Household HSBC Watch

In a lesson plan, designed to teach about predatory and subprime lending, we asked this question of students in 2005: “What is the impact on a country’s economy if predatory lending is left unchecked?” Three years later the answer is clearly obvious. As of today the world has seen over $515 billion […]

there was no warning and HSBC will contact existing customers. This is just in, thanks to a report that called our attention to the matter. “HFC Bank Ltd has closed its operation to new customers in the Republic of Ireland with effect from August 28th 2008. Existing customers can contact Customer Services on […]

With the United States in a recession the double-speak is interesting. Some call the recession of 2000-2001 a “mini-recession.” Now HSBC’s Douglas Flint has a “technical recession.” HSBC finance director Douglas Flint said: “The issue now is the US slowdown and whether it enters a technical recession, and what that does to […]

H&R Block Inc on Wednesday said its Block Financial LLC unit obtained a $3 billion credit line from HSBC Finance Corp, which will be used to fund loans for some taxpayers who expect refunds. Just last week we reported that the IRS says such loans can perpetuate fraud. For two companies that […]

On one hand HSBC spokesman Michael Trevino said tax refund loans “represents a very small portion’’ of HSBC’s revenue. On the other hand such loans represent bad publicity for HSBC, with interest rates sometimes over 100 percent. Lawsuits such as Carnegie vs Household, paid by HSBC in 2007, cast HSBC in a bad […]

JF in Pennsylvania sent this report, which we publish in both of our blogs: “How household Financial gets their mortgage customers and makes money? As you probably already know HFC/Beneficial send out live checks in the mail to thousands across the USA monthly. These range from anywhere from 5k, 7k, 10k. They are at […]

HSBC Finance Corp. of Prospect Heights has hired Cindy Baier, most recently president of Whitehall Jewellers Inc., as managing director, helping to develop credit card programs for retailers. Before working at Whitehall, Baier was senior vice president and general manager of the credit and financial products business at Hoffman Estates-based Sears, Roebuck and Co. HSBC […]

Consumer watchdog organization Household - HSBC Watch wants to clarify a question commonly asked on their consumer hotline. “Many people don’t yet realize that HSBC Finance is the former troubled and disgraced predatory lender Household International” said the group. “But if they are on our web site and calling our hotline they just […]

When Household agreed to their famous $484 million nationwide settlement in 2002, it pertained to complaints, investigations and examinations related to Household’s conduct with respect to the following lending practices (collectively, “the Lending Practices”):

Two real estate secured loans made at or near the same date to the same Borrower (i.e., “split loans”),
Loan points […]

HSBC North America Holdings Inc is the holding company for all of HSBC’s U.S. and Canadian businesses, including Household International.

1. HSBC Bank USA, National Association
2. HSBC Bank Canada
3. HSBC’s consumer lending business operates in the United States under the HFC and Beneficial names.
4. HSBC Mortgage Services purchases and services non-conforming residential […]