[johnk9159]

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I crossed into Shenzhen China for a day and a half.
I used an ATM at HSBC bank close to the Metro Park Hotel to acquire cash, these were dispensed in $100 bills.
I deliberately went to HSBC as a) it was the bank I held accounts with and b) it is a reputable bank.
When it came to buy a meal at Pizza Hut there was no problem so I was unaware of any pending problems. However, when it came to buy other goods I was told the notes were forgeries but as this was a Sunday I could not make enquiries at the bank.
On my return to Hong Kong I went into a branch of HSBC bank closest to my hotel in Wan Chai, who confirmed the notes were indeed forgeries. I did ask for refund but they gave a slight laugh and said NO. I also gave them my till receipt from the issuing bank but I should have asked for a copy of this.

To this day I have had no explanation from HSBC and no refund either.

To all those cash-strapped and hard-up athletes, and spectators of course, going over to China, be careful of forged currency being issued by HSBC bank.

[FilipH]

What does happen in Shenzhen (and there are/used to be warnings about this at HSBC @ the trainstation) , is that shopkeepers take your 100rmb notes, switch it and give the fake back. That way they keep the real one, and make you think you got a fake one to start with.

Some are very skilled in this, and it happens mostly in the dongmen area + the area between dongmen+trainstation and the trainstation itself. Futian and other districts are safer for this.

It will of course never happen in a pizza express, but those small booths can sure be tricky.

[johnk9159]

Well that's not what happened in this instance. The money was firmly in my wallet all the time and when in P H I only gave the amount requested to the nearest $100.
I certainly never gave anyone the opportunity to get their mitts on my money! and in any case they were clean, crisp, just minted notes.

[KnowItAll]

Unfortunately you did not get a receipt out of the ATM did you? Also, this happened in China so its not like you can go and file a police complaint against HSBC for giving you fake currency (I'd think it would be a criminal offense of some sort for anyone to give anyone else a fake note).

[johnk9159]

Yes I did get a receipt as stated, it was withheld by HSBC as expected.

[HKChigger]

Sorry I am confused how did this shop know all your money was fake if they didn't see/touch the bills?

Pizza Hut would have checked your money too...So if they didn't say anything than your money somehow become fake between Pizza Hut and the next shop.

By any chance were you buying porn? I know some people there have been ripped off. They take your bill for payment and look at it saying it is fake. Then they double check with someone else who is also right there (They don't take it far away, just another person standing there) and then they ask if you have other bills.

If that's what happened one can be sure your money was switched.

[KnowItAll]

>> Yes I did get a receipt as stated, it was withheld by HSBC as
>> expected.

Did you get a receipt for the receipt they withheld? Technically they're taking evidence away on what is a criminal matter. I would not have given them the receipt unless they'd promised in writing that they would investigate AND you had a copy of it.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by johnk9159

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I crossed into Shenzhen China for a day and a half.
I used an ATM at HSBC bank close to the Metro Park Hotel to acquire cash, these were dispensed in $100 bills.
I deliberately went to HSBC as a) it was the bank I held accounts with and b) it is a reputable bank.
When it came to buy a meal at Pizza Hut there was no problem so I was unaware of any pending problems. However, when it came to buy other goods I was told the notes were forgeries but as this was a Sunday I could not make enquiries at the bank.
On my return to Hong Kong I went into a branch of HSBC bank closest to my hotel in Wan Chai, who confirmed the notes were indeed forgeries. I did ask for refund but they gave a slight laugh and said NO. I also gave them my till receipt from the issuing bank but I should have asked for a copy of this.

To this day I have had no explanation from HSBC and no refund either.

To all those cash-strapped and hard-up athletes, and spectators of course, going over to China, be careful of forged currency being issued by HSBC bank.

I never get RMB in SZ.
Fake things are a SZ specialty. It has nothing to do with HSBC in particular as this could happen at any bank.
I would suggest that everyone get their RMB in HK.
And I am not sure why you think HSBC in HK should refund your fake notes. What proof do you have that the notes came from HSBC SZ? Does the receipt identify serial numbers or something? Simply walking into a bank with an ATM receipt and demanding good notes for bad seems like an easy way to run a forgery operation.