Complaint Review: HSBC Bank - East Aurora New York

First of all why would anyone waste their time posting a rebuttal to a message that is a few months old, unless of course there is more than meets the eye, or it is an attack from an insider. But that seems to be the strategy of not only HSBC but all the other banks and serviciers. There is more going on besides overdrawn checking accounts and any courtesy offered by HSBC as you stated John. Not that I am agreeing with you but HSBC has been known to provide this courtesy, with regulation type charges. It is the other banks primarily like Charter One who ran into New York with their big campaign, Free Checking. Now rumor has it they will be bought out or merged, one of the many ways banks and servicers hide their intentional mistakes. These are the things this site is helping us fight and express our opinions about. Not sure how savvy you are to other forums and web sites, but there is much news about HSBC and it recent decision to reincorporate in Delaware and leave New York State. As a New Yorker would hope you would be more conscious of this issue. The one comment, "If you wrote a check with the intention of the check bouncing, you cannot blame HSBC". In these tough economic times give the masses a break, it is not always easy to make it paycheck to paycheck. Most people know that any intentional bounced check could be a chargeable offense. I truly believe that most of us have no intention of breaking the law, but times are tough and the area noted Orchard Park, NY and the counties of Erie and Niagara have fallen on tough times. Massive loss of jobs, some stuck earning minimum wage, loss of health insurance and so much more. Sometimes all those pressures keep you from having a clear mind and you make a mistake and your account is overdrawn. Don't get me started, but why is HSBC running away from New York State, and why would they buy Household Finance who was fined in the millions as a settlement for predatory lending and servicing? Then there is the big issue of "flipping" mortgage accounts, initially HSBC used a variety of servicers, like Fairbanks, Litton Loan Servicing, Ocwen, EMC and so many more. Recently HSBC appointed their own servicier. All these atrocities are finally getting attention, yesterday, 9/18/04, Fox News noted the investigations by the FBI for predatory issues with a ton of articles addressing this issue published across the country noting the same. John, open your eyes, if there are minor problems with overcharging of fees for checking accounts, what else could be happening. Commenting with blinders on to the overall issue is foolish. I realize sometimes this site does not allow comments about other webs, but there is a site devoted to the banking and security business that reads like an encyclopedia, Inner City Press. John if you are an insider, suggest you find out more about HSBC or any of the others, where are their roots, who really owns who. Maybe they are all in bed together? Some food for thought it all starts with the fees.

In reference to comment about HSBC free checking to be a rip - off. We, like every bank, expect customers to only write checks out when their is an available balance in their accounts. As far as letting a check go through with no balance in the account, most people would consider that the ultimate mark of customer service, because when you intend to write out a check, by law, you are intending to issue that check honorably. This is something that cannot be accomplished all the time however, in certain cases a case can me made for it. If you wrote a check with the intention of the check bouncing, you cannot blame HSBC.

Hi Frank from East Aurora, NY You are not alone in this issue and there is more than you know about HSBC and one of their holdings Household Finance and settled class action suit for millions, with even pieces of Fairbanks popping up. Luckily HSBC is still a chartered bank of New York State and you can contact the NY Banking Commission and the AG Eliot Spitzer, they can help you. When I wrote the Banking Comm they responded back to me within 24 hours, New Yorkers are fast when I had the proble with Charter One and forwarded my complaint to the OCC on my behalf. I had a problem with Charter One and fought all late charges were removed and the account is closed. So anything can happen if you fight. Someone you knows from Buffalo. So do not give up.