HSBC
 

After 7 years in Dubai, HSBC has finaly (mis)-managed to frustrate me for the last time. My money comes out in 2 days, credit cards cancelled. Imbeciles, they can't f**k with me anymore.

Congrats :ok:

Way to go dude

Just cancelled my account this morning. Changing over to Barclays.
Mfan

Well, that's it then, I'm cancelling my account, too! :*

P.s. But why are we doing this? :confused:

HSBC has a terrible reputation recently...and Barclays has treated me well for well over thirty years.
Never a problem with the latter bank.

Cancelled mine in Nov.

They are, have been and will continue to be, without question, the worst bank I have ever had to give all my money to in fees! :suspect:

Tragic! :*

I believe HSBC have bought down the requirements for a status account, which reduces fees and comes with a personnal rep to which you can call. I just changed over recently and it's worth a look. The on line banking is reasonable, but I know they have big problems with the call centers in India. I haven't had to drive to Deira for years and that's the only reason I haven't switched. The less direct interface with a bank the better.

I hear NBAD is pretty good, with lower fees and a soild on line banking option as well. The problem is that the entire ME is weak when it comes to banking options. What to do...

I had a donkey from hsbc phone me up on the 28th nov telling me i had no money in my account when i'd just been paid 2 days earlier !!! :ugh:

I hear NBD seems to be ok to ... relativley speaking that is ! at least you get a debit card as opposed to the crappy status thing hsbc give you ..

I have a premiere account with HSBC and have never had too much trouble with them.. But I do agree with your comment regarding the call centers based in India. They are difficult to deal with and are very inflexible - basically reading off a QA sheet like a computer.... :bored:

NBAD in my own experience however, is a very bad lot. We were forced to take a mortgage with them (no other banks were financing our project at the time) and we are stuck with them. Their representative who dealt with us was wholly unprofessional and their staff in the branches are not much better. Luckily, I have a direct line to one of the very senior managers who steps in only when I desperately need issues resolved. But that is a poor way to do banking...:ugh:

I too wish to find a bank in the ME who really do understand what people want when it comes to good customer service... Sadly, that concept is lost on most of the banks here....

Good advice for any country in the middle east or south Asia.

FYI HSBC ME Premier has at last launched a Debit Card which will be available from 10th March.

HSBC Premiere OK to me
 

No real problems, just never ever ever call the call centre.....Get the number of your Premiere rep, and their desk phone.

Yes the mortgage rate went up by 1.5%, when the UK loan rate was ONLY 1%. Suspect this was not HSBC problem but sand pit wide.

But they are giving 6.0% tax free on my deposits, so reasonably happy.

Eventually got to grips with the internet banking.....that took over one year of very occasional use, and thus not really current on type.

glf

'But they are giving 6.0% tax free on my deposits, so reasonably happy'

What type of account give you 6%, can you please share ?

With HSBC Dxb, can you freely transfer funds online between HSBC accounts in other countries on global view ?

HSBC 6% was well advertised locally
 

It was, and might still be available for middle order deposit sums, and attracted a 6% pa interest.
I took out a 6 mth term deposit, and this matures in Feb 2010.

I move funds betweeen USA UK and UAE easily, either on line, or over a cup of tea, in my branch.

If you have Premire account, and are located in UAE, drop in for a cuppa, and ask the question.

Remember they were charging 7.5% on loans.

There is no tax charged on this interest, but if you are an UK takpayer, please take the correct advice, as to repatriation.

Regards from a sandy but snow free UAE.

glf

Thanks for info on your TD at 6%. Unfortunately that was the rate 6 months ago
.Today a 6 months term deposits only pay a paltry 2.59%. The best TD rate is on 4 months at 4%. Now I d rather keep my money accessible at 3% in the esaver.

Barclays useless too
 

Well i can't say i'm too impressed by Barclays..They've been pretty much useless too.

Regarding mortgages, i got an offer from Ajman Bank for a 70% morgage on a 4,5 - 5,0 % rate.Not too bad i guess.

Having banked with BBME (which then became HSBC), NBD, Lloyds TSB and now Mashreq during our time in Dubai, we have come the conclusion that banks here are all pretty much the same...useless!!

Surprisingly the worst of the lot was Lloyds TSB. On one occassion they stopped all transactions on our ATM/Payment Cards while we were on leave due to a 'computer hacker scare' in late 2008. :ugh: Which in the end made no difference whatsoever because 4 months later someone got hold of my card details and PIN and totally went to town running up a 70,000dhs bill. :{