HSBC Offshore Banking Reviews

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HSBC Offshore Banking
★★☆☆☆
1.7
25.0% of users recommend this
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Latest Reviews

“Worst bank ever ”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Abdelrahman88 on 31/10/2022

I really don't recommend it at all, they have no clue on serving customers, they normally ignore replying to your calls, emails. You can imagine that there is a transaction since August and so far the money has not been delivered or returned back. punch of non professionals.

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“Useless bank - Very poor service particularly across...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by maxxalexander on 21/05/2022

Where to start? The weekend call centre is an office in India, no one understands anything. You'll go around in circles trying to get a sensible answer to questions but just get lauded with stock responses. No weekend transfers, no faster payments, discrimination against non-HSBC account movements. Completely misleading information on the website and in the app regarding transfer times. Extortionate fees, want to transfer any money anywhere, you'll pay a fee. If you're moving £1000's each month these fees can quickly rack up. It's a constant game of shifting money around to avoid their fees either into a Wise account or a UK based HSBC account... but then good luck doing any banking on the weekend when the Jersey office shuts down and nothing useful happens. Want to speak with someone at the bank and not an offshore customer service centre? Yeah wait until Monday. The app is basic AF. No sensible updates on available transactions and balances, no card management, no ability to use any other products - They request you print out a letter and post it in. It's literally a time machine back into the 70's I won't even bother mentioning their investment products here, feel free to Google up on them. And for the privilege of this service, they ask for £100,000 payments into the back each year. What.A.Joke. You're better off going with CitiBank or another elsewhere for expat services. I wholly regret using HSBC Premier and will reassess where I do my banking moving forwards. This is a lazy, cost-cutting, economy service masquerading and something substantial. It isn't.

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“Clueless”

★★☆☆☆

written by EllePoole281 on 21/07/2017

I've had the terrible luck to bank with HSBC expat. Ive banked with HSBC before and found them very good. This i thought would make HSBC expat a good choice and I have found out to my cost that they are very badly trained. You ask a question with several operators and get different answers.

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“The most incompetent I've ever come across!”

★☆☆☆☆

written by GeorgeTNL on 20/05/2017

I have received a shambolic and utterly incompetent service with regards to having a working debit card that would replace the existing one. I was initially sent a replacement card that, as stated on the cover letter, would work with my existing PIN. Unfortunately that was not the case! Then I was sent a PIN number that allegedly would work but still that was not the case! After several phone calls, I have been told many different versions and all kinds of nonsense; that I will be sent a new card (with a different number), which I never did, then that I will be sent a new PIN, etc. Then, I received indeed a "new" PIN that is exactly the same as the previous one that does not work!! I cannot recall a more incompetent service as far as I can remember. How difficult can it be to issue a working replacement debit card? Not to mention that every time I would call I would get different and contradictory information. Customer "services" tactic is just to get rid of complaining customers!

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“A awful/terrible service ”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Expat_LG on 08/06/2015

I have been using HSBC Expat for 4 months and it is a terrible service with very poor customer service. It took 3 months to open the account and then another 2 months to get a card sent to my address in Egypt. Last week I then got a letter saying that the account was being shut down without giving me an explanation other then saying it was a 'bank decision'. Given I had closed other accounts it leaves me with few options to move funding around and any requests for help have fell on deaf ears. Please do not use this terrible service!

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“Terrible”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 18/09/2013

Been with HSBC expat for just over a year. Zero customer support and they are happy to give you another phone number to try when you ask a question - which will be an automated system. It will take months to open an account, and forget trying to see anyone in person even if there is a branch where you live. I am from Canada, the service so far at HSBC has been fourth world at best. Avoid - I should have done more research.

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“HSBC, the most awful offshore bank ever.”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 28/03/2013

JUST DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this message will help somebody not to do the same mistake I unfortunately did. My experience with HSBC has been and is currently a nightmare. For any current account or particularly for any funds investment contract you open the counterpart HSBC representative is in tittle to receive a commission percentage from HSBC bank, that's all they are after. The type of funds recommended by any HSBC advisor/relationship Managers are not meant to let you earn money but are rather recommended just to re-finance gray entities strategic for HSBC only therefore in clear conflict of interest. Once the current account or the fund investment contract is open and your money are deposited no one in HSBC do care any more about your money, no matter how much you loose or how loud you complain you'll find yourself "dancing with the bear". I cannot disclose further details about my experience with HSBC but be aware that the bank and the people working in the bank are nauseating to say the least.

