HSBC "paper free" option

[tictactoepony]

Interesting..
Just walked up the road to pay in a cheque.
Noticed that HSBC had a poster on the wall advertising a "paper-free" option so I enquired.
Good point: No bank statements, you can check online (and print if required) - good plan.

Bad point: It's an all-or-nothing. If you opt for no statements, they will never issue a chequebook or paying in book EVER AGAIN!

Needless to say I did NOT go paper-free as cheques are handy (despite the bank lady's comment that Sainsbury's are banning cheques soon, I still want to be able to use them for things like: paying friends, paying for things at exhibitions, buying stuff off ebay if they don't use PayPal).

What I did do was ask the bank to send a comment to ask for the service (which, give them their due, looks fairly new) to allow people a more flexible option of what they want sent to them.

It's as bad as a while back when I called the mail-order clothing company I use (La Redoute) to stop sending me regular Special Offer mailings when they email me them too.. I found out there was ONLY a no paper option. No option for send me catalogue only then updates by email.

I want less paper. I have spent ages recently wading through old paperwork. But companies don't really make it easy enough to limit the rubbish they send...

Comments

[hazzardgal.livejournal.com]

it continues to surprise me how much less things are integrated with the internet here than at home. then again, it also surprised me that my UK student bank account doesn't give me cheques, internet OR phone banking... how very helpful...

[spodlife]

I thought most standard "current" accounts had Internet banking.

[hazzardgal.livejournal.com]

i was under the impression that i could sign up for it once my account was opened, but i've contacted them and they said it's not possible. maybe it's a super secret safe international student account?

[(Anonymous)]

According to http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/student-service/international-students International Student accounts qualify for '24/7 Internet Banking and Telephone Banking'

Have you tried registering for online banking via the HSBC website?

Regards
Sunil

[(Anonymous)]

HSBC already have an option you can choose where you would receive no paper statements but would continue to get a chequebook/pay in book.

You can choose this option within internet banking, under 'My details' then 'Change my statement delivery'

Its the 'Not quite ready to go all the way?' option on http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/green-option (also at http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/about/the-virtual-forest)

Regards
Sunil