Hi, My ''Brief encounter'' with HSBC, lasted just 5 days. I found it difficult dealing with the banks call centre and found myself getting irritated at theire lack of understanding my instructions. Strangely, a call to a freephone number given to me by a local branch member of staff, when I asked for the immediate closure of my current account, was dealt with by......a UK call centre. I believe the Bank is well aware, that large proportion of customers do not like dealing with overseas call centres. HSBC, has by far and away, the largest amount of complaints of any UK high street Bank on this subject. Thankfully, I never moved my accounts to them.