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“It's okay for offshore banking”

★★★☆☆

written by on 01/11/2012

I think 1 and 2 start is really under-rated, and the complains are unmerited for. I am a premier customer, and the service is decent. However, they have closed over 40 branches worldwide recently, and 2 of those branches were my account. I didn't like their process of closing my accounts...it was not explained, or handled properly.

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“Worst bank I've been with”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 15/02/2012

This bank used to be fine, with a good service, but then it all slid downhill as they changed their service. Because we took out a mortgage with them whilst living abroad, we were told we had to open an account with them. I've never had to do this before but wasn't overly concerned; it was free banking. The team in Channel Islands were good, always contactable by phone or email, quick to respond, etc. Then they moved their call centre to India. I don't have a problem with these call centres for some things, but every time I called them, they didn't really understand what I wanted -eg I needed a breakdown of interest for the tax man and finally they had to put me through to someone in Jersey who understood what I wanted. They always try to get me to join the Premier service, which you need to have £25,000 in the account for because they mistake my mortgage amount for a credit amount - EVERY time. If I did have a spare £25000 it wouldn't be in an account that pays such a tiny interest. And then they tried to charge first £10 then £15 a month to have an account with them if you have less than £25000. I wrote to complain that I was made to have the account because of having a mortgage and they waived the charge for the year and said they would review it. I am very annoyed that they want to charge me for an account I need to pay the mortgage, an account I put more than £2000 into each month, and for a service which is LOUSY. I don't want the upheaval of transferring the mortgage again, but I will if they want to charge me. And I really don't understand how HSBC offshore can get it so wrong when HSBC First Direct is so excellent, constantly coming out top in customer reviews. I have a first direct account too and cannot fault them. The euro mortgage is a better rate than first direct, otherwise I would change.

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“Avoid HSBC offshore like a plague”

★☆☆☆☆

written by on 13/01/2012

If you are thinking about being a HSBC offshore customer, consider the following: 1) They are totally vague about their remittance charges. If you would like to transfer money out of your account, they will never tell you how much the

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“Nothing but worry and stress.”

★☆☆☆☆

written by mrjohnnyh on 19/09/2011

Nothing but worry and stress. Awful time, so stressfull and so much worry. Don’t hand over large amounts of money to these guys, stick to UK banks you can trust and have come back on. With HSBC offshore, you never get an answer, you never get speak to anyone that understand you or listens to you. Really glad now and relived, I have closed the HSBC accounts, and my money is back in a large UK blank.

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“Best offshore and international banking service I've...”

★★★★★

written by on 23/01/2011

Best offshore and international banking service I've found.

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“I have been an HSBC Offshore banking customer for 7...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by JohnHardy on 22/04/2010

I have been an HSBC Offshore banking customer for 7 years. In all that time, I have adhered to their terms and conditions at all times, but have found them to be a lumbering bureaucratic monster who demand that all serious correspondence is done my mail.

Over two weeks ago, I found that I could no longer perform internet banking. As this is the only way I could access my account (my card from them stopped working over a year ago, for some reason), and as all my money was in this account, then they have left me absolutely desperate. They have not communicated any reason to me for taking this action, even though they are still sending statements.

I tried calling them at least 20 times, but their staff either could not speak English adequately, or appeared simply obtuse. The upshot is that they will not even give me an account status over the phone, and I must write to them and wait for them to contact me to even find out what the problem is. I am still waiting. I have now written them a letter demanding that they close my account, and threatening legal action.

I have a piece of advice for anyone with an HSBC account: Be very afraid. To anyone considering opening an account with them: my advice is that unless you are willing for them to deprive you of access to your money without notice, reason, or effective recourse - don't bother.

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Madie's Response to JohnHardy's Review

Written on: 19/02/2013

How very true! I have exactly the same experience. I have a Global Transfer facility which stopped working and left me in desperation as I was concluding the purchase of a property abroad. Staff interest is less than zero - possibly because of their poor command of English and their lack of understanding the concept of a property purchase. One week and countless unfruitful phone calls and messages later the problem still persists, and I literally have nightmares about HSBC.

