It seems that Credit card companies are ripping the user of their cards. I constantly have to watch for their little tricks.
I have a Best Buy credit card handled through HSBC Retail Services, City of Industry, CA and Wilmington, DE. I made a purchase on March 15, 2007 and decided to take advantage of the 90 days same as cash feature. Their records show that I paid the full amount on May 11th, so I was well within the 90 days. It now appears that I will have to pay an additional $10. Why? Because I did not make a payment between March and May. Dana in Customer Services stated that I am required to make a payment, even though I fulfilled all of the other requirements. The ten dollars is a penalty fee for not making a timely payment. OUTRAGEOUS, SHOCKING, SHAMEFUL, UNPLEASANT, DESPICABLE, OFFENSIVE, AND CONTEMPTIBLE! If I pay in full before the 90 days is elapsed I should not have to pay any additional amount.
I fully intend to contact everyone I can think of to vociferously protest and inform them of this action. Their customer retention will drop by at least one due to this action.
Household Bank or HSBC. I have been a customer for over 5 years and spent thousands of dollars. I have never missed a payment or been late on a payment. I called and asked them to waive the $39.00 annual fee charge and they refused. They said it was impossible. So i asked them, they would rather lose my business over 39.00 and they said there was nothing they could do. So i closed my account. There are plenty of other cards at much lower interest rates, i suggest you go elsewhere. Henry
Dear Readers,
I am holding a savings account with HSBC Ltd., Thane (W) branch in India for the last 2 years with my father as the Jt. Account holder. Recently for some personal reason we both wanted my fathers' ATM / Debit card to be blocked, so I called in through the telephone pin verification mode and requested the customer service representative to block his card, she told me that the Jt. Account holder has to call himself and put this request. Hence, I called my father who is very old in the late evening hours and requested him to speak to HSBC and get his card blocked. I also informed him that he must specifically ask the bank not to block my card; the number was read out for him which he noted.
He then called the Bank and asked them to do so, the reply from the other end was "DON'T WORRY UNCLE, IT WILL BE DONE" and he called me and informed the same. Then three days later I was to leave for an official trip out station and the day before I was leaving I went to an food place and used my card, out came a surprise that this card is to be taken away. I was very frantic and called the customer service. They all the time gave me different answers and excuses for my card being blocked for security reasons. My tour and appointments came to standstill since this was the only bank that I have an official operative account.
Somehow, I overcame this big obstacle created by HSBC, India and on returning I am told that they have recorded the conversation with my father and he had asked them to block my card too. Now this was contrary to the logical impression given to me that the card holder must call in particular to block his card.
I would therefore recommend that keep away from the customer service persons of HSBC, please visit the bank and sort out your issues with this bank and then too do not expect them to be responsible for your account handling. This is a group of persons who enjoy at other cost and do not shoulder any responsibility. Please stay away from this bank in India and be careful always have another bank account if you are banking with HSBC exclusively in India.
Rathin Kumar Das
26/421, Triveni,
Adarsh Nagar,
Prabhadevi,
Mumbai - 400030
My payment is due Saturday... 6/23/2007. I made the payment online today... 6/21/2007. I was informed that they would not post it till Monday due to the due date being on Saturday (a trick of the trade that makes them millions). They will credit my account when I get done taking them to the Attorney General of Wa State. I have had nothing but headaches since dealing with these clowns for past 3 years.
George Rainha.
My name is Mohammed Aslam Hussain, holding HSBC Credit card.
I have never used it, Still HSBC bank people have sent me the Bill of Rs. 2,832.77 INR. When I inquired with customer care people they are stating that I have purchased using HSBC credit Card. I want to know the details where in I can submit my complain and strict action is taken against the Bank people.
I suggest you to stay away from this credit card company! This company has raised bill on my card for no apparent reason.
Thanks,
Aslam
Dear Sir,
I had forwarded you request on 28 feb 2007 with reference to the matter that had not received my credit card no. [protected] and it has been misused. This was informed to you to take the suitable action, But in spite of that today I got a call from HSBC lawyer Mr. R.K Verma, That they are going to take some legal action ,this call disturbed me a lot as I was considering that some action has already has been taken on this matter and I was not found guilty.
I am again listing the facts with evidences I have already explained;
1) I had received a mail on 30 Dec 2006 that my credit card application is registered under application reference # [protected].
