HSBC

[dippersgirl]

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28553921


Due to their bad customer service in Famagusta and also in Andover, England I did not open an account with them, so glad I didn't now!!!!
Nothing has changed with them. If their decision in this article was right or wrong, I don't know, but the customer service sucks still.

[Owl Lady]

Have been with HSBC both here and in the UK for as long as I can remember, even prior to living here. I am surprised by their attitude, if it is NOT due to racism, what is the reason? I would also be interested to know how many Muslim customers the branches in N Cyprus have!!!

[Munchkin]

In my opinion HSBC used to be the best bank in Kibris but is now one of the worst. Other banks beat them hands down on interest rates and their customer service is abysmal, especially to ex-pats, many of whom have taken their custom elsewhere. With the exception of Julie Younger, most of the staff are unwelcoming and unhelpful.

[Owl Lady]

Julie told me last week, that after 12 years, she is no longer my customer service liaison !!.

[Soner]

Only use them for Internet Banking at Lefkosa Branch which seems to be working fine compared to other banks in TRNC, but Customer Service is beyond words... absolute disgrace...these people have not got a clue - God help them (or should I say us the customers). Also, needed to apply for Credit Card (basically to verify a PayPal account), been trying for several years and applied no less than 5 times only to be refused each time, no reason as to why - just do not understand as have very good credit ratings and other credit cards with very high limits. Anyway, finally got a pre-paid credit card from Turkish Bank, no problem, which did the job nicely of verifying Paypal account.

To put a cheque in to your account you have to sit with a member of customer service and fill in and sign forms which takes forever, that's after waiting an hour or so for your turn whist staff chat about their lives with their customers - not a care in the world that others want to be seen.

HSBC - sort your staff out! Teach them about good customer service, not to sit their with their noses in the air thinking they have a good job and above everybody else.... Just as bad as the Civil Servants in TRNC. A long way to go to be in line with European nations.

You need several accounts in TRNC with different banks to serve different purposes - one bank can not do it all - some boast, you join, then they let you down.

Sorry am I ???

OK, rant over....

[waddo]

OK, I give up! Just what is "Risk Appatite"???

[Lor51]

Same here Soner regarding the credit card. We were refused and no reason given, we planned to put most of our retirement money in HSBC, but because of the shoddy service and no reason given for the credit card refusal, Credit West became our bank.

[dippersgirl]

Waddo, that also foxed me - 'risk appetite' - never heard of such a thing!!! Wish somebody would explain!!!

[dippersgirl]

As for customer service - somebody ought to open a school teaching customer service. I wonder if any firms send their staff on improvement courses. I was a credit controller for a big international company and I was offered courses all the time, a lot on customer relations and psychology. I found it really useful and interesting. My field was not so much chasing the money, but getting payment and finding ways to keep the customers happy as well. this is why I get so angry at the bad attitude some people have here. It seems we are here for them, not the other way round!!

[woodspeckie]

Google "risk appetite" lots of explanations on there.

[Owl Lady]

For approximately 7 years my husband and I had a joint current account, with a cheque book. He died 2 years ago and obviously the account was closed and changed to my name. I now cannot have a cheque book in my name as "I do not have a UK address"!!! this is apparently a new ruling! However I do have a Debit and a Credit card!

[dippersgirl]

Wow, woodspeckie, I did, and what a lot of words there were to read!!
I finished work in 2006 and I had not heard of it then, just risk management. I think I'm happy to be out of it!!!

[Soner]

Definition
The level of risk that an organization is prepared to accept, before action is deemed necessary to reduce it. It represents a balance between the potential benefits of innovation and the threats that change inevitably brings.

[Soner]

Lor51
HSBC I believe have lowest interest rates on savings. When asked why, they said because your money was safe with them... hmm

[Bert]

Don't think any bank can garauntee your savings, however still think it's one if th SAFEST banks today and safer than most Cypriot banks. I just hope I don't find out the hard way ....again.

[Groucho]

HSBC's customer care is about as poor as it's possible to get, and believe me I've been on the end of some pretty shoddy customer care before now...

It seems the employees are far too important to deal with mere mortals. It winds me up that they will sit there pretending to be busy when in fact they are doing anything but the job they are paid to do...

Even when they do some work they get it wrong. I blame the manager. He/She should be making sure the company's customers have a good experience but instead they get the run-around...

Wake-up and take action. Before your company is dragged further through the mud.

The bank is sound and the internet banking is great but everything involving customer interaction is very very poor indeed and that's the manager's responsibility.

A lot of the staff are dead wood - get shot of them - they are doing you no favours... You know who they are - and if you don't then you should go too!

[Sugarpuffbear]

I could not agree more with the previous comments. HSBC used to be better. They promote any of their decent staff. The others really are only just doing their job, when and if pushed! I always say that management of staff comes from the top, and if the manager won't make the effort, it follows down the line.

[Philoz]

Having worked in financial services,but not specifically banking,for many years.
I can say with complete confidence that if a bank tells you you do not meet their 'Risk Appetite'(not many spelt it right),It basically means that they don't want your business and you should bugger off and take your account else where.

[Steve C]

Philoz,

Couldn't agree more. I always have had the philosophy of voting with my feet, if anything doesn't suit and is unlikely to change I move on!

[Owl Lady]

I agree, having worked in accounts and Customer Service in the UK for BT for 28 years (Not intending to start a debate on BT, please) The previous manager left 2/3 years ago and it has gone slowly down hill ever since then. Julie assistant manager is doing her best under difficult circumstances.

[WotNoDeeds]

In the last few days I have transferred £1000 electronically via internet banking from my HSBC UK account to HSBC Girne account. HSBC Turkey have charged me £17.99 commission for this. I am a Premier customer. What a rip-off.

[Owl Lady]

Have you queried it? I would, they do make lots of mistakes. Every month I make 2 standing order payment.EVERY month I get at least 5 text message is Turkish and English, some telling me I have insufficient funds so the payments( 50tl each) have not been made, followed immediately by one saying it has been done!!!.I have shown them to Julie and no one can explain why! Just ignore them now and laugh each month.

[LooseBoots]

In the last few days I have transferred £1000 electronically via internet banking from my HSBC UK account to HSBC Girne account. HSBC Turkey have charged me £17.99 commission for this. I am a Premier customer. What a rip-off.

This happened to me a couple of years ago. The charge just said transfer fee. I went in, Julie wasn`t there , and I asked what it was.

Was told it was a transfer , such as yours, from HSBC UK TO HSBC here. I told them i was not accepting the charge as it was premier to premier..............blank expression. The person referred the problem. Ten minutes late was told it had been reversed.
It was not only reversed but it didn`t actually shown on my account at all.

So, stand your ground and tell them..............I know you shouldn`t have too but there you go.

[WotNoDeeds]

I posted awhile back because I was charged £17-99 for transferring £1000 electronically from HSBC UK to HSBC Girne and as a Premier customer I thought this charge shouldn't have been imposed. I wrote to HSBC Turkey to complain and today I received a 'phone call from their Customer Relations Department saying that I shouldn't have been charged and the charge would be refunded, so it is always worthwhile querying bank charges which you believe to be unfair or unwarranted.

[journey1]

I used to bank with HSBC when I first came to the island and Julie was wonderful and so helpful. However when she was not there it was a total disaster area - if anyone even bothered to acknowledge you were there! So I voted with my feet.
It is really poor though, that given the immense increase in new people on this part of the island now who look for English speaking staff with good interpersonal skills, that the burden seems to fall on Julie. It must be a nightmare.
Come on HSBC - big global company - pull your socks up especially for folks in North Cyprus!