HSBC Bank - Fethiye

[GarynDen]

General query - We opened an account at HSBC in Fethiye in May.  When I was in Calis last week I went to put a cheque into the account (quite a lump sum0.  The staff there informed me that if I put money into that account I have to leave it for 6 months before I can draw it out (December).  When I queries this - they said it was a rule of the bank - they said the reason for this was because they said they did not know me!!??  Has anyone else had this problem.  It does not help me because the reason I wanted to put the money into the bank was to pay the final instalment (August)for the apartment we are having built there.

Any info/feedback would be appreciated.

Den

[puma]

i know there are certain rules when banking at different banks
the cheek so and so's put your money else were you are their bread + butter

[lindacarl]

I think this must be pretty unusual as most of us have opened up bank accounts initially just to pay for our property. If this was the rule -rather than the exception - we'd have all been moaning like mad on here.
Try Finansbank - the lovely Ayse is a gem there & speaks better English than many on this forum (said tongue in cheek! Honest!)

Puma - are you p...d on here again??

[puma]

no linda i wish i'm up early again lol:D

[Cavfan]

I agree Lindacarl, most of us opened an account just for the buying process and I've not heard of this before- I'm sure there would have been a thread before this!
We opened one with Guaranti and then transferred from our Natwest account ( it cost about £30) then we went into Fethiye and withdrew the cash in £ as thats how our seller wanted paying and we put all our savings into a plaggy bag from the kebab shop next door ! think it took a couple of days to transfer.Simple!

[stoop]

It could be their way of averting money laundering. We have similar rules in the UK - you cannot just go and put £50k into a UK bank without them having to check where you got it from - even a cheque. A few simple questions are usually enough over here but obviously Turkey has a different way of doing things.

Check with other banks - they may be a bit more relaxed about it - or go back to HSBC and explain what the money is for and why you can't tie it up until December.

Good luck

[GarynDen]

Thanks for your replies.  I must admit I was gobsmacked that they were requesting this.  Anyway, decided to send Gary back out in august with the money - call me old fashioned - but I would rather see it put into the builders hand and get my receipt.  I am going to call into my HSBC bank over here in England next week and see what they have to say.

Once agaion thank you for getting back to us.

Den

[calvin 1949]

Hi try www.hsbc.com.tr the rules are on there in english or Turkish