HSBC experience - need your advise regarding good banks

[ScoobyDoes]

If possible a card from every bank is enough. Normally i will have 5 or more transaction per month, so i think still is alright to have more card, most importantly is discipline and spend wisely.

That is probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. I've got a question for you. Do you wear shirts with the labels on the outside?

Actually, from the US trend the more credit cards you have the more credit you have available to you. This along with, let's say, your clean payment record gives you very high scores with the banks and can help lower interest rates on loans etc.

With regards SG...... it's like HK. Cards have promotions from time to time, discounts at certain restaurants, more points when using in a particular store, preferential swap to Flyer Miles etc. so having an array of cards can be quite useful. Since in most cases Annual Fee is waived then why not? And if one card says fee cannot be waived then it's dead easy to cut it as there is always another card available.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Okay. Good point. Unfortunately, I only use cards as emergency backups hence my opinion. My bad!

[RULDS]

I just opened up a bank account yesterday at the Standard Chartered Bank. It was quick, easy and the fees (if any) are minimal. They do not require a minimum in your account like most. I found that all the banks I researched you had to maintain a minimum of 2k in the account at all times. I get paid in USD so I only have an account here to pay my rent so I wanted to keep a minimum amount as possible so this was a good choice for me.

[artursson]

Amazing, just amazing. So Singapore just looks streamlined, huh? I've never seen so many @#$%&* THE BANK stories!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unfortunately, the banks go the way of Customer Service the same as most retail businesses. That is NOT a good thing. They have the facilities but not the wherewithall. Even today you cannot deposit a cheque and withdraw cash using the same deposit slip. It takes separate withdrawal and deposit slips. twice as much paper.

Having said that, the online facilities are pretty good. It just trying to open an account and all the petty little (or not so little) charges for any and everything. I use POSB, DBS and StanChart. Each has their good points and bad points.

ON the other hand the government agencies are pretty streamlined and efficient for all intents and purposes.

[Levikane]

I opened one with citibank on Church st. and it was completely hastle free to begin with. I made an appt. for the following day, was welcomed with a cup of coffee to a comfortable lounge while I was waiting, had someone who a actually listened to what I wanted and helped with my "non-standard" request. I walked out 30 minutes later with an (embossed) atm card and the internet banking token fob.

After that they kinda went from Citbank^Shitybank.
- I was told the default PIN was the last 6 digits of the ATM card and I would need to use it that day to pick my own PIN. Not quite true - had to go back the following day.
- I gave a slightly wrong address on some paperwork (level 15 where my office is instead of 18 where the mail goes), and when the mail got returned to citibank they put a stop on my account.
- Called me every day for a week to ask when I was going to send in my visa card applicaiton, ater I said I was in no hurry and would post it back when I was ready, then
- Stuffed up the citibank SMRT visa activation. Ended up being unable to use the ez-link facility for 3 weeks after getting my visa. All the while getting frustrated because there were two ez-links in my wallet!!
- Have to completely close my accounts and reopen them to have in joint names with my partner!!

Maybe they gave me a premier account then realised I wasn't a premier customer! Opened a DBS a/c recently and much smoother.

[kimtaymour]

Guys apparently HSBC has a bad service in SG too ha.. in UAE here its just a scenrio of fool and the lie as they breath..

as i open my Bank account i applied for the credit card they are like Sir within 8 working days you'll get the cards one month pass... 2 months passe in total 2 month and a half they i received it and of course i had to re-apply twice and spend all my weekend calling them complaining and shouting on the phone till i get soar throat real hustle..

And the best part is this my company is a pasrtner with HSBC a primary partner so means it should be a bit smoother but never and guess what I end up getting them (visa + Mastercard)with a credit limit of 5000 AED thats like 2200 SGD man what the hell is this my salary i way more than that.. though collegues of mine from the same Dept. and getting the same salary had their limit to 10.000 and 13000 AED.. no clue why...

Yes i know i asked them they are like " Sir the concern dept(its a ghost dept you can call it it never show which one it is even if ou asked them about it) had decided to give you that amount according to some criteria" oh yes include the indian accent ha(UAE's call center of HSBC asre in India) I told them my collegues got more credit why so they are like sir the concern dept. will call you to explain and until this sec no one ever called heehee very funny..

No on the 1st june i applied for another credit card form them yet i have no answer or even a follow up... tomorrow will called them up and will hear new episode from Season 2

P.S: managing the outstanding balance with HSBC that one is a nightmare you can never imagine...

cheers guys