I don't know how clear it is in the Terms & Conditions but its clear from the FSA tables that (only) HSBC does that.

Go elsewhere, nearly every other bank's basic account is a better account than HSBC and some offer an Electron or Solo debit facility. Other than Fraud or Bankrupcy I do not think Banks have any grounds not to issue a basic bank account.

I don't think a closed and settled HSBC basic bank account will be a stain on your credit file.

That is the problem, i've had my sky bill returned, luckily i routed it to my partners account so i didnt miss the payment, but i cant believe i've had no notice and its just prompt and so efficient that they closed the door in my face so harshly over a mistake made by my company wage payment.

is it likely i could apply for a current account now being as i have a low amount of debt, i've tried before and been turned down about 6 months ago.

id like to do this so i could get a credit file on myself from experian website but to do this you need to verify your identity with a credit/debit both which i do not have.

thankyou for your help thusfar

In your shoes I would take the money and the custom elsewhere.

You need to be careful that other automatic payments don't get missed because of what is happening.

Ok, i called HSBC today to ask why i could no longer log onto internet banking, (i've had a basic account with them for 8 months)

they said a letter dated the 11/03/09 had been sent out in which the customer services guy read out to me. "your account is closed basically" due to having three strikes for returned payments. i had no idea of the three strike rule, and the only reason that d/d were returned is due to my wages going in late and no coinciding with the d/d that were due on that day. i re-structed my d/d around to another day so as not to have them returned again if my wage did not go in on time.

But they have bascially closed the door on me and said i need to wait for the letter to come through, take it into branch and take the remainding money out.

What options do i have, can i see a staff member in branch and explain the situation that caused this and ask them to reinstate my account, or will i be wasting my time?

i really do not need this to be on my credit file, as i've spent the last 3 years getting everything paid off and i only have £210 of debt left to pay.

sorry about the long post

thankyou