Hi Rhinoagainstcharges, Can you give me the address for the Head Office please.... regards,

cheers Michael, I have just written a letter pointing out persistence, my time with bank and how much I have suffered. As suggested earlier I am not sure weather I want to rattle the cage early on. I shall wait and see if this is their final response and then move on to SAR. To be honest, I have been a very good customer since I sarted banking with them (2004). When I came back, my local branch manager issued me with the Cash Account and barred my Current Account and Credit Card. He said once I clear off the debt, he will add a note so that priviliges are restored. So, I stayed loyal to bank cleared off everything and went in again only to told that I did not pass the credit test and therefore cannot be offered a Current Account. Anyways, I am playing the card that these extentuating circumstances were not my doing and can happen to anyone. Fingers crossed... suggestions? regards, edit: the debt was £2775 which had a lot of charges included.

hi Michael, I was wondering if I should write back again to a different department. Since, Helen Packwood seems quite fictious to me I would rather take my chances with someone else. Any comments or advice appreciated. regards,

Hello members, I have an update, I wrote to HSBC in Jan '10 explaining them the situation with emphasizing that I have been with the bank since 2004 and never before this did I miss a payment. I also sent the copies of CRA and relevant documents showing that I had to be out of the country. I got a letter back this morning "Thank you for your recent enquiry. Your comments have been noted but I would advise you that it is not our policy to delete any entry from the Credit Reference Agency files. Your account was registered in November 2007 and your name will remain in the Agency records for six years from the date of default, namely November 2007. If you consider there were exceptional circumstances at the time of your being registered, you may wish to consider adding a 'notice of correction' to your account. This is a short note, written by yourself, advising of your financial position at the time the account was registered. If you wish to write to the Credit Reference Agencies, I have listed below their names and adresses: ... Should you require any further information or assistance please telephone one of our representatives on 08456 077088 during office hours. Your Sincerely Helen Packwood Senior Manager, Collections" I dont know how to proceed further, any advice members... Regards

hi Johnnymitch, Thanks, I have already prepared a draft for the bank will be posting it here shortly before posting it to them. The default was not for such a big amount, it was less than £3000 with more than £500 in bank charges. Anyways, I think I have to take my chances and see how this one goes. regards,

Hi Michael, thanks for the info. I dont have the hsbc mastercard anymore, it got cancelled when they issued me with the default. Unfortunately, there was no 2 way contact either when I was away. The default has been satisfied for over 8 months now, I havent heard anything from them since. Looks like I have but little hope and have to wait for the whole 6 years before it falls off my file. regards,

Thanks a lot johnnymitch, I'll get right on it.

hi johnnymitch, thanks for the quick reply. I dont mind the charges as long as they remove the default. It has been impossible to get any credit or a bank account since my return. Sorry for being a novice, can you tell me what is a CRA ? I shall write to them and see how they respond. regards,

Hi, this is my first time, please bear with me. At the end of 2007 I left the country and was abroad for the period of eight months. It was not out of choice and the earliest I could make it back was mid 2008. Before leaving my credit history was good, and I had some debt on HSBC master card. By the time I got back I saw letters from Collection Agencies claiming the money. I called them and made an arrangement to clear off the debt (which included bank charges by the way). Anyways, its been over 8 months since I satisfied this default I was wondering if I could ask them to remove it as I was not in the country i.e. Extentuating circumstances and did not recieve any default notice. Just looking for some advice. thanks in advance.