The Great H*BC Rip Off!

**lucyfrombristol** · 30-08-2005, 06:34 PM

I would feel very uncomfortable securing any loan against my property. It just reminds me of one of those dodgy loan companies they advertise on TV who promise to consolidate all your debt into "one manageable monthly payment", but forget to tell you that you have to use your home as security and you'll be paying for the rest of your life!!!

**jonesy** · 30-08-2005, 06:59 PM

Hi Maz and Lucy,

Yes they suggested i secure it too but to be honest that really scared me ll, the other thing they suggested was to take a loan out against the equity of the house, but that was against the point of me taking a loan in the first place as I wanted to defer payment until I had qualified!

Anyway I hope they are a better bank for you two!

Good luck in your courses

Michelle

**catch22** · 30-08-2005, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by jonesy

hey its defo a good thing we didn't get Owen, don't think Rafa was too keen and felt pressured to take the traitor on

Anyway, I did actually want Owen back, Cisse and Mori aren't doing it for me, but after yesterday, I think Owen is too greedy and selfish for liverpool. Sorry for the rant!

Anyway, catch22 I got a PSL with barclays, if i got a CDL I wouldn't be able to get the student loan as well. Barclays don't ask for anything apart from a simple budget planner and that you change your student a/c to Barclays.

Michelle x

thanks michelle. I went to Barclays today and it took about half an hour for the manager to read up what the hell was a PSL in the first place. She had no idea what the APR was either (...do you know?). I'm just trying to compare it to HSBC, which is 5.7%

Anyway I'll have to weigh everything up, but I have absolutely no qualms about transferring my student account from HSBC now. I think they're really shooting themselves in the foot over this. I've got an appointment with RBS tomorrow

PS: I thought Owen was coming to mighty Chelsea!

**MedicMark?** · 31-08-2005, 12:32 AM

[QUOTE=catch22]Anyone as miffed off as I am right now about the blatant daylight robbery of these high street banks?

Going somewhat off the point here, but....

For those going from full time work to studentdom again, how do you deal with changing from being a (possibly) respected member of your company, with an income, home, etc, to being treated like this by a "spotty 18 year old in a suit"? From where do you draw the inner strength not to pick up the aforementioned acne-scarred cretin and stuff him into a cash bag before hurling him off a bridge?

The thought of putting myself through this and dealing with student landlords all over again is equally awful.

Just wondering if people had some inspiring life philosophies as to how they might deal with the transition. I'll gladly accept replies like 'get over yourself you self important fool', but it's an honest concern.

**jonesy** · 31-08-2005, 12:55 AM

Catch 22: Firstly, Mighty???? Chelsea...we'll see, you've got a lot of catching up to do mate.....5 European Cups.....hmmn that's a tall order even for you boys! Anyway, I look forward to the upcoming group matches

More to the point now

Barclays offer base rate plus 2.5%, which I believe has me at 7% APR. As far as i'm aware HSBC have increased their interest rates now as well to 2% above base rate secured and 2.75% above base rate unsecured. If you get a secured rate with HSBC you need to pa additional charges against your mortgage....big put-off for me!
I guess if you don't go to a student branch then the Barclays guys won't know what the hell you're on about! I was really lucky, at Southport the guys were fantastic, they sorted everything out for me with no probs - i even sent a letter to the manager praising them (for which they got a bottle of wine!). Seriously, I was very impressed with Barclays, but it is branch-dependent!

hth Catch 22 oh btw i see your at Manc, how are you enjoying the course there? I've just finished my undergrad degree there and 2 of my good friends did Medicine there too!

