[Janetw]

Can someone PLEASE recommend a bank where I can get a normal daily use account. HSBC have driven me to the point of madness. They have internet banking but say I have to apply in person to have a transfer limit so that i can pay a bill. No one told me this when I was in the bank for what felt like days filling in forms and getting them stamped a thousand times........their answer to my problem is to go to a branch and pay the bill.... somwhat defeats the point of the internet service. Is easier to pay via First Direct in the UK ( a part of HSBC) than to use their banking system in their own cvountry ;(

[KnowItAll]

Janet : Have you tried registering and paying via PPS?

PPS bill payments are much easier than HSBC and you don't need to register or deal with HSBC. Go to a Jockey Club Betting office.. most of them have PPS terminals to allow you to open an account.

If I recall, the HSBC main branch also has a terminal on the first floor - next to the power vantage counters.

http://www.ppshk.com

[PDLM]

Curiously I have never had any trouble paying any bills through HSBC Online Banking except once when I forgot that my credit card limit had gone up over the default daily maximum payment (HK$100,000 I think) so an autopay bounced. That was easily remedied with one form that could be downloaded online and then mailed to them.

[climber07]

Janet,

Unfortunately, HSBC is just a part of the stupid antiquated banking system in Hong Kong. If you let it bother you, it can consume you to the point of insanity. Unfortunately, this problem exists with every single bank in HK.

The so called "internet banking" here is more or less "window dressing." In most cases before you are able to do or change anything, you will still need a piece of paper, signed in blood, in triplicate, preferably with some kind of "official" stamp on it, the more official it looks the better.....and make sure to hire a forensic handwriting expert to confirm your signature to the one you originally signed when you opened the account.

My recommendation is to set-up auto-payments to a Hong Kong credit card (which is another wonderful experience to obtain...and usually requires you to hand over your first born) or to simply pay your bills via the ATM machine which can be used to pay most utilities from your current/saving account.

[Janetw]

yes I can downlaod the form and post it except that I am having HUGE computer issues and can not download or print and I needed to send Dell money so they would come and fix my computer - it had to be before 4 pm so i could get a visit tomorrow.....but as I spent over an hour trying to do this online and then trying to get someone on the phone to help me I went past the time and their answer to go to a branch just sent me over the edge...... I just got so used to First Direct being efficient is is very frustrating haveing to deal with them here.... Even something as simple as converting HSBC points to asia miles can not be done automatically..... you have to fill in a form and fax it... GGGrrrrr

[pin]

Originally Posted by climber07

Janet,

Unfortunately, HSBC is just a part of the stupid antiquated banking system in Hong Kong. If you let it bother you, it can consume you to the point of insanity. Unfortunately, this problem exists with every single bank in HK.

The so called "internet banking" here is more or less "window dressing." In most cases before you are able to do or change anything, you will still need a piece of paper, signed in blood, in triplicate, preferably with some kind of "official" stamp on it, the more official it looks the better.....and make sure to hire a forensic handwriting expert to confirm your signature to the one you originally signed when you opened the account.

My recommendation is to set-up auto-payments to a Hong Kong credit card (which is another wonderful experience to obtain...and usually requires you to hand over your first born) or to simply pay your bills via the ATM machine which can be used to pay most utilities from your current/saving account.

Heh, love your post, pretty much summarises my views on trying to get anything official done in HK!

[Janetw]

Hey climber07

Thank you for making me smile when I was about to pour a LARGE drink !!!!

I just can't beleive everything is soo complicated.

The UK is pretty crap at most things but I ahve to hand it to First Direct. They really were fantastic and undervalued whilst I was there.....

[climber07]

Originally Posted by Janetw

Hey climber07

Thank you for making me smile when I was about to pour a LARGE drink !!!!

No problem, glad I could help to reduce some stress

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by Janetw

Even something as simple as converting HSBC points to asia miles can not be done automatically..... you have to fill in a form and fax it... GGGrrrrr

I'm beginning to wonder if their are two HSBCs. With the version of HSBC Online banking that I use I can go online and transfer points directly into my AsiaMiles account. I've just again checked that (all but the final 'confirm'). Here is the instruction on the HSBC page confirming that you can do this (the text below is actually a GIF file from the HSBC page):

[Janetw]

maybe i am increadibly stupid but i tried this the last two months and just got an error message and the web site said i could not do it.... i asked in the bank if they could just do this as an automatic thing every month and was told by a grinning assistant that they would do this - but guess what - they didn't and i learned last time i was there that this is not possible anyway....

Have now hung up after being on hold for over 30 mins as my security device is not being recognized.......