2) On 08 Jan 2007 I received a mail that my application is approved and application reference no. was # [protected]
3) I was at Baddi unit of Macleods pharmaceutical Ltd. At that time when I filled the application.
4) I was in Mumbai from 2 jan 2007 onwards so it is not practically possible for me that I can receive the card being at Mumbai as delivery address was of macleods pharmaceutical baddi dist solan (HP) .
5) On 23 feb 2007 I received my first statement at Baddi plant and I was informed on phone by my Baddi office that bill shows outstanding of 45000/- Rupees approximately . I called to customer care and told them to block this card immediately.
6) Also on the instructions of customer care I had submitted an application of mishandling of credit card at HSBC Bank branch ,stationed at Kamala bhavan Swaminityanand marg near Garvare house Western express high way Near old Bhar cinema Andheri (E) Mumbai.
7) On 17/09/07 I had received almost ten calls that warrant will be issued to me if I will not pay the settlement amount . But in between time span of almost 6 months I had not received any communication from HSBC bank.
8) As in this whole sequence I had cooperated with the bank a lot but as I got calls today Mr. Rajnesh Sarin directly told that this fault is not from banks side as he wants to indicate directly the delivery of the credit card in the correct hands is not banks responsibility and ones the card is handover to courier there is no responsibility lies with bank that credit card is handed over in right hands or not.
9) As per his statement any personnel working in courier services which banks are utilizing for card delivery is authorized to misuse the card if he/she requires.
I have had nothing but headaches since I purchased two quads through HSBC. They have racked up so much in finance charges and "late" charges they I can't afford to pay. I continue to pay my monthly amounts and they just keep racking up more charges. I don't know what to do with them. Now they call me 4-5 times a day. I feel like I'm being harassed by them and taking advantage of!
HSBC/Value City: For the first time since using the card, my payment was late by a day due to oversight. I requested a one time 'courtesy' reversal of the late charge. It was refused... the threatening letters have gotten more strident since [I refuse to pay and charges are added every billing period although I have closed the account]. The latest letter is tghreatebnong collection hassles and ruining my credit. I will simply ignore the crooks... especially now that I have learned all the adverse stuff on the web about these people.
Thanks for the info.,
Amelia.
I have done a biggest mistake by getting HSBC credit card. From last two months I am getting daily 2-3 calls regarding BALANCE TRANSFER FACILITY from their end. I have told many times to them that i am not interested, still they are calling me everyday. Even i requested them to put a remarks their with my no. that I don't want to get any call from they, though they are sincerely giving me calls everyday without fail.
Can anybody tell me how to deal with this ?
Their no. are
011 [protected]
011 [protected]
I absolutely agree with you guys . Today I had the worse experience with a customer service representative from hsbc retail services. my brother who is in college was late for the first time since he opened an account, I received a letter stating that they can help you maintain your credit in good condition, all you have to do is call and they will work with you, so I call them and I got the most unpleasant person on the phone, he told me he had the power to close the account whenever he wanted to, and he needed a payment today not next week, I tried to explain things to him he was not hearing it. Finally i insisted on speaking to a supervisor and he told me that there was no one else that I could talk too. He wasted 25minutes of my time by playing games on the phone and being so rude, I have his name and Im writing a letter to the ceo of that company, you dont need people like him and when I said to him where on the best buy CONTRACT does it say that the account can be closed by being 30 days late and no notice, he said we dont have to go by the contract, so he broke every rule with better business bureau act.
I have a terrible experience with HSBC Retail Services. I have a Best Buy account with them. I was on vacation in September from the 21 to the 24. My bill was due on the 21. Being that I was on vacation, I called them on the 22 to pay over the phone. The operation told me that the bill was a day late and I have been charged the $39.00 fee. The following week I began receiving threatening call and a collection letter even though my last bill was not due until October 21. This is my last transaction with with. The next time I want a store credit it will not be with HSBC.
I canceled my account with this company June 19, 2007. I paid my balance in full at the time. Since then I have received 3 billing statements. Each time I have called them and told them that this account is closed and on what date I closed it. Because of their $35.00 late fee I have a new balance of $82 and some change. Latest, I just received a telephone call from them, 11/7/07 at 5:30 pm stating that since I turned them into the better business bureau, my account balance is now $0.00 and they do have it on record that the account is CLOSED!