Medicmark: my philosophy is if you want it bad enough you have to suffer a little. I am moving away from my husband to live with 3 other medics until my husband can join me, which is going to be very tough and strange to say the least. However, I feel the sacrifice will be worth all the heartache in the end. It will be weird doing the whole student house thing again, but also fun, I am planning on enjoying every minute of medical school as well as doing the hard work, i;ve waited quite a long time for this

Also, I don't care what anyone thinks of me while i'm doing this, as long as my family are happy and willing to support me. I've had nasty comments from some people about being a drain on government resources and a waste of money! Unbelievable!
Sorry for the rant but thats my opnion on the matter

Michelle x

**catch22** · 31-08-2005, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by jonesy

Catch 22: Firstly, Mighty???? Chelsea...we'll see, you've got a lot of catching up to do mate.....5 European Cups.....hmmn that's a tall order even for you boys! Anyway, I look forward to the upcoming group matches

More to the point now

Barclays offer base rate plus 2.5%, which I believe has me at 7% APR. As far as i'm aware HSBC have increased their interest rates now as well to 2% above base rate secured and 2.75% above base rate unsecured. If you get a secured rate with HSBC you need to pa additional charges against your mortgage....big put-off for me!
I guess if you don't go to a student branch then the Barclays guys won't know what the hell you're on about! I was really lucky, at Southport the guys were fantastic, they sorted everything out for me with no probs - i even sent a letter to the manager praising them (for which they got a bottle of wine!). Seriously, I was very impressed with Barclays, but it is branch-dependent!

hth Catch 22 oh btw i see your at Manc, how are you enjoying the course there? I've just finished my undergrad degree there and 2 of my good friends did Medicine there too!

Michelle x

Hmm.....well I can't wait for the group matches....it'll be payback time for sure...we were robbed!! BTW, um...just how many points did you guys finish on last season.......!??????? Something like a *37* point difference between us!!! That's an awful lot don't you think!

Anyway, cheers for all the info with Barclays. It's been really helpful. Really think they should give you royalties for this!

Congrats on finishing your degree at Manc! Hope you had a good time there. Yep, Manc is ok...I'm just about to start the clinicals next week...I'm really really looking forward to it. The first 2 years have been really hard being couped up in the Stopford Building all the time. There aren't very many mature students my age (31) on the course either. I'll be glad to get out on the wards and get back into real life!

Best of luck with your course...hope it all goes well!!

**catch22** · 31-08-2005, 02:17 AM

[QUOTE=MedicMark?]

Originally Posted by catch22

Anyone as miffed off as I am right now about the blatant daylight robbery of these high street banks?

Going somewhat off the point here, but....

For those going from full time work to studentdom again, how do you deal with changing from being a (possibly) respected member of your company, with an income, home, etc, to being treated like this by a "spotty 18 year old in a suit"? From where do you draw the inner strength not to pick up the aforementioned acne-scarred cretin and stuff him into a cash bag before hurling him off a bridge?

The thought of putting myself through this and dealing with student landlords all over again is equally awful.

Just wondering if people had some inspiring life philosophies as to how they might deal with the transition. I'll gladly accept replies like 'get over yourself you self important fool', but it's an honest concern.

It IS hard, I have to say. Most of the time you just have to bite your lip and reaffirm to yourself that it'll all be worth it in a couple of years time. It's only a temporary situation....and the time is going to fly by, believe me! But if I said that I usually handle all of this ok, then I'd be lying!

Don't worry about student landlords! Just make sure you get to live with cool people closer to your age and outlook...I think that's really important. Medicine is stressful enough as it is than to worry about coming home to a load of more stress and angst. In my first year, I lived in a flat of 10 other 18 yr olds straight from school. Drove me nuts! Don't know how I got through the year!

**jonesy** · 31-08-2005, 10:44 AM

Hi Catch,

No probs about the Barclays advice, I should be getting royalties though, you're defo right about that

I'm sure i'll hear from you later on in the season when Liverpool have whooped Chelski's arse!

Take care and have a great time on your clinicals!

Michelle x

**Natalie C** · 01-09-2005, 01:16 PM

Pah- not only do HSBC rob you blind, they're also incompetent. I arranged my PSL in FEBRUARY (took the woman about 6 weeks to get around to it and she didn't have a clue). Anyway the first installment was due today and, as I suspected, it hasn't come in to my account. I feel a telephone rant coming on....