Student Account Overdraft help

[ryan0909]

Hello, I was a student in the UK on exchange, so I opened an HSBC account. It charges me 5 pounds per month, because it is an international student account. I left the UK for Vietnam last summer without closing the account, because my friend told me if the account is inactive for a long time they will automatically close it, and so I just left it and haven't used it since.

 

Trouble is yesterday I received a mail saying that I need to pay 50 pounds overdraft, and I should write a proposal to pay it before they formally demand repayment. 50 pound is not exactly a big deal, but since I'm not in the UK anymore I don't know how to pay it.

 

My question is, as 45 is quite a small amount, will they simply write it off and close the account if they don't receive responses from me? If not, can I go to a local branch in Vietnam, bring my passport and card and ask them to close the UK account for me?

 

Thanks for your help!

[johnnymitch]

Hi ryan 0909 , welcome to the forum

 

If you are in agreement with the amount they are asking for you could send an International Money Order for that amount to the address on the mail you received that was asking for it. Or you could visit your local branch if there is one handy , give them the account details, pay them the money and ask them to transfer it and close your account.

 

If , on the other hand you disagree with the amount requested then

you'll probably find that they won't chase you for such a small amount - However , if you're planning on coming back to the UK you may find a default against you which could affect you getting credit in the future ....

 

Basically , it's your call ,mate .

[ryan0909]

Wow, thanks for your quick reply

I guess I'll pay it, I was wrong in the first place not to close the account anyway

[johnnymitch]

Well done Ryan ,you have my respect - it could be so tempting just to walk away .......