I agree completely. These people call at 3 o'clock in the morning and are extremely rude. I dealt with a woman of uncouth behavior yesterday saying "You know what your problem is.." and so on. She was way out of context and completely unprofessional. Maybe she was used to people being intimidated by her or actually listening to her garbage so I just thanked her for her time and hung up, all the while she continued her rampaging.
I am also facing the same problem. I have received HSBC credit card in march 2006. I haven't used the card at all. I had put an application to cancel my credit card in August 2006. I thought it got cancelled. Last month I got a SMS that I have to pay 4000/- Rs.
Dear sir ,
I had taken your life time credit card no is [protected] due to your request.
That time your Executive said that no any charges will requred to pay for life time .but up to till I not use my card Then I get your bill Statment of dated 10 Nov, 2007IN which you applied Bill Statement Rs. 100 Charge. It is not correct .So pl. Cancle Then i Can use your card in future . You can call me on my cell [protected] my name is Pavan M. Nahar
I agree with everyone else. This is a very Poorly run company. My husband received a collect call from this company, which he hung up on then called me with the number to call back. When i did a guy answered. I asked him what was hsbc, he refused to tell me because i was not authorized on his account. I told him i am not asking about the account i just wanted to know where and who was calling him. he was very rude and still would not tell me. I ask to speak to a manager and he stated there was no manager to speak to. I then hung up and waited awhile then called back and got a lady who then told me everything i need. I work in retail and can't imagine ever treating my customers that way. I wonder if they ever realize why they can never get payments or why people cancel their cards. i guess the people who own this company don't care what is going on! So guess what were not the problem people IT'S THE COMPANY!
I have purchased Hewlett Packard computer stuff and got 90 days with no interest. So I used their on-line web site to pay, but for the last two weeks their website says it is having tech difficulties so I can't pay on-line at this time. I wonder if they take their own words serious enough because they guide you to their website while you are on hold (takes a long time to get someone to answer their customer service phones) and tell you that you can make a payment on their on-line site. Yet it has been down for the last two weeks, mostly off.
I love HP stuff but I don't care for HSBC at all.
I have a bowflex through these clowns. I never recieved a bill from them then they started with the calls I answered the first one explained to them I had not recieved a bill this guy was nice gave me my account number over the phone and there address. He told me my payment was 40.00 a month and my due date was the 20th of the month. I made the payment through my banks online bill pay then made a 50.00 payment the first month after that and a 40.00 the second. thats when it started they were calling me telling me I was late and that I had racked up a 39.00 late fee because my payment is due on the 13th or 14th depending on the billing cycle. I explained to them I didn't have a statement so I had no idea when the payment was due. again I was refered to the online services. So I thank him for informing me and told him I would make my payment on the 14th of Dec per the billing cycle. I thought it was over well no I recieve another call from a rude threating individual stating that my payment was over due and I needed to make my payment today well the online fuction for my bank was down I told him it wasn't due till the 14th and I would make it then long of the short I ended up hanging up on him and made my payment the next day I don't need the stress but what made me write this was my payment wasn't due until the 18th of Dec and that little jerk lied his butt off to get the payment do you think they get bonuses for this type of behavior or is there one section that is nice and another that are jerks. I have a reqular credit card through HSBC and do not have a problem with them but this account SUCKS.
Hi
I have HSBC Classic card, I have used my credit card once to Purchace the Jwellary and latter on i have converted my bill amount in to the EMI. After one month HSBC says that they have cancelled my Credit Card without informing me. And now they told me to pay the all amount. What should i do in this case i am ready to pay the same EMI.
Completely agree with everybody else here. I purchased a Samsung HDTV through HSBC Retail Services back in July 2006. My terms were no interest, no payments, same as cash for 18 months. Back in September 2007 I paid off the remaining balance on my TV, well before the December 07 end of terms. Come October, I received another statement to my surprise stating I owed even more money that had appeared on my previous statements but had considered them interest charges should I not pay the TV off by the end of term.
Come to find out these fees are from a Debt Cancellation or Credit Protection program that I supposedly signed up for and approved but I have no recollection of approving that. I think I waited about a week or 2, then called HSBC to put the fees in dispute and also to open a claim. 2 months passed and in the meantime, my account went into collections since I was waiting to see the results of the claim. During this time I received several, and by several, I mean at least 3-4 calls every Saturday and Sunday from a Collections agent, which I ignored at first because I didn't recognize the number. Now collections is telling me that the claim has been closed and that I approved the debt cancellation with a checkbox on my original application.
