1,700 HSBC jobs set to be axed

I have also had bad experiances using HSBC's India Call centre, for a start the line volume / quality drops off dramiticly when you are auto transfered over to India. On top of this I don't think the HSBC Indian call centre staffs English is anywhere near up to the job as this is by far the worst Indian call Centre I have ever experianced. I have also like Waterman says experianced very offish treatment from them, I can only think this is a budget opperation by Indian standards.

I used HSBC 'phone service to order South African Rand for a business trip earlier this year and was connected to an Agent in India. He seemed to be quite efficient butwhen I went to my Bank 3 days later my currency had not arrived although mycurrent account had been debited on date of ordering. I had no alternative but to buy Rand at Heathrow but had to really get heavy with HSBC for them to credit back the amount into my account - and I am a Premium customer with severalinvestments in the Bank. What more can I say ?

I quite agree with Richard and J Brown, when I am connected to an Indian Call Centre, although I have to say I have never found anyone rude, the problem is that I just can't understand what is being said, and find it quite embarrasing asking for them to continually repeat themselves. Forget making even bigger profits for yourselves and bring the call centres back to the UK and supply our many unemployed who desparately need and want to work with a job and pay them the going rate, not on the cheap in India. British jobs for British people...now where did I hear that one?

I agree with PhilD, I actually bank with HIBS and their Indian call centre just isn't up to the job last month they made such a hash of my claim for a disputed card transaction that they actually paid the thieves my money for the SECOND time and never sent me the urgent forms. I also found the Indian staff rude and inept which was supprising as this is a very high status job in India, the HSBC Indian call centre staff's English is also terrible and just not up to the job, I find it hard to believe that this crowd are any where near the best India has. The HSBC Glasgow call centre on the other hand is terrific the staff are friendly, helpful,and know the job and even as an Englishman I can still understand the Glaswegians 100 X easier than the Indian call centre staff.

I agree get rid of the indian call centres and employ more staff at the frontline dealing with customers especially local banks so you dont have to travel miles to a central city bank.

I though the recession was over. I guess not.

Would HSBC (who took over from HSBC when Midland Bank went Bankrupt in the 1990's) like to explain why I am being charged to use your clearing facilities for a bank for whom you act as Clearing Agent and Correspondent Bank? The Credit Card Company's Sort Code starts with 44 -- -- , which is part of the 40 pre-fix group and was originally Midland Bank, they took 40-49 Pre-fixes, why don't HSBC, (who bought Midland Bank); or are they too bankrupt? It seems to me that the only words in a Bankers dictionary are charges and Bankruptcy (including their own!) As for service charge: What service?I would rather give the money to a waiter in a restaurant who really gives me service. Banks- they shot themselves in the foot, why should Fred Bloggs have to pay for their cock-ups? Afterall the Banks would be the first to sue me for Bankruptcy if I could not settle mine or my debts!

Agreed Richard, and Mr Brown. I too am getting thoroughly P**sed off with call centres in Delhi who do not understand the English Banking system, let alone no the difference between a Credit and Debit, or comprehend double entry book-keeping. Whilst on the subject, why don't banks do double entry book-keeping anymore? Stop bl**dy selling and get on with banking. Sack some of the idiots in so called positions of trust and authority and employ, more to the point TRAIN some more staff at counter level who actually know what they are talking about. How do I get to talk to a human in these centres in anycase, without having to go through seven levels of menu on automated switchboard? Only to find that the person at the end of the phone hasn't a clue what they are talking about! Re-Open the branches kill off the call centres and lets speak to educated, trained staff directly at the branch where my account is held.

I must say I detest it when I am connected to an Indian call centre. Its quite impossible to understand the dialect of most of them. Surely we need the jobs for people here in the UK.

So will some of these cuts be in their Indian call centres ?? Would do us a favour if they were !