Barclays Bank Account

never-in-doubt · 20 January 2010 at 1:24AM

Hi all

Looking for people's advice and opinion - especially keen to hear of other people with the same letter or from barclays staff...

I recently applied to Barclays (online) for their bank account and selected no overdraft etc. Anyway, they went through the usual process of ID-ing me electronically using data supplied by the CRA (i.e. what is your credit card and what limit was your HSBC card etc etc).

I heard nothing else and so rung them and they told me i'd been declined. Imagine my surprise at receiving a letter dated after my phone call saying the following:

Barclays_Bank wrote:

Thanks for your recent application for the Barclays Bank Account.

Unfortunately we are unable to process your application automatically. In order to progress your application we require further info from you.

Could you therefore, please call into a branch, and ask to see a Personal Banker who will be happy to process an application for Barclays Online Banking for you.

To confirm your current address and identity please take with you:

A recent utility bill. This must be an original and show evidence of payment and no more than 3 months old, in your name at your address

and

a Passport.

The branch will then verify these documents and open your account on site.

What I wanted to check was:

1. Is this guaranteed then, the way their letter states 'they will open your account on site' and 'process an application for Barclays Online banking' suggests so?

2. Is this normal, being they identified me electronically at the start?

3. Anyone else done this and what was the outcome? For instance am I going to go all the way into Leeds to then get a basic account out of it?

4. Why would they tell me i'd been declined then send me this letter - could it be a mistake or is it likely my application was declined and they are wanting me to go into branch to open a basic account?

5. Why specifically can't I take a Bank Statement - why a bill in my name and proof of payment? I use online billing for everything and so the only proof I have is a bank statement with the debit (direct debit) showing on there. This doesn't show my name or my address to the company though so am wondering if it is not enough?

Any help greatly appreciated. :T :T

jenny_13 · 20 January 2010 at 1:43AM

never-in-doubt wrote: »

1. Is this guaranteed then, the way their letter states 'they will open your account on site' and 'process an application for Barclays Online banking' suggests so? I would say it is not guaranteed as they will make sure your documents fit their criteria and if they're still not happy they may request more or decline.

2. Is this normal, being they identified me electronically at the start? Yes if they want to do further checks as it sounds like you may have been refered to underwriters as a result of the electronic checks.

3. Anyone else done this and what was the outcome? For instance am I going to go all the way into Leeds to then get a basic account out of it? I haven't done this but it may be the outcome, is there not a nearer branch apart from the city centre one? The queue in there is normally a pain.

4. Why would they tell me i'd been declined then send me this letter - could it be a mistake or is it likely my application was declined and they are wanting me to go into branch to open a basic account? That is a posibility or you may have spoken to the wrong member of staff who wasn't fully aware of the process in regards to referals.

5. Why specifically can't I take a Bank Statement - why a bill in my name and proof of payment? I use online billing for everything and so the only proof I have is a bank statement with the debit (direct debit) showing on there. This doesn't show my name or my address to the company though so am wondering if it is not enough? I'm not to sure on this but I think it is standard for most banks. I doubt that will be enough as it doesn't show your name or address. Do you not have a paper copy of your council tax bill?

Any help greatly appreciated. :T :T

Hope that helps but I'm sure you'll get more answers in the morning.

never-in-doubt · 20 January 2010 at 1:55AM

jenny_13 wrote: »

Hope that helps but I'm sure you'll get more answers in the morning.

Hiya

Thanks for your answers - makes sense, so I am thinking in the right lines then? Bummer!

I do have a few issues regards to incorrect links so that explains the referral - do you work for Barclays by any chance? lol

Regards to the last point, about utility bill - I do have original Bank Statements as I say, but they asked me for proof of paying a bill with that bill (I guess a credit card statement would cover that)... see what I mean? I'm trying to ask why do they want a bill and not a bank statement or would a bank statement (original) suffice?

I do have a CT bill but it has my wifes name on it, we keep everything separate at banks so as not to create a link therefore I do not want to show them this bill, similarly my electricity bill.

Inactive · 20 January 2010 at 2:12AM

Hi NID, going over to the other side then?

Barclays...:eek:

Cheers Inactive.;)

never-in-doubt · 20 January 2010 at 2:19AM

Inactive wrote: »

Hi NID, going over to the other side then?