Suffice it to say I feel that HSBC is extremely dubious and misleading, not to mention most of the CSR's I spoke to were outright rude and unprofessional. They oftentimes talked over me when I was trying to explain my situation and were extremely pushy. Never before have I dealt with a company as disreputable as HSBC and once I clear up this situation, which means paying way more than the TV is worth, I will cancel the card and never do business with them again.
I just got off the phone with these clowns. Their billing policy has always been to mail out the bills as late as possible so that you only have one or two days to get it to the mail, however this last time I'm thinking they got delayed with all the holiday mail and I didn't get my bill till 1 day after the recommended mail date.
I called to complain, but the only thing they told me is that if I was having a problem that I'd have to just set up online bill pay or register a complaint with the postal service.
These people are pure slime and will actively try to screw their consumers over. I would highly recommend never getting any credit through these people.
I have an accoutn as well with HSBC via a bowflex purchase. Recently a check was made out for 100 and HSBC deposited 1100. It will now take over 30 days for me to recive my 1000 that they took withour any authorization from me to do so in the first place. Nice business ethics indeed!
Definitely watch out with HSBC! It was so hard to pay off my bill because of all these random charges. I called their customer service and the man (who I could barely understand from his bad english) promised that I could pay one lump sum and send it to their overnight. I asked if it was all over if I did that, he promised yes. I asked a second time before the call ended, "Are you sure I will not have any further charges?" He said yes and promised I would get a letter stating my account had been canceled (like I wanted to continue with the Best Buy credit card after THIS).
So. I paid the $450.00 in one solid payment and check my account a few days later. What do I find? A $6.95 charge. Apparently if you don't make monthly payments, the better way for them to rip you off, and instead pay one lump sum, they charge you for it.
Hsbc discreetly changed my payment date from the 29th to the 25th without notifying me. because i always paid online, I was never late until one day, thinking i had enough time, i made a payment on the 27th. my next statement showed a late fee. when i contacted customer service, i was told of the changes made to my statement which was done approximately 3 MONTHS PRIOR! I was so upset. needles to say, they refused to take it off, stating they would forward any unpaid amount to the collection agency. These people are definitely detestable, money hungry losers.
They apparently finance Costco cards as well, because my sister, who recently died of cancer, got a letter from them saying she owed them $60. I called and explained that she had been really sick unable to leave the house for months and the last I knew, she had a credit with Costco, so I just wanted to know what was charged and by whom before I paid the bill. The lady expressed her sympathies and promised to remail a bill to my sisters address. Three months later, I got another demand letter for an amount $50 higher than the first. Well, tough luck, they can just take us to court to get this money unless they can prove who charged what and where. I have no sympathy for them.
Exactly as stated in subject plus people not on same page with what you were told. I made a full payment of $415.00 on
Jan 27th. Was told my available credit would show in 48 hrs only to find I had none in 48 hours and the person I talked with was arrogant and that they were exercising their rights on verifying the funds were in. They were already in that Monday
and they made me wait till following Tuesday, after I had been assured over phone I'd have them in 48 hours. I have it now, oh, and they caused me considerable stress and I have lots of physical handicaps of which High Blood Pressure is one and they caused a substantial increase. Isn't that a violation of Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.), a jailable offense causing physical harm to a disabled person under terms of this '96 law? Beware people!
I was stuffed with a credit-card by HSBC and never used it. I want to know the process of canceling it without any harassment.
HSBC must be investigated for consumer fraud, excessive charges and interest rates. They get you caught by offering low interest then really slam it to you if even one payment is late. And they do not negotiate.
On a try it and see whim, I applied for credit at Best Buy and was denied. Later HSBC sent a me letter about the denial. About two months later I get one of those "pre-approved" credit card offers from none other than HSBC! I called to ask what was going on and got a blow off answer.
Oh, and they also send these "pre-approved" credit card offers to my son who is a college freshman and unemployed.
