HSBC UK vs Starling: most-reported complaints compared
Most-reported issues at HSBC UK and Starling, according to reviewers on Trustpilot — classified by our automated reader and backed by verbatim quotes from distinct reviews. This is a side-by-side of what reviewers report, not a score, rating or recommendation for either company.
HSBC UK
TrustScore 4.4 · 29,346 reviews on Trustpilot.
1,069 reviews analysed, 2025-10-09 to 2026-09-26.
Complaint rate (recent window): 22%
96% of negative reviews get a company reply.
“Refusal to allow my wife to invest in a UK listed stock because a certain individual at the bank has decided it's not permitted.”
Starling
TrustScore 4.3 · 47,903 reviews on Trustpilot.
981 reviews analysed, 2026-06-18 to 2026-09-23.
Complaint rate (recent window): 10%
96% of negative reviews get a company reply.
“starling restricted my account for that is that even normal it's 300 pound hardley anything massive amount of money”
Reported on both
Issues with an evidenced category (at least two verbatim quotes) on both sides.
| Issue | HSBC UK | Starling |
|---|---|---|
| Support unhelpful | 48% | 36% |
| Account/app problems | 35% | 59% |
| Support unreachable | 20% | 12% |
| Other | 11% | 6% |
| Billing errors | 6% | 8% |
Method: reviews are classified into a fixed complaint taxonomy by an automated reader; every category shown is backed by at least two verbatim quotes from distinct reviews. Figures are census classifications, not official statistics, and reflect what reviewers reported — not findings of wrongdoing by either company. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Trustpilot A/S, HSBC UK or Starling.