account closure

[fariba3]

Hi, i've gone through the whole process, got everything settled in full and now, HSBC have said they want to close my account because "it is clear that you are unwilling to abide by the terms and conditions agreed between us, we consider our relationship to have broken down." I know i read somewhere on teh forum that this is against all sorts of statutes and consumer rights and i want to fight it. Does anyone know where to look for info on this and a template letter to contest it?

[barracad]

There is some info on it here:

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8541

[jscouser2002]

Hi, i've gone through the whole process, got everything settled in full and now, HSBC have said they want to close my account because "it is clear that you are unwilling to abide by the terms and conditions agreed between us, we consider our relationship to have broken down." I know i read somewhere on teh forum that this is against all sorts of statutes and consumer rights and i want to fight it. Does anyone know where to look for info on this and a template letter to contest it?

 

At what stage did they say they are closing the account and how much notice have they given you before closing the account

[fariba3]

They gave me 30 days notice but unfortunately, i was on holiday until yesterday and only came back to receive this letter. My response is below... let me know what you think about it before i send it...

 

"I refer to your letter dated 17 May 2006.

 

I am disappointed to hear that you regard my request for a refund of charges unlawfully levied by your institution as a breach of contract.

 

I dispute your implication that I am unwilling to abide by the Terms and Conditions agreed between us but instead I believe your threats to close my account serve as a retaliatory action on the basis that it is unfair under Schedule 2 of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.

 

What I require

 

I request that my account remain open and I be accorded with the same privileges allowed to me at this time.

 

My targets to resolve this matter

 

I hope that you will enter into a sincere dialogue with me about this matter and I am writing this letter to you on the assumption that you will prefer to do this than merely respond with standard letters and leaflets.

 

I will give you 14 days to reply to me accepting unconditionally my request in principle.

 

If you do not respond or you do not respond positively within this time period, I shall send you a letter before action giving you a further 14 days in which to reflect. I believe that these targets are more than sufficient for a large company such as yours with dedicated staff and departments.

 

After that will be no further communication from me and I shall issue a complaint with my local member of parliament and the OFT.

 

Yours Faithfully,"

[barracad]

Due to the urgency of this and the fact they have given you 30 days notice you should change your deadline for response to 7 days rather than 14.

[fariba3]

You're right... i've made the changes... thanks for that...

[hele]

hi, please let me know if you were successful in your appeal to keep the account open? Thanks

[joebloggs]

Interestign one this, perhpas they need reminding and referrign to your fisrt letter of claim that they have broken the t&c's by applying charges.

To be honest if it were me i would not want to continue banking with them, indeed i no longer have a bank account i use my other half's (no chance of us both being hammered by the leeches).

PLEASE dont think i'm havign a pop, i'm not but we all need to be aware of the consequences of tackling these people and the subsequent actiosn they may take.

Really goign to town on them of matters such as this i think we would have a problem with as we just have not got the money to do it.

Our claims are pittance in the big picture of things and in terms of the finance institutions resources, no way could we match them and they know it.

I can see the claims becoming a whole lot more difficult in the future, there will come a point where the increasing number of refunds need to be tested and justified probably through the courts.

[jamesrouse]

hi, please let me know if you were successful in your appeal to keep the account open? Thanks

 

I have managed to stop my account closure with HSBC with these 2 letters

sent this one first then was told it had been sent to Leeds to be dealt with

Mr David Lewis

Head of Customer Relations

HSBC Bank PLC

Level 36

8 Canada Square

London

E14 5HQ

 

Thursday, 31 August 2006

 

 

Ref: **************

 

Account ***************

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mr Lewis

 

I am writing to complain about the letter I received from a Miss N Kelly a service quality manager based in Leeds. The letter dated 30th August 2006 tells me that you are going to withdraw my banking services on the 29th September 2006. The only reason I can see that you are doing this is that I have successfully claimed back unfair banks charges applied by HSBC dating back 6 years.