Barclays...:eek:

Cheers Inactive.;)

Hi mate - I applied to barclays, rbs and coventry (first) all at the same time and got 3 accepts, well rbs sent usual !!!!!! and barclays sent the above - coventry one is opened and card came today

Inactive · 20 January 2010 at 3:06AM

Coventry sounds good, I will have a look.;)

A sad day for me, I got my beloved HSBC Maestro Card Debit Card replaced with a Visa Card, I am not happy about it.:mad:

never-in-doubt · 20 January 2010 at 3:25AM

Inactive wrote: »

Coventry sounds good, I will have a look.;)

A sad day for me, I got my beloved HSBC Maestro Card Debit Card replaced with a Visa Card, I am not happy about it.:mad:

aaaw mate, gutted! Ive had mine what, 6+ months now and to be fair I quite like it (sorry!).... but the fact they reduced my overdraft is making me leave, nothing else but that. :mad:

So what you going to do now then? Maestro-less lol

Inactive · 20 January 2010 at 3:35AM

Looks like we have not a lot of choice other than the dreaded Visa Card, an almost monopoly, I hate monopolies, they usually start well and end up costing us all dearly.

I am just a luddite at heart.:D

book12 · 20 January 2010 at 11:14AM

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Hi all

Looking for people's advice and opinion - especially keen to hear of other people with the same letter or from barclays staff...

I recently applied to Barclays (online) for their bank account and selected no overdraft etc. Anyway, they went through the usual process of ID-ing me electronically using data supplied by the CRA (i.e. what is your credit card and what limit was your HSBC card etc etc).

I heard nothing else and so rung them and they told me i'd been declined. Imagine my surprise at receiving a letter dated after my phone call saying the following:

What I wanted to check was:

1. Is this guaranteed then, the way their letter states 'they will open your account on site' and 'process an application for Barclays Online banking' suggests so?

2. Is this normal, being they identified me electronically at the start?

3. Anyone else done this and what was the outcome? For instance am I going to go all the way into Leeds to then get a basic account out of it?

4. Why would they tell me i'd been declined then send me this letter - could it be a mistake or is it likely my application was declined and they are wanting me to go into branch to open a basic account?

5. Why specifically can't I take a Bank Statement - why a bill in my name and proof of payment? I use online billing for everything and so the only proof I have is a bank statement with the debit (direct debit) showing on there. This doesn't show my name or my address to the company though so am wondering if it is not enough?

Any help greatly appreciated. :T :T

I remember you applied for this account for a long time. I'm glad you got some form of reply, and found your data.

If the account is declined, you can appeal. After the decline, it will default to a Cash Card Account (i.e. basic account. Comes with a debit card).

You could bring any ID really. Refer to this link for ID: http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=popup1group&value=7551&target=_blank&site=pfs (it does say bank statement on there). I think that's a standard letter.

To open a Barclays account a UK passport or driving licence is already enough, according to an updated brochure I have.

There is conflicting information, as the website and brochure says different things.

Look here for a nearer branch: http://www.multimap.com/clients/places.cgi?client=barclays

Hope you are accepted for the Barclays Bank Account.

Inactive wrote: »

Coventry sounds good, I will have a look.;)

A sad day for me, I got my beloved HSBC Maestro Card Debit Card replaced with a Visa Card, I am not happy about it.:mad:

Visa is better, as it's more widely accepted in the world than Maestro.

SG_Guy · 20 January 2010 at 12:30PM

Personally, prefer the Visa debit card to Maestro, as Visa debit is more widely accepted globally than maestro debit especially outside Europe. If the increase in MasterCard debit issuance is anything to go by, it seems more likely than not that MasterCard is phasing out Maestro (MasterCard own the Maestro brand)?

Inactive · 20 January 2010 at 1:12PM

SG_Guy wrote: »

Personally, prefer the Visa debit card to Maestro, as Visa debit is more widely accepted globally than maestro debit especially outside Europe. If the increase in MasterCard debit issuance is anything to go by, it seems more likely than not that MasterCard is phasing out Maestro (MasterCard own the Maestro brand)?

But my old Maestro Card had a £250 Cheque Guarantee on it, this crabby Visa Card has £100, that is not better, that is worse.

Apparently Visa max is £100.

Never had a problem using my Maestro anywhere.

Anyway, I am hogging NIDs thread, so I had better shut up.:D

Barclays Bank Account

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