HSBCDirect Checking-what am I doing wrong??

Anonymous · ‎05-28-2019

Ok for those who do not know. HSBCDirect is the online-only HSBC version of accounts these banks seem to be rolling out recently (e.g Citizens Access). I signed up for the HSBCDirect Savings like the end of last year (November or December). A few months ago, I believe in February, they came out with the checking account. I have been trying to open one ever since. I keep getting declined because they are "unable to verify the identity of the applicant". I have tried multiple times with the same result. I was told I could try as many times as I want so long as it is after 3 days since last application trial. I try like once or twice a month.

I have called and spoken with reps and they say it would have sth to do with the info in my credit profile not matching. I had online-chatted with a rep at some point to find out what bureaus they pull for ID and I believe she told me Experian and Innovis. It could have been Equifax though, but I am pretty sure it was Experian. Everytime it gets to the ID questions portion of the app, I am always asked the most irrelevant questions that do not apply to me. 100% of the questions, 100% of the time. Almost like they are pulling someone else's profile. There was a wrong address situation on my TransUnion report that I have since fixed, but I am still having problems....

Is anyone else here having similar issues?? Customer Service keeps saying to go over my reports to see if there is anything incorrect on there. There isn't on any of them (now).

While typing all of this I just checked my Experian CR and I find that the address I list on the app as my current address is "Address 2" on Experian and the one I list as my former address is "Address 1". Could this have anything to do with my issue??

I really want that account....

Thank You.

Remedios · ‎05-28-2019

I believe they pull EQ, or at least they do for CC lending purposes.

I would look over EQ info and see if you can find a discrepancy, especially because your AU card is also not present on that one. There has to be a reason why EQ is being difficult. Pay special attention to DOB, SS and any name misspelling and/or aliases not belonging to you.

Also, it's never a bad idea to get copies of smaller CRAs reports and look over what they have.

Most likely reason you're getting security questions where " Not applicable" is the answer is because you have very little in terms of credit at the moment.

Anonymous · ‎05-28-2019

@Remedios wrote:
I believe they pull EQ, or at least they do for CC lending purposes.

I would look over EQ info and see if you can find a discrepancy, especially because your AU card is also not present on that one. There has to be a reason why EQ is being difficult. Pay special attention to DOB, SS and any name misspelling and/or aliases not belonging to you.
Also, it's never a bad idea to get copies of smaller CRAs reports and look over what they have.

Most likely reason you're getting security questions where " Not applicable" is the answer is because you have very little in terms of credit at the moment.

Thanks for your input. As a primary, I have a pretty thick file (like 14 or so closed accts. three or four closed in good standing and the remaining closed accounts with CO/derog). I just have a very short history. Started building for the first time ever (pretty much!) January-ish 2017.

I check Credit Karma/WalletHub pretty much everyday and also had an Experian paid plan which I closed like a month or so ago. There are no discrepancies on EQ from what I have seen from those 3 products. The only error was my TU. It had the correct street and number but incorrect city (former city I lived in, so I think it was like an auto fill mistake I made at some point).

Further, I forgot to add this in my OP. But I was trying to sign up for credit.com to see my Experian Vantage score. I also got the "couldn't verify identity" message. A couple weeks after fixing TU, and I was able to sign up with credit.com yesterday....So I dunno....

Remedios · ‎05-28-2019

Strange, indeed

I have multiple addresses on all three, and so far it has not been an issue ( at least that I know of)

I did find a lot of inaccuracies on smaller CRA reports, so I would really look at those.

Anonymous · ‎05-28-2019

Currently chatting with a rep. Apparently I was misinformed. Innovis and Experian is for CCs only. They do soft-pull for ID with EQ when opening bank account. Plus this rep seems to be more helpful/knowledgeable so I am thinking this one is correct...???

I too have multiple addresses on EQ and EXP- with EQ having almost 3 times more than EXP. But my current address is "Address 1". TU now has only one as I asked for all others to be deleted when I made the correction (not sure how wise that was, but ah well).

I am just now realising what could be the problem as I type this out/chat with rep/look at my EQ profile. My second address (previous address) is not at all listed on EQ. That could be the problem. I will have to use some other address for that then (the one listed as "Address 2" most likely). Will try that out and see....

Yeah I think hashing this out on here has helped a lot. Thanks board!

Remedios · ‎05-28-2019

That's great. Glad we could help.

Anonymous · ‎07-23-2020

Same thing has happened to me now 2 times. 1st time said they can't verify my identity, and 2nd time said can't verify my address. Weird thing is my address is on on my credit file and 411, and all 3 bureaus don't know why they can't find me.

Does anyone know if its possible to call like a backdoor number for them, and try to verify yourself??

DaveInAZ · ‎07-27-2020

@Anonymous wrote:
I really want that account....

Because you said that you really want the account I've resisted chiming in, but . . . . Why in the world would you want to do business with a bank that refuses to open an account for you just because something doesn't match up with your credit report??? You've been a customer since last year, that should count for something! But that's HSBC, they are completely anal about identity verification and everything has to match down to "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed. Several years ago they were caught not being quite so careful about verifying the identity of their customers and were found to have accounts for Mexican drug cartels, they were heavily fined and exited doing business in the U.S. for a couple years. Now they're back and they've gone completely insane on verification.

I've had bank accounts and credit cards off & on with HSBC for a couple years and they are by far the worst bank I've done business with, and I've done business with some pretty bad banks (hello Wells Fargo!). But I've finally had it with them and shutting everything down with HSBC and moving on. Good riddance!

There are much better banks with free checking, and pretty much everything now is "online only" - if you want checks you have to order them & pay a ridiculous fee for them. Try Penfed, they're very good and I'm sure they won't put you through what HSBC is doing.

Good luck

/end HSBC rant