Be careful with your interactions with HSBC; they extract too much personal information

[Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 16:51
Last edited 22/12/2016 - 18:49 by 1 other user

Just wanted to share my experience with HSBC. I have so far applied for credit cards or accounts with many banks in Australia. About 2 months ago there was an offer from HSBC to open a checking account and we give you $100+$100 dollars (one immediate, one after 6 months).

I decided to apply but the application wasn't internet based, so I had to download a form and fill it and bring it to one of their branches. The bank staff looked at the application and asked a few questions and said that she will scan and send it to their headquarters.

After a long while (about a month) I had almost forgotten about the application and then some other guy calls me and asked for a few info. I maintained my positivity and it was not before long that I realized he is asking for everything except the calibre of my (profanity).

It was too late by then as I have already told him my spending habits, overseas trips, jobs, hobbies, blah blah on the phone. Much more info was exchanged than you do for a credit card application. I know I am to blame but would like to emphasize that the guy was especially prepared to extract this personal information.

The attitude was wrong. As he was going even deeper into my life I said I'm sorry I have no more time and probably need to talk later.

Meanwhile if you can open my transaction account I will then ask you to also apply for a credit card. all I want now is a transaction account.

This all happened 4 weeks ago and I have never heard from them again. I am even starting to think that the guy was not from the bank but that HSBC may have sold my phone contact information.

Just a heads up if anyone want to interact with these shithole of bank then be careful not to call in the same trap as me.

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Comments

  • Baysew on 22/12/2016 - 17:05
    +23

    Cool story, bro.

  • mskeggs on 22/12/2016 - 17:27
    +3

    "I am even stating to think that the guy was not from the bank but that HSBC may have sold my phone contact information."
    Really? You really think that is likely?

    Are you sure you didn't inadvertently apply for credit as well?
    When I applied for a Citibank account the bank guy (who I guess was some Chinese guy too, as that seems important to your story for reasons I'm not clear on) urged me to apply for a Visa card at the same time.
    Maybe the box got ticked on your application to HSBC?

    If you feel they caused you harm, there is the financial industry ombudsman, but it sounds like nothing bad has actually happened except maybe a phone call where you got chatty?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 17:59
      -2

      No I did not apply for credit. I reiterated on the phone that I am not applying for credit, and they have nt made any enquiries with Veda. Just some sub-standard banking practice by shitty bank and a jackass asking for too much information I think.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:43

      The reason I felt might not have been from the bank is that he has n't got back to me and how long a transaction account opening will take anyway?

      I think what I need to do is to call that guy again if I can find who he was and ask the status my application. Excepting that HSBC is a huge disorganised jungle, then it should have all been cleared by now. The guy's last words was something in the line of:

      "Ok, I go ahead and open your account now and will get back to you soon with details."

  • Diji1 on 22/12/2016 - 17:30
    -4

    that HSBC may have sold my phone contact information.

    May?

    It doesn't look racist at all that you specifically mention the presumed ethnicity of the people you dealt with.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 17:55

      The "look" is the way you perceive. I did tell the ethnicity but I wasn't derogatory.

      At most you could tell I was pointing to differences but definitely not "looking down" upon.

      Don't know why you start with racism argument.

  • retiredfeline on 22/12/2016 - 17:33
    +2

    Sure, like he twisted your arm when he "extracted" that information.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:45

      Hell he did. I rarely give out personal info unless absolutely necessary but I fell into that guy's trap somehow.

      • matt_will_fix_it on 24/12/2016 - 08:07
        +1

        I never give out personal information to people that call me. Doesn't matter who they are. I say I can call back the published organisation phone number and ask to speak with them.

        If it's legit they will have put notes on the account.

  • kev98 on 22/12/2016 - 17:40
    +3

    The calibre of your anus hole? You couldn't think of a better analogy?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:01
      +1

      That's information is too personal to me.

      • D6C1 on 23/12/2016 - 23:15
        +4

        I don't get it.. Why disclose all that information then? Surely alarm bells should have been ringing as he got more and more chatty.

        Another note - I would NEVER EVER give that type of information when I get the call. I would call back.

  • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 17:45

    I have so far applied for credit cards or accounts with many banks in Australia.

    Sorry what…?!

    You same some interesting posting history and it sounds like you're doing everything you can to fk up your credit file (despite wanting to check it weekly!)

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 17:56
      +1

      My credit file is intact for your info. Have a good day.

      I have 17 total credit enquiries by the way. You got problem with that?

      • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 18:04

        So umm why…?

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:05

          What why? Why do I need credit?

        • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 18:05

          @superready:

          Why do you need 17 cards, or to apply for 17 different ones?

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:08

          @Spackbace: not at the same time obviously but having this many applications over the years would not hurt your credit rating as you feared/commented.

        • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 18:10

          @superready:

          Didn't answer my question why you'd need that many cards

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:12

          @superready: I have already mentioned why I checked my credit rating a week apart in the post that I mentioned the issue.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:17

          @Spackbace: Why do you expect that I answer to every of your questions while your comment was not constructive at all?

        • spackbace on 22/12/2016 - 18:21

          @superready:

          Your post isn't constructive (as comments have pointed out), so what's wrong with my comment? It's a fair question to ask since you felt the need to tell us how many credit inquiries you've had

        • phocus on 23/12/2016 - 09:15
          +7

          @Spackbace:

          This is how OP fell into their traps!!

          Hell he did. I rarely give out personal info unless absolutely necessary but I fell into that guy's trap somehow.

        • ronnknee on 24/12/2016 - 02:11
          +6

          You are extracting too much personal information. /s

  • chumlee on 22/12/2016 - 18:22
    +2

    I'm a HSBC customer and haven't had any issues. Their online banking is crap but I don't use it much thankfully.

