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Original poster

HSBC - not being helpful!

124 replies

ruthieness · 20/10/2017 15:00

Am I being unreasonable to ask HSBC to confirm over the phone that the exact HSBC bank details I have already been given for a limited company actually correspond to that companies HSBC bank account before my daughter makes a large payment?

The first line customer service person said it was not "allowed"
and refused to call supervisor

I insisted on speaking to the supervisor.

Back on hold

Supervisor comes and speaks to customer service person and again he refuses to help.

I say "If it is a fraud don't they want to help me?"

He say's "if it is a fraud that is up to me to check!"

I ask to be put through to fraud department - although I do not think it is a fraud!

Put on hold again for over 10 more minutes!

total call 28 minutes - line was cut off -
not sure them or me!
No call back!

Shall I complain?

OP posts:
bonfireheart · 20/10/2017 18:33
  1. I bank with HSBC and never had an issue. Am even more glad to see they don't confirm bank details to anyone calling up.
  2. Is your daughter buying something online? If so take the URL and a screenshot of the page. Later if there is fraud you can use that as proof you paid in good faith.
  3. Ask your daughter to ring her own bank and confirm how they protect their customers against fraud.
RB68 · 20/10/2017 18:33

its a bit of a catch 22 isn't it.

I have also heard of cases where someone has some work done, first payment made up front and work continues. They then get a phone call purporting to be from the workman and saying he needs a further payment now to continue with the work, he then gives them new bank details as he has "had to change bank" or some such and so payment is made, next day workman turns up and they check they got pyt - they know nothing about it - some fraudster has looked up phone no for the house, read the workman's van and got the timing right for another pyt and swizzed them of the money - you have to be so careful. I would not do large pyts this way unless I had cast iron proof it was going the right place- I think the idea of send a £1 first is a good one

bonfireheart · 20/10/2017 18:34

Visit MSE forums they love reading T&C's ans give good advice.

SandyDenny · 20/10/2017 18:38

ABC Builders isn't the actual company you're talking about is it?

It might be helpful if you explain what sort of business you're talking about, are you buying something from an online retailer or is a person going to provide you with a service of some sort?

PoppyPopcorn · 20/10/2017 18:40

Dearie me. Are you always so paranoid? Why have you gone and pulled out the details for ABC Builders when this was a purely fictitious company I invented to illustrate a point?

Anyone can register a company with Companies House. That means nothing.

The main point stands - if you want to verify the account numbers, call the company concerned and NOT the bank.

If you have concerns about the company in the first place, don't send them any money!!!

LonginesPrime · 20/10/2017 18:41

* ABC Builders isn't the actual company you're talking about is it?*

Yes, the companies house shots of ABC Builders confirmed my suspicions that OP is playing with us..

bonfireheart · 20/10/2017 18:42

Oh no not a PBP please! At least make it interesting then.

Winebomb · 20/10/2017 18:51

There is a service run by Experian which checks account number belong to the intended recipient. It's called bank wizard, but it's only available to companies not for personal use. Because an individual shouldn't really care.

What is the risk you are trying to mitigate by ensuring its going into a business bank account?

What ever bank account you pay into, there is still a risk they can "lose" the money or run off with it without providing the services.

If you have received an invoice from the company, with the bank details on, that's the bank details you pay to.

If your daughter doesn't have an invoice, she doesn't pay until she gets one.

Also I assume if it's for a service there is also a contract?

Original poster
ruthieness · 20/10/2017 19:15

well guys the payment went through to the company named
so it looks ok and now I will have to find something else to worry about! I checked the company at companies house and it was not set up recently so I just wanted to make sure the money was going to them.

but this has kept me entertained all afternoon and distracted from worrying!

If it was for myself I would insist that the company allow me to check with their bank but I presumed that it would just be a quick call and this would be done.

I trust my daughter but I do not trust people.

but 30 minutes wasted on a call to HSBC!!!

