HSBC North American Holdings Inc., operating in the state of Florida through Household International, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., HFC and Beneficial, has donated $200,000 to the Hurricane Charley relief efforts. Their initial press release, courtesy of Kathleen Rizzo Young and Kathleen Morrison of HSBC North American Holdings, Inc., said this:

“HSBC/Household International Contributes $200,000 to Hurricane Charley Relief Efforts; Assists customers affected by the storm” as seen on Business Wire. Why “HSBC/Household”?

Since the acquisition of Household International, and the nationwide suit of Household by States Attorney’s General culminating in $484 million in payments to consumers, Household and HSBC have been trying to put a better image on the Household name. Donating here and there, and buying their way into UMUC and the military finance program at that university will not accomplish the task.

In light of recent reports that Household is still a predatory lender as evidenced by deliberately applying credit card payments after the monthly closing date, for a period of approximately ten years, one must ask if HSBC/Household is donating blood money.

Nationally, Household was accused of cheating its customers by overcharging them for home equity and other loans. Because the monthly payments were higher than consumers expected, many lost their homes.

“We apologize to our customers for not always living up to their expectations,” said William Aldinger, chairman and CEO of Household in a prepared statement. After the trauma of losing one’s home, Aldinger’s statement is a travesty. One member of Household Watch lost $1700 in one of Household’s scams.

In Washington state, a statewide moritorium on foreclosures was enacted while the dust from Household settled. Aldinger’s company said problems stemmed from a rogue office in Bellingham, which ultimately proved to be a falsehood of gigantic proportions.

WRAL-TV in North Carolina asked Household about sending statements late in the billing cycle, not allowing enough time for payments to credit. Household spokesperson Friedlander told the television station that sending statements late was not common practice, and consumers should have enough time for payments to credit properly. Again, Friedlander’s statement turned our to be a falsehood on a national scale, as evidenced by Shea v Household. Household made billions and returned $11 million to consumers.

Blood money or honest donations to Florida’s victims of hurricane Charlie? You decide.

Consumers don’t like it when a corporation lies to them. Here is how Household International, under William Aldinger as CEO, ultimately lost the $484 million nationwide lawsuit. We though you should know the truth:

Florida began investigating Household, after Madie Bell Wilson, 89, was evicted from her Miami home. She had taken out a $27,000 home-equity loan, thinking it was a home repair grant that did not have to be paid back. The case piqued Florida officials’ interests and helped lead to the multi-state settlement.

Household paid almost $23 million to the people of Florida in the multi-state settlement. Sorry, Madie Bell Wilson, age 89, that we didn’t live up to your expectations. But we will donate $200,000 of blood money to the victims of hurricane Charlie.

Your comments are invited.

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