HSBC Retail Services False Advertising, Poor customer service Nautilus/Bowflex account. Prospect Heights, Illinois

I bought a Bowflex about 2 years ago and as such am a HSBC retail customer. I was late on one payment... not gonna explain it... wont try to justify it... it just happened. Because of this HSBC jacked my interest to the max allowed by law for the rest of my contract, nothing I can do about it. I find it hard to believe that the six-day delinquency in making my payment was so harmful to HSBC as to justify this type of penalty. In fact these provisions are nestled deep in your paper contract and not verbally disclosed by the telephone rep in the hope that you will at some point have a delinquent payment. I think its BS to downplay the significance of a 20+% increase in the interest money you would have originally received for a given customer's account. Elizabeth wants to stand and throw stones at people she deems financially unworthy of her company's services when the truth is that HSBC accepts people with credit problems for the same reason most financial institutions do these days, because they will accept terrible interest rates, will put up with being treated disrespectfully and the company makes more than enough money on the ones who want to do the right thing to offset the money lost on those who go bankrupt. I know it... HSBC knows it... so lets just talk about it instead of dancing around the truth. Why else would they take so long to post a payment but give the option for "RUSH PAYMENT" if you're willing to pay for it. "For about $12.00 extra we will take your money and handle it in a timely manner". These companies know what their doing and what they try to pass off as irresponsibility on the part of the customer and as being counterproductive to the company's ability to effectively manage their accounts is in truth, exactly what they count on. Bottom line is, HSBC offers high-risk credit. It's their decision so they shouldn't whine about it. And as for Elizabeth, HSBC should be proud to have you as an employee. I think they should give you some time to express your view of their customers in their next high-priced television add. Vinegar like that should catch plenty of flies.

Bought a tv at best buy on a 12 month no interest promo for around $500 using hsbc retail finance. Why should I use my cash when I can use their's? Could have just as easily bought a $2000 tv. Have a card with a $20,000 line which I don't use except for travel expenses so that credit challenged line of BS doesn't work with me. Anyway, I found hsbc to be the biggest ripoff company I've ever dealt with when it comes to finance. Try and tell me how and why it can take 12 or 13 days for a payment to get from TX to CA and get credited to my account. They tried to hit me with late charges and when I called 'em on it they backed off after I'd called best buy to complain. The worsest example was when they hadn't credited my account on the 13th day after making the payment and I raised hell and called everybody and they went BACK and credited it for the day before. Last month I bought a set of tires through GE finance on a 12 promo. Mailed 'em a check on the 8th and they credited the account on the 10th. TWO FRICKKIN' DAYS. I e-mailed best buy and told them as long as they used hsbc as their finance company, we weren't doing any more business. Any company I do business with, I ask who your finance company is, IF it is hsbc, I tell them "We aren't doing business and why". That's my right as a consumer. If I want it bad enough, I'll just pay cash.

Wayne,
Yes the small print should be read however. I know just as well as you do and elizabeth if she were honest. When people purchase a big ticket item. The consumer is rushed through all the written material that protects the comsumer and told to sign here. Then the consumer gets a rude awakening trying to pay for something that is not being paid off at the terms the consumer thought they were being offered. I worked for one part of household, was happy and did help some people. I took a $2 hour pay cut, and left HSBC retail without having a job after 7.5 years of service. I could not sleep at night being paid to tell untruths and give customer service in 196 seconds.

Wayne,
Yes the small print should be read however. I know just as well as you do and elizabeth if she were honest. When people purchase a big ticket item. The consumer is rushed through all the written material that protects the comsumer and told to sign here. Then the consumer gets a rude awakening trying to pay for something that is not being paid off at the terms the consumer thought they were being offered. I worked for one part of household, was happy and did help some people. I took a $2 hour pay cut, and left HSBC retail without having a job after 7.5 years of service. I could not sleep at night being paid to tell untruths and give customer service in 196 seconds.

First I would like to say that it really broke my heart to hear that you will not be financing with HSBC. Second when it comes to sigining up for a credit card I make sure that I am 100% clear on the terms before I make a purchace because I realize that it is MY RESPONSIBLIITY as the cardholder. This is why people end up getting what they consider to be screwed because they are too lazy to read the fine print. Also a question for W.L...do you look at your bank statements???Because if you did you would clearly see that there had not been a payment taken out for your bowflex account.HSBC doesn't have an automatic debit system so once again, if a bowflex employee had said that it is something you should take up with BOWFLEX. Unfortunately there is nobody to be angry at but yourself so take a long hard look in the mirror. And when it comes to the unemployment line don't worry about me...I pay all my bills in full each month. Have a wonderful day!

Thank you Elizabeth, for proving my point. Also I do not have bad credit, If I had bad credit, I would not be able to REFI my house! Also I did not choose HSBC for my credit, it was only option offered to me by Nautilus. THEY put my account on HSBC Credit. Second, I actually have more room on my account (not that i would think to use it). Also, at the time I ordered the unit I could have purchased the unit using CASH, but I chose not to.

By the way, ResponsAbility is actually spelled ResponsIbility.

Thank you again for proving my point.

Nice Customer Service and Business attitude and approach. You just made up my mind. I was looking into opening a couple of accounts with HSBC for my business but your unprofessional unkind degrading comment has just changed my mind. I would like to see on paper if you have walked a perfect path in life? It seems HSBC needs to train their employees better and not pick them up out of the unemployment line. Thanks for helping me make the decision.

I work for HSBC and I am so sick of dealing with people like you who refuse to take responsability for your actions! First I would like to say that most bowflex accounts are at a reduced rate of interest at 11.9% for the length of the promo.....DO THE MATH! Your monthly finance charged is based on the balance on the account so if a bowflex rep told you that you can pay 19.00 a month that is something you need to tke up with BOWFLEX not HSBC...all of the info is provided for you on your statements so the moral of the story is IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR SOMETHING DON'T BUY IT. By the way.....I find it very interesting that the majority of people with bowflex accounts have extremely bad credit. If something is too good to be true ( like a $19/mo payment until you can affory to pay it off especially with a credit score of 520) it probably is.