Our government officials should be taking notice and placing restrictions on the greedy, deceitful and abusive credit card industry. Scammers!
http://hsbc-retail-lied.blogspot.com/
HSBC is the useless one in customer care. I hold a credit card. First of all they were sending my statement to my previous home, when I had clearly instructed to send those to my current home address. Even after correcting this arrangement, they were not able to issue me the statements for last month even though i called and escalate people of customer care they told that i will be sent your statement through mail with in 3 to 4 hrs but till now i did't get, every next day is last day of payment(with out panelty).
please be aware of your customer care service.
please find the problem and get back to me immediatly
I had applied a credit card in HSBC bank on 30.01.2008, till date i have not received any enquiry and information about the card
My application No.5848556
Please take an action on it and give me the information about my card status
I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DISGRUNTLED BY THIS COMPANY. THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. NOONE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS OR OFFER HELP, NOT ONLY IS THERE A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BECAUSE FOR ONE I CAN ONLY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE AND THAT IS ENGLISH, WHICH IF YOU DO GET AN ENGLISH SPEAKING OPERATOR DO NOT LET THEM HANG UP. THEY CAN'T HELP YOU BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM WHEN THEY SAY SORRY YOU NEED TO WRITE A LETTER EVEN THOUGH YOU ALREADY HAVE WRITTEN TWO.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN A CONSUMER NIGHT MARE FOR ME AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY AGAIN, THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT A LOOP HOLE TO ENTICE PEOPLE W/ THERE SO CALLED SAME AS CASH DEAL, WHICH I GUESS ALL BEDS COST OVER 3200.00 DOLLARS RIGHT, YOU GOT YOUR CHEESY INTEREST FROM ME ALREADY.
I have a Credit card with HSBC & had bought the outstanding amount to a few thousand, then I stoped receiving the statements & presumed the card to be over. However now after a good year I suddenly received a call saying the outstanding amount is 80, 000+, which is ridiculous. They kept adding late charges & interest & when the amount was sufficiently high they suddenly call out of the blue. The thing is that my mother & friend had gone through the same experience with HSBC. I am under no circumstances going to pay this amount. Please can someone advise me as to what can I do, as I had read about a similiar case which went to the courts & eventually went in favour of the consumer. I feel now the only option is to go to the courts.
Dear Sir,
I'm holding HSBC credit card since last 5 months, I have not received even a single statement so-far.
Even after making repeated calls to customer care also, nothing has been done so-far.
I'm really feeling sorry fortaking HSBC credit card in the first place.
Please do the needful.
On 1/10/08 I called to cancel a recurring charge on my HSBC credit card from an HSBC life insurance policy. (They are located in California and Nevada in my particular case... seems they have location everywhere except in states where credit practices are tight). The life insurance policy doesn't have me on file (I'm glad I didn't die!).
I call HSBC card services (presumably in California), tell them my dilemma and they claim they will stop all future charges as of 1/10/08. I pay off the balance 1/11/08. I think it's resolved... They said all future charges will not be accepted!
Another charge from the "life insurance" that doesn't know I'm alive on 1/22/08 and again on 2/22/08. I called HSBC card services on 3/10/08 and speak to the same manager. She sees that I called before, and what the problem was and that all charges will be reversed. She says I can disregard all future bills "it is taken care of". She goes through the normal routine when I ask to cancel the card...
I get a confirmation of the cancellation dated 4/11/08 that my card is closed BUT "all recurring charges" is my responsibility to cancel (I thought it was resolved!). I get a bill that says a LATE FEE is charged on this life insurance that doesn't know I'm ALIVE and on charges that were NOT supposed to be accepted on 4/16/08.
I call HSBC card services on 4/28/08, and get a different "manager"... seems the customer service rep doesn't see that I've called before!... and try to get my balance of $88.76 reversed and RESOLVED... but instead I get Holly telling me that she can reverse $70... not $88.76.
I'm trying to close off this card and everything associated but CAN'T. This card wants more money!
I have filed this card with BBB in Cal (will be on every BBB in every state they are located in), I am contacting every Attorney General in every state they are located in, plus the FTC.
If I hear of any other government agency that deals with this sort of issue, I will contact them. HSBC cannot stop itself from charging itself even when it doesn't acknowledge what it is charging!
I will be contacting a lawyer through prepaid legal (never thought I'd really need it, but now I'm glad I have it).
If HSBC card services ever tells you they will STOP ANY CHARGES... Don't believe them.
P.S. I not only have a date that I called these people but I have time as well. So if any entity wants TIME as well as DATE I have it.
I have a personal loan from HSBC Bank ME, In May 2008 they have taken two installment from my personal account. My loan due date in on 5th of every month. In may 2008 they have deducted 5th May one installment as usual and on 28th May they did on more. When i complained about the second deduction they justified that, whenever the salary is credited to the account they will deduct the loan amount, but it was not happened earlier.