 

I feel that this is an unfair retaliation on your part, which goes against the Banking Code Standards Board who says “We ask subscribers to consider the fairness of closing accounts in such circumstances”. The FSA who under there rules on dispute resolution and complaints say “We would not expect any regulated firm to discriminate against a customer who makes a complaint”. And also the Financial Ombudsman who say “they should not decide to close an account for an improper reason – for instance, because of unfair bias”.

 

I feel that your treatment towards me is in direct contravention of the above rules set by your governing bodies.

 

I have been a customer of HSBC for many years and am truly hurt and upset in the way HSBC have handled this matter.

 

From this letter I would hope that you will reconsider you decision to close my account so that I can continue to bank with HSBC.

 

If this is not possible then I will be left with no choice but to complain to the Banking Code Standards Board, The Financial Services Authority, and the Financial Ombudsman, however I am hopeful it will not have to come to that.

 

 

 

 

A prompt response would be very much appreciated.

 

 

Yours Sincerely

 

 

 

 

James Rouse

 

 

Cc: File

 

So i then wrote to the chairman with this one, and got a letter from alan pretty say account WON'T be closed

 

Mr Stephen Green

Chairman

HSBC Bank PLC

8 Canada Square

London

E14 5HQ

 

 

Wednesday, 13 September 2006

 

 

Re **********************

 

Dear Mr Green.

 

I am writing to you to complain about the closure of my current account on the 29th of September.

 

I received a letter on the 30th of August from a Miss N Kelly saying that HSBC are going to withdraw my banking services on the 29th September for a “Commercial Reason”, I then wrote to Mr David Lewis head of customer relations on the 31st August.

 

I called HSBC today to see whether my letter to Mr Lewis was being dealt with and it seems that it is being dealt with in Leeds and they have a back log of complaints at the moment but was told on the phone the decision can not be over turned and my current account will close on the 29th September.

 

I feel my account should not be closed, I feel it is only being done so in retaliation of me claiming back bank charges.

 

I would like to draw you attention to the following information from the Banking Code Standards Board, The FSA and The Financial Ombudsman

 

The Banking Code Standards Board say “We ask subscribers to consider the fairness of closing accounts in such circumstances”. The FSA who under there rules on dispute resolution and complaints say “We would not expect any regulated firm to discriminate against a customer who makes a complaint”. And also the Financial Ombudsman who say “they should not decide to close an account for an improper reason – for instance, because of unfair bias”.

 

I have been a customer with HSBC for many years and also have business banking, saving accounts, ISA etc with HSBC, and I am deeply hurt and upset by HSBC’s actions.

 

I ask that you reconsider the decision to close my current, if this is not possible then I will be left with no choice but to complain to the Banking Code Standards Board, The Financial Services Authority, The Financial Ombudsman, and contact national newspapers to inform them of HSBC’s actions. However I am hopeful it will not have to come to that.

 

A prompt response would be very much appreciated.

 

 

Yours Sincerely

 

 

 

 

James Rouse

 

 

[hele]

Thanks James, that is very helpful of you, I am definately going to make a complaint, thanks again.

[craigamc]

Natwest have closed my account after it had an overdrawn balance of £114 due to 3 charges of £38.

 

Anyone suggest a letter to send

 

P.S. they have also cancelled my card on our joint account but my wife can still use hers?

 

ta

craig

[Max1]

Is this your first claim against HSBC? I am only asking as we are claiming and are at MCOL stage and just wondered if the same would happen to us. Not the end of the world but a major inconvenience.

 

Max1

[fariba3]

they did end up closing it and, yes, it was my first claim but to be honest, as soon as they paid up the 800+ pounds, i got another charge for say 75 quid and i asked for that back. They must have thought i was just a trouble customer and just decided to do away with me. I've since opened an account with Lloyds. Can't say they're any better but i've been good and stayed within my credit. it's hard to replace the years you were with a bank though because that always looks good when you're applying for credit somewhere.