I've just been to visit HSBC (Slough Branch) today and it didn't go too well, but I had prepared for the worst so didn't come as too much os a suprise.
I was only making a preliminary enquiry without an appointment and was just expecting them to give me some leaflets to take away, but I was directed to wait with all the asylum seekers and other reprebates that can be found lurking in the Slough branch for someone to see us.
About 10mins later we ended up speaking to one of the regular advisors, who although knew about the Professional Studies loans didn't know too much about the Pilot loan side of things.
I asked her a few questions and she had to make a couple of calls to one of the senior managers, who after a while came out himself to speak with me directly which I thought was good of him.
I thought that as I bank with First Direct (who are a subsidiary of HSBC) then I wouldn't have too many probelms, but this guy said that I needed to have an account with them for at least 6 months before I applied for the loan as they are totally seperate from First Direct.
I would also have to use my other halfs flat as security, but as there is only £20K collateral in the property at the moment then this was borderline.
He also said I would need in the region of £10k of my own savings too to be considered for a £40k loan.
Not quite what I expected them to say after some of the things I've read on here but wasn't a complete no, but then again it was only an enquiry.
Better get saving I think, but I'll try another branch in the meantime to see what they say.