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/10/2017 19:17

But I don't get why you wouldn't take the companies word for it that the bank details they provide are correct (let's assume for a second that we are satisfied that the company is genuine).

What benefit is there for them to provide false details?!

Original poster
ruthieness · 20/10/2017 19:32

I could not edit my original question so did not realise I was not clear!

I did not think it was a fraud but it might have been!
I wanted to check what I could find out without being a nuisance to my daughter!

It was possible that it was a clone website
or the possibility that a rogue member of staff gives their own details and does a runner

or a digit mistake and that is a nuisance as the money had to be paid tonight!

or totally ok !!!!

but how to find out?

Nicknacky
you can ask a person for a passport!
how do YOU identify a business?

I do not want to give out details because that is not the point

but this sort of problem occurs when people book holiday places and turn up and there is no holiday! - this is not it btw but you get the picture!

Sometimes it is a burden to know too much about what goes on in the world!

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/10/2017 19:35

Let's go back to basics. What type of business was your daughter paying? That helps establish how cautious you need to be. I agree contacting someone on Fb and paying them for a holiday has massive risks but I doubt that's what your daughter was paying for.

Original poster
ruthieness · 20/10/2017 19:39

poppypopcorn
sorry I realise I was a bit rude there but I pulled those details up to show how difficult it can be to be sure who your contract is with.

Perhaps companies house should not allow so many similar named companies to register - I feel they are very slack on this and it is their job to make sure there is no confusion.

OP posts:
Original poster
ruthieness · 20/10/2017 19:40

My daughters business is her own business so not up to me to say is it!

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/10/2017 19:41

Companies House can't make companies change their name because there are similar named companies elsewhere in the country!

Will you answer my question please?

Nicknacky · 20/10/2017 19:41

You don't need to give the name of the business just the area of business.

underkerstumbled · 20/10/2017 19:43

If there are several businesses with almost identical names registered at Companies House, then go back to the business you are dealing with and ask them for their company number - and search on Co House for that number.

To be honest though, if something is a bit dodgy in a firm's accounts, the average layperson isn't going to spot it.

Original poster
ruthieness · 20/10/2017 19:48

dinners ready!

oh and rules for ltd company names
you are not allowed to use a name
"which is the ‘same as’ an existing name on the index".

and you should be made to change it!

what does "same as mean"

lets ask John smith????

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 20/10/2017 19:52

You said similar names, not the same. Although I bet there will be companies with the same name in different businesses, parts of the country.

bonfireheart · 20/10/2017 19:53

What's for dinner OP?

LonginesPrime · 20/10/2017 19:55

Are you cooking us dinner, OP?

‘The same as’ is quite straightforward to interpret, is it not?

I think John Smith may be confusing companies house with the register of births deaths and marriages...there will only be allowed to be one John Smith Limited at any given time, though.

Jumblebee · 20/10/2017 20:24

I work in a bank and we wouldn't be able to do this. We would tell you to confirm the bank details with the company.

OnionKnight · 20/10/2017 20:36

If it was for myself I would insist that the company allow me to check with their bank but I presumed that it would just be a quick call and this would be done.

Yeah, good luck with that.

kali110 · 20/10/2017 20:54

merely confirm the details we have been given are correct!
They are not able to give you details of another persons account.
You would need to contact the company to confirm details.
They also can't help in your daughters account, unless you are making a payment ( and even then they can't confirm any bank acc details).
So yabu.
If it was you, would you be ok with another person being able to get details on your account?

Glumglowworm · 20/10/2017 21:48

It's not public interest

Your daughter needs to do this herself and since you've avoided answering, she hasn't actually asked you to do it anyway

The reason there's no process is because you're batshit crazy! The person you spoke to will have said to their supervisor "I've got a batshit crazy lady on the phone saying it's public interest that I confirm a company's bank details." And the supervisor agreeing that you're insane. And when you started screeching about fraud and public interest, they'll have been delighted for the chance to get rid of you to the fraud team.