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Went into the local branch of HSBC 'the World's local Bank' with my son yesterday to discuss an increase in his student account overdraft (from £750 to £1000). Interviewed by a youth with a bad attitude - a few clicks later we got the classic 'Computer says No' response. So far, so predictable. I asked if he could exercise his professional judgement (ha ha) bearing in mind the account has been operated perfectly. THEN this oik has the nerve to say 'It's not like the old days when I could have refused you because you've got long hair and are wearing a T shirt'.
In full revenge mode I then casually asked for the balances of my accounts held at another branch as I was now considering closing my accounts as a result of his attitude. He didn't seem to give a toss. I wouldn't normally ever do the 'do you know who I am' thing, but his face whitened when he realised that there's more money in my accounts than he will probably ever see. And it's an HSBC Staff pensioner's account. And I am the retired Divisional Human Resources Director.
This individual is going to be flamed to a crisp. I'll wave to him when I next see him queueing outside the Job Centre.
Sorry for the rant. All boycotting of HSBC by MLHH board members encouraged.
One thing i have noticed is that banks are very anti-longhair (on males). I guess its because all banks are ultra-conservative.
I remember once I applied for a job at commerce, a customer service rep. I would have been working in an office only speaking to customers on the phone....they would'nt even see me in person. They called me for an interview and the woman who interviewed me really gave me an attitude FOR NO REASON. Needless to say i did'nt get the job. A month later friend of mine got that same exact job at that same exact location, right out of high school. There is no doubt in my mind i did not get the job because of my long hair. Oh well
The prejudiced and unenlightened will always be with us - there again they probably have the same attitude to those with shaven heads - thugs to a man doubtless!
No apologies necessary, Laurence, as this wuzz an interesting, insightful tale that needed telling. Thank you for posting it. Even more interesting, HSBC's initials are all something to do with China; yes, it is a Chinese owned and operated banking concern. Hello? Over forty percent of North America's remortgaged home loans are done through Chinese banks. Nice way to take over the country, that.
Time to save at another bank, that's for sure.
Yours, ALWAYS, in longhaired camaraderie,
Quenyan
Quenyan
HSBC stands for Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation, it was set up by Europeans for doing trade with China in 1865. This is after the Anglo-Chinese wars and when Europeans were smuggling Opium into China to weaken its people. HSBC is still headquartered in London and most likely owned by Europeans.
HSBC is quoted on several Stock Exchanges and is certainly not Chinese-owned. It did have its HQ in Hong Kong when that we a British Colony - that of course being the origin of the institution.
Actually, the letters HSBC no longer stand for anything! It is now merely a brand consisting of four letters. Ask any member of their staff - that is what they'll tell you! Dilbert couldn't make it up....
thats funny but it does make sense since the company has moved away from focusing on asia to world wide banking.
Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't HSBC the old Household
Savings Bank?
If I'm not mistaken taken they went by the name Household
Savings Bank a number of years ago.
and they were very slzezy.
Good for you for doing what you did, as that guy's comment was totally out-of-line. Reminds me of the scene in the movie Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts gets refused service in a snobby Bevery Hills clothing store because of her hooker attire, --- only to come back to that same store the next day, dressed to the 9s and looking like a milllion $$$, asking the store clerk, "Do you remember me?" The woman shakes her head no. Then Julia narrates how she was treated so badly the day before, and how she has an obscene amount of $$$ to spend today on a brand new full wardrobe; but, will take her money ELSEWHERE, --- I just love that scene!!!!
- Ken
Be careful of the toes you step on they may be connected to the ass you're kissing.
Nice one, the punk didnt know who he was messing with. Flame on, extra crispy please.
Tales with an unfortunate end for the prejudiced, I like those :)
Thanks for sharing. I was actually thinking of which bank to open a UK account with when I move there for Uni. I guess i'll be striking HSCB out of the list.
Dear Derf,
Definitely go to an HSBC or Bank of Scotland brance, with printouts of these stories. Ask respectively if they employ long hairs, and if their tellers are competent and honest. Share these e-mails with them. Watch them turn red. Ask for documentation that they do not discriminate. This should be great fun.
Caledonian
Lol, it's going to take me quite a bit of balls to waltz in to a bank and do that. I'm much more modest than you'd think, but I will consider it if at some point in time I find myself bored with a couple of hours extra. I might even take a recording device with me *evil laugh*.
Funny you'd never get that problem here in The Canary Islands, until recently bank staff didn't even have a dress code, it was not uncommon for you to find the branch manager wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
You still get in Rural Branches but they've smartened up in the cities to impress the tourists & expats who are for some reason uncomfortable with having their money handled by people in baggy shorts.
The rant was most welcome, the retelling was delicious as it keeps getting worse for the bank clerk. I'm just sorry it happened to you, Laurence. That kind of remark and behavior was so out of line for an employee.
How the bank handles your complaint is a better sign of current HSBC culture than the incident happening in the first place though. A boycott is good if there is more to the problem than one employee mouthing off. So what came of it? Has the jerk at least been reprimanded?
Elizabeth
I have an account with HSBC here in Malaysia plus two HSBC issued Gold credit cards and I've had no problems with them over my long hair.
In fact, when before they went heavily computerised with lots of self-service banking machines, some of their most helpful counter staff had long hair.
Perhaps it's a problem in stuffy ole britian or perhaps just with this particular person, so why not just lodge a complaint with the management there.
Charles