I had the most awful experience!!!
On march I received to my mail a brochure letter from HSBC with a promotion of 200$ for new customers – with qualifying activities. The brochure mentioned that I need to deposit 1500$ and mentioned with recurring direct deposit. I came to this branch and spoke to Luis Urbina regarding the terms for receiving the 200$ promotion. I asked Luis Urbina if I need to do recurring direct deposit, and he said that If I keep 1500$ in the bank account I will qualify for the 200$ promotion. I told Luis Urbina that the brochure letter mention recurring direct deposit, but Luis Urbina said that I do not need to do direct deposit and just to deposit and leave 1500$ for 3 months and I will receive the 200$ promotion. I was happy and deposited 1500$ and kept tracking on this. I called 3 times to this branch and asked when I will receive the 200$ promotion – every time I was told that it will take 2 more weeks. 2 weeks ago, I called to the branch again and asked to speak to Luis Urbina – I was told that he will get back to me but I never received a call from him. The same happened last week, I called again, left a message, and did not get a call back. On Monday I called and asked to know when I receive the 200$ promotion, I was told that I need to come to the branch to discuss it. Other than the fact that it is inefficient, make me spend time, and there is no parking in this branch – I must pay for parking every time I come to this branch. I called HSBC customer service and was told that recurring direct deposit is a requirement and this is the reason why I didn’t receive the 200$ direct deposit. I told the representative that I specifically asked Luis Urbina when I opened the bank account and was told that I only need to deposit 1500$ and to leave it for 3 months. I was previously working in a bank, and I know that written agreement is what counts, and if you have your signature no promises made will help you. However, verbal agreement should also be counted, other than customer service experience and trust relationship. I arrived today to the branch, and spoke to Luis Urbina, he said that he didn’t tell me that only leaving 1500$ is enough for 200$ direct deposit. Now it’s my word against his word. If I was told that I need a recurring direct deposit to qualify I would do it, but when I specifically asked for this I was told by Luis Urbina that it is not needed. I do not know what is the motive of Luis Urbina (to show new customers in reports / to show money in the branch’s assets), but what happened here was absolutely beyond contempt. I am happy that I got a chance to experience the real face of HSBC and real face of Luis Urbina before I go with something big such as mortgage with HSBC because if I was lied with small things, what would happen with bigger things? I closed the bank account today and will never work with HSBC again. Luis Urbina, well done! You were able to open a bank account and show more money in your reports, but we both know the truth that you lied to me. You are probably backed up because “it is written”, but there are things in life that called honestly, truth, be straight, be liable for your words, have value for your words; unfortunately, you are none of it – you should be ashamed of yourself, you are not a human being.