    If you keep applying for credit you may get more banks probing into your affairs each time as 17 enquiries is a lot.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:39
      -1

      It might be well the reason but happy to say I applied with two other banks after this application and no question was asked.

      I won't post any note here if not obviously feeling a threat to other people in my situation.

      • mskeggs on 22/12/2016 - 18:43
        +1

        I won't post any note here if not obviously feeling a threat to other people in my situation.

        What threat is there and what situation do you mean?

        • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 18:54
          -1

          Well, I haven't been clear enough I guess. Basically, a lot of OZB guys apply for credit cards etc. evidenced by the deals that are posted and discussed non-stop. I applied for one of this deals and my experience was that "too much personal information given out nothing gained not even a simple transaction account".

          What I think happened was that the guy from HSBC had a spreadsheet and enterred all the numbers and info in and decided whether to open an account for me and give me $200 bonus or not.

          This is obviously their business and they will need to do be careful, but the point is they should make their "client research" by usual standards. If a bank goes into to much of your personal life to decide if you are a worthy customer, then it is definitely asking fir too much. Why would I have deal with this bank if others just want my basic info?

    • mskeggs on 22/12/2016 - 18:41
      +2

      This might be what is happening, either HSBC concerned the constant credit requests are part of a scam, or a little call from AUSTRAC to find out what is going on?
      FWIW, I would have 3 entries on my file from the last decade, and maybe less the decade before, yet I seem to have as many or more cards than most.

  • mbck on 22/12/2016 - 21:40
    +1

    I literally just tried to apply for the account and you can do it online…

    Day to Day Acc

    Maybe you applied for something else?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2016 - 22:05

      Once the online application is complete you need to take a form to one of their branches for identification. The dilemma starts there.

      • kev98 on 22/12/2016 - 22:25
        +1

        I never had that. From memory just went to the post office

      • mbck on 23/12/2016 - 01:59
        +1

        Ahhh I think that's the 100 point id?

        Sorry to hear you went to so much trouble, but mine was pretty smooth. Hope you have better luck!

        • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2016 - 08:08

          I think I remember the form gave me an option for either verifying my ID by contacting some credit agency (which I translated as pulling my credit report) or going to some branch. I selected the second option because I was not applying for a loan or credit and didn't want to damage my credit rating.

          There is a small chance that I am mistaken but pretty sure that it was this bank that asked for this kind of verification.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2016 - 16:13

          Here:

          This is an excerpt from Citibank (I am just copying it as HSBC had similar terms for verification).

          I did not want them to collect information from a credit reporting body (which I construed as pulling my credit history out, hence reducing my credit rating), and therefore I went the other route for identification.

          Citibank may provide your name, residential address and date of birth to a credit reporting body for the purpose of verifying your identity in accordance with the requirements of the …blah blah blah

          …If you don't wish for Citibank to use these methods to verify your identity, you should not complete this application and may go to a Citibank branch with appropriate forms of identification in order for your identity to be verified in person.

  • kwiksand on 23/12/2016 - 12:39
    +1

    I've been banking with HSBC for years now, both here and in the UK, never found them to be particularly pushy.

    Off topic, but I opened a credit account with ANZ recently, and went through almost exactly the process you described above with ANZ's financial services team. Like you, I got a few minutes into the conversation and realised I'd been talking about my car, home and life goals for a few minutes and thought… "waaaaaait a minute….".

    I ended the conversation soon after confirming the credit and new chequing accounts had been approved and opened, but not a day has gone by since (going back about 2 weeks now), where I haven't had an email/call with details for ANZ Super, car insurance, life insurance, mortgage/income protection, etc etc.

    I'm an absolute shark when it comes to actually picking a deal though, I couldn't care about keeping all my insurance/accounts in one place, if ANZ can't beat the price, I'll happily go elsewhere, but I don't mind the offers as comparison

    • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2016 - 13:09

      Same same except that I too opened an ANZ without absolutely no problem. Got 100 gift card too.

  • Deridas on 23/12/2016 - 14:24
    +2

    Back several years ago Commonwealth Bank profiled me by asking for my occupation, spending habits etc. I had a transaction account and credit card with them then. I don't use the account very much, and I told them I was a bum living on Centre link. Haven't been bothered by them since.

  • dazweeja on 23/12/2016 - 23:38
    +1

    It sounds like you applied for a savings account and someone from another section of HSBC called you in the hope of selling you other products, eg. personal loan, credit card, etc, hence those particular questions.

    Pretty standard behaviour from banks these days. I don't see a big issue here.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/12/2016 - 00:15
    +1

    All Banks do this. I just say that I'm not interested in any other products at the moment when they start asking personal questions.

  • DarkOz on 24/12/2016 - 10:30
    +2

    That's what you'd get for wanting $100+$100 free money.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/12/2016 - 12:35
      -2

      Nope… that's not right. Banks have these promotions for a reason but that shouldn't include this kind of scrutiny.

  • vinni9284 on 24/12/2016 - 15:31

    Off topic speaking about HSBC, I tried to speak to someone regarding their 3.5% variable home loan rate they had on the net special and was stuck with the Chat app. Couldn't get any clarity on further information (e.g for that interest rate, does it require <80% LVR etc) … complete Roadblock. Decided to call their customer service line and the call sounded like a crackled line as I was speaking to someone from the other side of the Galaxy. Couldn't hear them properly however the part I heard is that they will pass my number to a loan specialist in and they will call me back. So i passed on my details. LOL …. still waiting. I would never bank with them. Period!

  • Islund on 24/12/2016 - 18:37

    The corporate credit cards in my company are through HSBC.

    Was going to get one until I saw the amount of personal information I would have to give.

    At the end of the day it is a corporate card - not a personal on.

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