I think UAE central bank should involve in this type of wrong actions by the banks operating in UAE. I am planning to send a written complaint to UAE central bank.
I can't believe this company. Bought a 4wheeler from them with the great interest rate of 6.9%. I would give anything to reverse that terrible decision that I made to go through them. They always find a way to say they never rec'd my payment on time, or they lose it completey! So, instead of mailing I used the internet to make the payment and they still rip you off! Stating the payment takes two or more days to process, etc. Absolutely ridiculous. Its ruining my credit and its very shamefull we have a company like this in the US...please, please, don't use these people. You'll regret it!
Unbelievable - you pay your car note. You next to the last one after 7 years and they cash it and do not post. Then harass you constantly via telephone. People that do not speak English! What a farce! Go anywhere else for your auto loan - these people are a rip off!
Rude. Learn how to speak English when you call my home and make damned sure I owe money - as I had the bank cancelled check for these incompetents. American jobs going overseas to stupid people who cannot talk. This is what you get America - dumb, rude people who have zero social skills and apparently no accounting skills either. Go to your local American bank! Buy American everything! Wal-Mart too - a bunch of Chinese crap! Why are we feeding these people and not our own? Anti- Obama here! - change - yes, diaper head change!
I put my payments into the mail, well before it was time. I put my payments in the mail on the 28/29th of June and both my cards state that they didn't get it until AFTER the due dates. And I know that is a lie. I've done this before even with a three day holiday weekend and had no problem. So, I got hit not with one, but TWO late payment fees. When I had called the one card company that it was there, etc. The didn't post it until the 18th of July! They held it for two weeks. Luckily for me, I paid extra on both of them so that the late payments didn't hurt me. But it does make me angry that they deny that they held the payments. And there is no justice because I can't prove that I had sent them in LONG before they were due.
I PAID OFF, CLOSED MY DIRECT MERCHANTS ACCOUNT BACK IN 2/2001. BUT OF COURSE THEY NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH. NEITHER DID THE OTHER 4 CARDS I CLOSED AT THE TIME.
AND MY LATEST CREDIT REPORT SAYS THE DIRECT MERCHANTS ACCOUNT IS STILL OPEN, "PAID AS AGREED". WHICH NONE OF IT IS TRUE. IT IS CLOSED. BUT IT IS SHOWING UP ALSO AS AN OPEN ACCOUNT WITH A $2, 000 CREDIT LIMIT. WHICH SHUTS ME OUT FOR ANYTHING I WANT TO APPLY FOR.
THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND SOMEHOW NOT ALLOWED OF OPERATE IN ANY WAY. NEW NAME OR NOT.
ANY ONE KNOW HOW TO GET THIS OFF MY CREDIT REPORT? EQUIFAX SAYS I HAVE TO CONTACT DM MYSELF. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. IT HAS BEEN 7 YRS. AND IT SHOULD BE GONE ANYWAY.
ANY IDEAS?
I transfered a credit card balance to HSBC early this year so I could get the 0% APR on balance transfers that they were offering. In June 2008 I paid my HSBC bill thru my online banking. I set it so it would be sent out by my bank on June 13th which would give it plenty of to get to HSBC by the due date June 19th. Sometime later I noticed that the check had not gone thru. I checked the submitted payments and it listed HSBC as paid. I contacted my online banking support and asked them why it hadn't gone thru and they said that it was submitted on June 13th as I had asked. Finally on July 4th, 3 weeks after I sent the payment, it was posted to my checking. However, now they said it was late and they charged me a $39 late fee and raised my interest rate from 0% to 14.99%. I called HSBC and talked to a manager who verified that the check was sent to the proper address and that it was indeed dated June 13, 2008. She agreed that it was strange that it took 3 weeks to go thru so she waived my late fee and that months finance charge. Then she submitted a request to reinstate my 0% interest according to the original agreement. On July 29th I recieved a letter from HSBC stating that "we are unable to compy to your request as the terms you have requested are not available for this account." I then contacted HSBC and talked to a different manager who said that they've reviewed my case and said that my payment was late and therefor I would be stuck with the 14.99% APR.
I wasn't late and I hadn't previously been late either. I've been using my online banking for years without problems. My banks support staff agreed that my payment was sent out on June 13, but HSBC still insists that I was late. From what I've read online this has happened to many many people. HSBC is purposely holding payments until they are late so they can charge late fees and increase interest rates.