North Shore Cycles made it into the listings here at Household - HSBC Watch because of their financing. Household International, now called HSBC Finance Corporation was the source for at least one complaint about this company. Enough detail was provided to suggest that Noorth Shore Cycles did little to help the customer, although when a predatory lender is running wild and out of control, it may not be their fault. Even Best Buy says they cannot get HSBC to cooperate.

Ask the North Shore sales person if you are buying the bike on a credit card with open ended financing, or if it will be a fixed term loan. Get the answer in writing on their letterhead, with a valid signature from the manager and the sales person. Then take the document to your bank and have it notarized.

Find better financing options for your customers if you haven't done so already. Another blow to HSBC's reputation, and more backlash against a merchant that thought they were aligning their customers with a cooperative, socially responsible, reputable financing mechanism.

Future customer horror stories should be posted to the "other merchants" category of the new forums here at Household - HSBC Watch.