The bank chief who didn’t even respond

NOT even an impassioned letter from Andy Macpherson to HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver in December 2015 persuaded the bank to meet his brother’s insurance claim.

Indeed the 15-page-long correspondence, urging HSBC to accept Alistair’s claim, was not even acknowledged by 58-yearold Gulliver, who last year was paid £5.7million.

In the letter, Andy spelt out in black and white terms Alistair’s poor health and the devastating impact of HSBC’s decision not to pay up on his brother’s claim.

He wrote: ‘During this year alone my brother has been unable to work for over 100 days due to constant hospitalisation and the unpleasant side effects of his treatment. The current medication regime is very rugged and Mr Collins [Alistair’s consultant] is of the opinion that my brother’s overall medical condition is very poor.’

He concluded his heartfelt letter by referring to a quote Mr Gulliver had made on the citizenship section of the bank’s website – ‘by setting the highest standards of behaviour our aim is that all our employees and customers can be proud of our business’.

Andy said: ‘Perhaps, having read my brother’s story, you could spend some time to reflect on how proud you feel he might be of his treatment by HSBC.’

On Friday, Alistair told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Every time my consultant came into bat for me with evidence that my claim should be met, the bank pulled up the drawbridge and said no.

‘Every time Andy fired off a letter on my behalf, it came back with the same excuses as to why my claim would not be paid [see above]. The stress it has put me under is immeasurable – and Mr Gulliver did not even give my brother Andy the courtesy of a reply.’

On Friday, HSBC said Gulliver had passed on Andy’s letter to the head of insurance for him to comment.