I have an account at a bricks and mortar branch and I've never been nailed for a fee for my direct savings account.
That being said, I'm on a fee waiver with them as a condition of HSBC getting my business so this may not be a normal business practice.
Try calling the premier number – even if you're not premier they seem to have a little more authority than the regular customer service line (the no hold times is always a plus too)