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“Just be advised to go with the NBD or similar as this...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by on 09/08/2008

Just be advised to go with the NBD or similar as this lot are still trying to learn bank basics whilst extorting customers. Since arriving here they have been a constant hastle and they even joke about their poor service. You've been warned.

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Roginsaudi's Comment

Written on: 09/03/2009

I agree with this review because...I have had the same experience

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Johnhardy's Comment

Written on: 22/04/2010

See my review. This bank is the most abysmal financial institution I have ever done had the misfortune to do business with. They have literally rendered me penniless overnight and for no reason that they will tell me. I feel like a character from a Kafka novel. Avoid these people like the plague.

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“To cut a 25 day long story short, I transfered a small...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by dmadeley on 22/07/2008

To cut a 25 day long story short, I transfered a small amount of money (AUD2000) from my HSBC account in Dubai to my HSBC account in Brisbane Australia. This was done via their website. After several days the money did not appear in my aussie account so I contacted them.
The service I received over the 3-4 weeks was nothing short of absymal. Everyone in their call centre is quick to apologise and say the right thing, but no-one can help you, explain where the money is, or why it dissapeared for so long.
On no less than 10 occassions over 2 weeks I was advised I would be rung back - NEVER HAPPENED! I'm disappointed with HSBC for this and so many other reasons, and the Dubai UAE sector of the organisation would be the worst banking organisation I have dealt with in the world.

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Johnhardy's Response to dmadeley's Review

Written on: 22/04/2010

HSBC are a faceless monster who are capable of trapping you in a nightmare. They can (and in my case have) cut off all access to my funds without notice and reason, and without giving me any effective way of finding out why.

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“HSBC Offshore Banking offers good interest rates on...”

★★★★☆

written by Fortuneaff on 27/02/2008

HSBC Offshore Banking offers good interest rates on multiple currencies. With my personal relationship manager I get individual support and ideas for my investment options that are tailored.

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“Best offshore and international banking service I've...”

★★★★☆

written by zolecornu on 05/12/2007

Best offshore and international banking service I've found.

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“I could not get my money to transfer to another UK...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by 123123123 on 16/01/2007

I could not get my money to transfer to another UK mainland HSBC account in my name.

HSBC offshore wanted another kind of 6 digit sort code, whilst HSBC UK said there is just one sort code!?
Then UK HSBC gives loads of international transfer account numbers and swift numbers to give to HSBC Offshore, but there is no facility to enter these details in to internet banking. Phoned HSBC UK 4 times, HSBC offshore 3 times, and all times they said it's the other team not giving me the correct information/asking for the wrong information. When asked if the would discuss amongst themselves, as I clearly was the guy in the middle just trying to spend my own money, the refused and just said they are independent from each other!!??

Since Christmas the customer service seems to have been moved abroad, so I have no idea what they are saying half the time!! And anybody with a UK regional accent, forget it, as they don't understand you either!

Figured out that it's the HSBC's sort code that it doesn't recognise, but it does recognise a sort code from another company!!!!

Also, they charge you £25 per month if you have an account less then £25000 in credit? And also £25 to transfer money to another non-HSBC account, but you cannot transfer to a HSBC account as it doesn't recognise the HSBC sort code!!??

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“I was a customer rejected by this bank, which I think...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by whitedovefly2 on 13/09/2006

I was a customer rejected by this bank, which I think is their fault!!

I am a Taiwan citizen. Last summer, I wrote a mail to HSBC and told them I am interested in their offshore banking, and would like to open a account at their Hong Kong Branch. On the first two days, the bank agent helped me fill out all the forms of my information, and gave me couple investment ideas. And at the same time, they had reviewed my husbands information by the Taiwan branch. Everything went well, and I had signed all my travellers checks for my deposit into the account.

Guess what? I received a phone call from the agent just 2 hours before departure to the airport. She said they could not accept my application because of my nationality. I have been travelling all over the world, but I have never seen a bank work so inefficiently. Her manager did not even say sorry about their ignorance, but sorry about my nationality. And they could not accept my signed traveller checks because I did not have an HSBC account.

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“It is one consistant part of my life - its really...”

★★★★☆

written by Richard Evans on 17/01/2005

It is one consistant part of my life - its really useful the people are great and the internet banking is spot on.

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