Kafka has nothing on HSBC

No. We went through this with his older brother. That took multiple visits, as they kept asking for more documents than they listed in the letter and than they asked for on previous visits and only accepted what he 'd brought on the fourth attempt because I was there, had ID and had set up the original account. In this case, my wife set up the account and, due to disability, she cannot access the pedestrianised area - not having a wheelchair, but not being able to walk as far as required).

Even once his older brother was verified and the account was unfrozen, multiple attempts to open a current account failed, despite him being a customer with a proven identity and they refused to transfer the money from his account to any account outside the TSB!

In the end, had to close the account, collect the money in person and take it to his other bank.