies to the entire outstanding amount. The transferred balance will be reduced for $1500 even if you do not want to. The representative on phone said that this is how the system calculates the statements and he (representative) could not do anything about it.

3. On top of it, every transaction with overseas merchants is accompanied by not only “Special” exchange rate (similar to cash exchange rate at airport), but also some “international transaction fee”. I was under impression that “VISA” and “PLATINUM” on to of it is designed to be used internationally to deliver convenience and assurance. Apparently not this one.

Conclusion: HSBC offer is a trap. Had I known this; I would have never, ever, ever, ever applied to HSBS. They call it “Platinum”. Recommendation: STAY AWAY!

- Offer can be availed on anyday for Saturday shows.

The offer can be availed once per HSBC credit card per month. It is valid up to 31 August 2019 only. Because of this offer only I bought this card, other I could have been bought some other credit card. But it is now changed to - [Offer can be availed only on Saturday for Saturday shows.]. Just for name sake they are giving this offer. Anyhow I am going to cancel the card. Well, this is my advice - if you are saying any offer stick to it, otherwise don't provide this kind of offer. Now it’s your turn. It all depends on you.

On hold for hours EVERY TIME you call. Then when you send in the required documentation they request months later, you have to sit by your phone because if you miss their call you have to start all over again. They called me yesterday and I said hello 5 times and they said nothing and then hung up. I guess they filled their requirement by "calling" me. It's a fraud and scam to charge fees and not let you make payment to avoid interest charges and then won't let you make a payment. Scam! I have two other CC's and can handle fraud issues in a matter of minutes not DAYS. This has to be illegal and surely a lawsuit can be filed against them. I'll be checking with an attorney to see what options are.

Along the way I had to give out "all" and I mean "all" of my personal identifying information to over 22 overseas persons on the phone to which most of them hung up on me or talked in circles and then left me to a false transfer. No "manager" ever followed up or could give me a clear answer or direct me to the appropriate department. I got an ** branch manager who refused to help me - told me to go away. One of "agents" closed my account without my authorization - that took another 3 hours of calling to find out.

This has cost me personal time - incurred interest charges, cancellation of my vacation and I am unable to get a competitor's card - after opening HSBC - now I get automatically declined with a 700+ credit score. Can someone let me know if there is a class action against them for this type of false advertising? I am willing to go all the way on this - they wasted so much of my time lying to me. One smug ** called me just rub in my that "the bank doesn't have to give me anything" after I requested a record of the posted transaction that was being handled to be fixed and then all of sudden cancelled. I have received balance transfer checks in the mail - with high postage paid on the envelope - but no correspondence after 2 weeks of awaiting my "issues" to be fixed - and zero notification of account cancellation - but rather I am the cardholder of a closed account?

How in the hell are they allowed to operate on American soil and have shut down all possible means of United States based assistance for credit card accounts and then block you from using the financial account that was opened at my financial risk(s) and then deny me access to its features and services!!! What in the holy ** hell is going on? In my determination managed to reach someone in Buffalo NY who told me that to fix my situation, "You would have to get very lucky." I have filed with the FDIC, BBB and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (which is governing agency over HSBC). If you want open a claim do it through them. Anybody have resolution or legal recourse for similar issues please let me know.

Again I demanded to know my balance and if the statement had been sent out, and if they could not tell me my balance then tell me if my statement had been sent. All I could get out of them is that they needed to verify the account. Now I'm pissed off and I told them if I do not see the statement they are not getting paid; I don't care if they send it to collections. Then I proceeded to say if and when I do see the statement I am going to pay the balance and close the account they just lost a customer. Be glad to be rid of these guys cause. They are terrible at customer service. They just run you in circles and offer nothing. I'll never do business with this outfit again.. BTW customer service is from 9 am to 5pm M-F ONLY. Lame.

I'm currently 2hrs40 on the phone. I've known the answers to all of their security questions so haven't cause any delays, and have asked those questions quite clearly. HSBC have transferred me to speak with Shahil, Agne, Gee, Morahd and Mario in different departments, none of whom can confidently answer any of those questions. Some have answered those questions completely incorrectly and when asked to clarify haven't been able to. At the moment I need to pay on either the 7th or the 23rd (I'm pretty sure it's the 11th, but no one has said that yet), and will be getting penalties between 0% and 22% PER MONTH!

After a 40 minute hold stint we've now got Damien, and I'm back on hold. I'm pretty sure HSBC are obliged to answer these questions, but ever since I said "help me to avoid paying the interest", I'd describe this call as incredibly obstructive.Damien just told me the wrong date, he counted wrong by a week. This is terrifying. If you have any choice, avoid these guys. Oh good Lord, I got disconnected. That must be illegal.