URGENT Free £100 Loophole discussion: MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

VP

I applied on 19th Jan first thing in the morning.

The website did appear to "break" a couple of times but the link was definitely still there on the site when I clicked on it. I took a screen dump of the "Free £100" screen just to prove it, and will be prepared to show it to any Barclays employee who challenges my right to the £100!

I have received the email saying it will take up to 10 days to get the info, has anyone else got this and been turned down for the £100 yet? Or do we have to wait until 2 months is up before we know?

bagby

I think I applied on the Wednesday afternoon and the £100 incentive was there then. Ive just received a letter confirming acceptance and I also had to sign proof of signature. Ive posted it back today so hopefully Ill be eligible for the £100. The only thing is I didnt keep any proof of when I applied, time and date but I know the £100 was still on the screen when I applied. So if anyone has proof of the offer I would appreciate an email of it - thanks

al_london

Exactly the same story from me. Letter telling me to go into branch, and then when I get there there's a problem and I can't open this type of account. Call to customer services and have logged a complaint (clearly pointless). As I pointed out, I didn't really expect to be in the position of having to make a complaint before I was even a customer!! (and I *did* actually want to be a customer...)

Apparently it took from 18th until the 21st for my application to get through Barclays website.

Will be watching Watchdog avidly on Monday, hoping this is the main item!

Sooler

If you phone the 0500 number they are indeed trying to say that if you have a letter asking you to take ID into a branch to finalise the opening of your account you do not qualify.

They are trying to say the letter is an invitation to open an account in branch. It clearly does not say this. It says it is to finalise the opening of your account and confirms it is an online application.

It may be worthwhile if everyone with a letter phones the 0500 number to register a complaint. Meanwhile take ID to a branch and insist it is to finalise the opening of your online account, NOT to open a new branch account.

al_london

I tried that, and in effect "the computer says nooo"! *cough*

And now Barclays have all our personal details etc. Very clever of 'em.

apples1

hi, could anyone let me know what the e mail said today that "theowl" referes to above (about six posts back)?

I applied before they cut the offer, got application form to sign and proof of signiture form which I sent back, two days later I got the "may take longer 10 days" standard e mail from Barclays as did most people. I am assuming I'm ok as I had already received the forms to sign. Just wondered what todays MSE e mail is that was refered to?

Sooler

al_london wrote:

I tried that, and in effect "the computer says nooo"! *cough*

No to what in particular?

So they've got a computer that says no, so what? very handy but not relevant.

You take ID to a branch to finalise the opening of the online account, as per their letter.

You should not need to fill in any forms in branch, that would be for opening a new branch account.

If you register a complaint on the 0500 number they have to get back to you within 48 hours, so the sooner you do that puts more workload on them to resolve it all.

If you try to phone the branch to enquire if you need to make an appointment for taking ID into a branch to finalise the opening of an online account you can only get through to a call centre on an 0845 number.
The Barclays web site gives the same number for each branch. The call centre states it is not necessary to make an appointment. So, if when you get to a branch they try to tell you an appointment is necessary, this is not true. You can wait until someone serves you. If the branch say they can't find a record of your online application just say you'll wait until they find it --- may be worth registering a complaint on the 0500 number as they take your reference number - thus proving they have your online application.

Dan29

apples1 wrote:

hi, could anyone let me know what the e mail said today that "theowl" referes to above (about six posts back)?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip.php

JenHen

As previously posted, my letter received this morning together with application and signature forms did not request me to provide any additional ID but there was no prepaid reply envelope in the package received. When I phoned the helpline this morning, the lady I spoke to said there should have been a reply envelope but that the lack of this didn't matter and I should simply send the forms back to the address given at the top of the letter. Can some kind person please double-check for me and confirm whether the following address corresponds to that given on the prepaid reply envelope?

Barclays Bank PLC
Direct Banking
Leicester Servicing Centre
Leicester
LE87 2BB

Thanks

JenHen

al_london

The options just weren't available on the screen for them to process my online application in the branch. The Assistant didn't understand it either, and called over the manager. I left them trying to sort it out, and they called later to say that they'd spoken to the 0500 number themselves and I wasn't entitled to open the Online Account.

I have just been back to the branch to retrieve my printout of the application form (as evidence) and photocopies of passport etc., and they had shredded them.

Then requested to speak to the manager who is going to sort out my application properly (apparently).