Card Accounts Breeding

So previously youve had 1 Mastercard Account - which will be in one of your names, then the other of you will be an additional card holder?

When you log on to your internet banking i take it youve got a current account, and then your Mastercard account? Have you got 2 showing on the same screen now then? Or is it showing when your wife logs on to her internet banking?

be able to work out a bit more of whats going on with those answers

Ian

also are the first 4 digits of the card numbers the same?

X-No-Archive: yes In message , snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com writes

Yes. I was the account holder and my wife was a named additional card holder. Formerly one account but two cards bearing our respective names but with one number.

Yes. All accounts are joint. My wife doesn't have a separate log-on facility. So when I used to log on, I saw the four accounts:

HSBC Premier HSBC Premier No.2 HSBC Premier Save HSBC Premier Card

Last Friday a fifth account appeared. Another HSBC Premier Card, this one bearing my wife's name only.

Now there are two Premier Mastercard accounts -- one each. Suddenly seeing an extra credit account was a bit obvious.

Yes -- both the same: 5434. And, as I mentioned earlier, both card accounts show identical transactions and an identical amount outstanding. It's only a guess but, as I pointed out before, maybe it's no longer possible to have two credit cards issued on one account?

I'm not sure what the 'Premier' signifies. Something HSBC introduced a couple of years ago.

It looks like they have just duplicated an association to a specific account from your online profile.

If your wife doesn't have a separate login she should not be using your login details as I am sure it is a condition of the online service you each have your own code.

My wfie has her own login with HSBC and the one account in her name only is correctly shown on her online facility but not mine.

I have to say this seems a bit odd. if i just say how the system works it should become apparant why.

every customer has a 'profile' which lists the accounts which they are party to, so each of you has a profile, which should have on it any joint accounts plus any sole accounts which are specific to each of you. this list of accounts is what you see on internet banking, and in fact the 'IB' number you use to log in is your customer number (ie of the profile)

this means that even if there is a new credit card account for your wife it shouldnt be on what i assume is your profile, also its still perfectly possible to have more than one card on a credit card account (it was fine in the middle of last month and it is quite popular)

theres two things i can think of that could be behind this, and the key is where a new transaction comes up next time you use the card:

we're currently migrating cards from one software system to another, it could be that things have got a bit messed up in this process, its also worth saying that the new system has credit card account numbers and card numbers which are different although they will still start in the same way - this is so its easier to respond to fraud

the other possibility is that its a new fiddle to the internet banking software to allow additional cardholders to view some of the transactions, although clearly its been applied to the wrong profile.

I think the best course of action would be for you to get in touch with your Relationship Manager, if you havent got their direct number the premier call centre on 08457 70 70 70 will be able to give it to you.

its definatley worth sorting it out, even if it is only a admin error it might end up with two bills or all sorts of fun - look out for any new cards arriving in the post.

Also you could both have your own log in details, as each set definately belongs to one person rather being sharing them, although it may not make much difference to you(?)

Ian

PS Premier is a service level for higher worth customers, its free but gives you a named relationship manager in a local branch with a direct number, as well as preferential rates on various products, and access to many more global services (eg if you use your HSBC Premier card in any HSBC cash machine in the world we wont charge you for that) might be worth you meeting your Relationship Manager, make sure you're getting all the products and services which would be useful to you?

X-No-Archive: yes In message , snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com writes

(Snip very much-appreciated, detailed and knowledgeable reply)

Many thanks indeed, Ian. I will, indeed, follow your advice and query the oddity. I'll keep this ng posted.

I've just dug out the expensive leather-bound Premier wallet HSBC sent me containing all the relevant information. I'm impressed because you're spot-on in every detail. I recall stopping a cheque that never reached an Ebay trader and there was no charge for the service. There are other benefits such as extended insurance on foreign travel if I pay with the credit card. The named relationship manager was recently changed to my local branch's senior accountant. I was given his ex-directory direct line number following a mix-up with my HSBC Republic SIPP account. I've never used the number but I will tomorrow!

Regards.

X-No-Archive: yes In message , JF writes

I did as you suggested and called our local branch's ex-directory number ('Do not disclose on pain of death') to query the apparent cloning by HSBC of my wife's Premier Mastercard credit card into a separate account with a separate number when formerly she had a second card on the same account as mine.

In all respects my original Premier Mastercard account is unchanged inasmuch that both accounts are ostensibly in my name and I'm responsible for any charges that my wife racks up. So, her transactions appear on my statement and my transactions appear on her statement simply because they're really one account.

The advantage for is that if one card is reported stolen, only the use of that card is lost. The other card remains valid.

I raised your point about customer on-line profiles in respect of my 'IB' number. The reason my wife's 'new' Premier Mastercard account and transactions appear when I log-in is because her account is still in my name even though only her name will appear on the new Mastercard when it is issued.

Apparently our new 'Chip & PIN' Premier Mastercards are on their way to us. The covering letter will explain all. It's just that HSBC's management of their on-line banking facilities is ahead of the actual card issue.

We're both happy with the new arrangement.

Thanks for your comments; they were much-appreciated.

BTW, I took the opportunity to ask about the meaning of HSBC's 'Premier' prefix on all my accounts with them. As you intimated, this is because of the bank's estimation of my worth. He, in turn, expressed a little grief over the large monthly sum that leaves one of my accounts and goes west to Reading in the direction of ING Direct. He's much too nice a bloke for our discussion to be as 'full and frank' as I would've preferred. I muttered something about derisory interest rates and left it at that.

Oddly enough, if I switched enough money out of HSBS accounts so that the total amount fell below their 'Premier' acceptance levels, the accounts wouldn't lose their 'Premier' status. Go figure.

One interesting tid-bit: he did let slip that the response to HSBC's supposedly 8 per cent account deal had been 'disappointing' and hasn't taken the financial world by storm. Hardly surprising; I downloaded their terms and conditions .PDF file when the package was first launched, read them carefully, shuddered, and deleted the file.

Thanks for posting back, I'll know the answer to that one if it comes up...

Interesting on the Regular Saver, we had them coming out of our ears last time I was in work, it may well be quite a different experience in different parts of the country.

on the side he probably didnt mention the Online Savings account, which earns 4.7% compared to ING's 5.0%, which isnt the best but is an improvement - although withdrawls loose a month's interest - thought i'd mention it as its not often advertised.

Ian