First rant of 2007 - HSBC and Visa card

[33South]

A cautionary tale with expletives removed.

Mid December my Visa debit card stops working - unable to read strip
Go to bank, yes its damaged we will send a new card.
Dec 22nd card arrives with letter saying the PIN number will arrive in few days.
Why do the say Personal Identification Number Number ? (rant 1a)

Christmas comes and goes - PIN does not arrive.
Phone bank; explain the situation, he (1) says
"May have got delayed with the Christmas mail, can you wait another coupla days."
"If it still doesn’t turn up we will have to send out a new card and PIN number"

Coupla days come and go, phone bank, explain again, he (2) says
"You don’t need a new card and PIN we can just send out the PIN number, I'll organise that"

Few days come and go - Happy New Year, no PIN. Phone bank explain again, she (1) says
"Been a technical problem with sending out PIN letters, coupla days"

Coupla days later PIN arrives, funny I though, that’s the same as my old one, ah well easy to remember.
Small problem, I can’t find the activation letter.
Phone bank, explained again, he (3) says
"No problem I can do that for you over the phone"
"I will just send an internal email, allow 24hrs then you can use it"
"BUT you will need to use a merchant EFTPOS such as Coles not an ATM and for an amount over $10"
Me "Sorry can you explain that again, I only use the card in ATMs"
Dude "You can’t use an ATM to activate it"
Insert picture of me banging head against brick wall saying naughty words.

Coupla day later, I try card at friendly merchant just in case (local bottle shop) doesn’t work!!!!
Apologise and use alternate card (AMEX - never had a problem in 25 years)

This morning, phone bank explain again, she (2) says
"Doesn’t seem to be activated yet, cant contact the other person until Monday, can I get him to call you"
Me "Monday - I want some cash today, what are you going to do about it"
She "Yes I will get him to call you on Monday"
Me, thinking something was lost in translation "Let me explain again......."
She "No that’s not right, you must use the card and PIN at an ATM to activate"
Me "Thank you, maybe that’s why it shows as not activated"
She "The record shows it as not activated I cant contact the other person until Monday, I will get him to call you."
Insert picture of me banging head against brick wall saying naughty words.

Decide to go and try it in an ATM.... still no cash and a sore head.

But on the bright side I did get to see the comet again last night from across the street.

[[1ponders]]

Plus you are saving money that you would nomally have spent, that can then be used for a great astronomy purchase. :thumbsup:


....but I know how you feel. :bangingheadagainstabrickwallemotic on: :P

[33South]

Paul, you are not wrong.

I had to go to the RSL this morning to renew my membership, if I could have got cash I would have spent an hour(?) at the pokies.:screwy:


But instead :D.....

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-164

[RB]

That's terrible Chris. :eyepop:

If you're strapped for money till Monday, I can email you my PIN to use over the weekend.
My PIN seems to work OK.

[[1ponders]]

Nice Chris ;) You'll like that.

[33South]

thanks Andrew, I reckon I have just enough bread, milk, beer and wine in the fridge to last till Monday :thumbsup: You know the essentials.

[RB]

:lol: :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Never a borrower or lender be!
Sir Issac Newton invented the "Gold" system, a smart man by my standards.. why scrape it.. I guess it is easier to print money than dig it up.
alex

[toetoe]

I'm married :scared: i don't have money problems.;)

[ballaratdragons]

Chris,

On Monday the dude will ring you and say:

'sorry sir, but your card was recorded as being an attempted activation 'Twice' which tells us that someone else is running around trying to use your card, so we have cancelled that card and we will send you a new one in the mail in a few days, followed by a PIN number a few days after that. Thank you for banking with us"

[Lee]

HSBC are morons though - expect nothing less.... canceling their cards is harder than starting them! Citibank are far worse though.... all foreign call centers usually.....

[[1ponders]]

Citibank....:scared:

[33South]

That will not surprise me in the slightest.



Nor do I, mines a lack of money problem (of the folding kind)

Like on Monday I need to buy my weekly rail ticket, you have to pay cash unless you get a monthly, OK so I thought what the hell Ill get a monthly and use my AMEX or Visa Credit, next problem - my local station only takes cash anyway so I have to waste time driving to and from Katoomba station tomorrow as I wont have time Monday morning.



you betcha

Up until now I've always found HSBC to provide pretty good service, compared to other banks.

[33South]

Sorry Ken you were wrong, the call centre work experience dude didn't ring.;)

So this afternoon I thought enough of this **** and ventured inside the BANK to talk to a real person. :scared:

Long story, cut short, card now works OK and I can spend my own money.:D Mmmmm food.

[ballaratdragons]

Are there 'people' inside a Bank??? :eyepop:

Wonders never cease!

Good news about the card access Chris :thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

How did you and that person get inside one of these little boxes with the screens. :shrug:

:P

[netwolf]

Dictionary under
Bank: Quick to take your money, slow and difficult at giving it back....
{insert picture of sore head}

Regards