URGENT Free £100 Loophole discussion: MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

lisyloo

Wether it is evidence I don't know

I think this is strong evidence.
A cookie on your computer could be easily faked by someone who knew what they were doing, but credit checks are not easily faked and the information comes from Barcalys themselves and is stored by a third party.
It's official information that cannot be denied.

YorkshireBoy

lisyloo wrote:

...but credit checks are not easily faked and the information comes from Barcalys themselves and is stored by a third party.
It's official information that cannot be denied.

I don't know if this has been mentioned earlier (and to be honest, at 600+ posts I can't be bothered to check!) but Barclays have run two "Current Account" searches with Experian for both myself and my wife.

We each applied in the early evening (one Friday & one the following Monday before the offer was withdrawn), and in both cases, the first search was done the following working day. The second (identically recorded) search was done exactly 10 days (not 10 working days) after the first.

In my opinion, the second search was not made when they received our forms back, because (as we applied VERY early), I'm sure we had each already deposited some money by the time they did this second search.

Money_Man_Steve

Just an update on a complaint that I raised with Barclays about applying for this offer and then getting ALL my personal details (name, address, DOB, phone number, employer's details, mother's maiden name, bank account details, etc) printed out and sent to me by post...

I was concerned at the identity theft implications had this letter and printed form been intercepted on the way to me (by regular mail) and so lodged a complaint. I had an acknowledgement of the complaint and then a 'reply'. The response basically said that it was necessary to print out and sent these details so that I could verify that they were correct, thanked me for my comments, and stated that they had been brought to the attention of the relevant 'team.'

I called the complaints department back tonight to say that I disagreed that printing the info on the form was necessary - checks on the accuracy of this info could have been made in the branch when I showed my ID (if they were required at all) and I did (after all) enter all the details myself in the first place, so they should have been correct! I told the advisor that I would not be satisfied until I knew the result of my complaint, i.e. whether they would change their procedures as a result, or not. If they don't, I will take it further.

I would urge anyone else who feels strongly about this to lodge a complaint with Barclays. We may be able to use our collective power to get them to change their ways and protect future customers from this unnecessary risk!

On another note, I failed a credit check today for an Orange contract phone. The phone company advisor asked if my middle initial was 'E' (without being prompted) after I gave my surname first name, postcode and house number. My middle initial is not E, but Barclays had split my first name in to two (Stev En) when they sent my details through the post. I amended my details with Barclays when I showed ID in the branch, and I am in the process of checking my credit file (which should be fine). I will be LIVID if the issue with my credit file is down to Barclays!

Another complaint may be in the pipeline...!

Money Man Steve

mrspeel

cheers for that! :beer:

VeryTrying wrote:

What it's got to do with it is this .....

Most people opened the £100 Barclays account with the intention of closing it as soon as the £100 bonus had arrived safely. But then there was a rumour of a higher-paying regular savings account, so many thought they would wait and see what this was about.

Now that details of the new savings account have been published, many of Barclays new customers have decided that making Barclays your main bank and having your salary paid in, is not worth it.

So it seems that unless Barclays is already your main account, most people will be closing their new account as soon as they get the £100 (or leaving it open with no balance just to add to Barclays administration costs).

GrumpyOldMan_2

May I add my grumble to the growing number of people in this post who are finding out what *sausages* customer service Barclays offer.

Both my wife and I applied for the £100 cash back offer: I was accepted without having to show ID but the OH has been to Barclays Hell and back trying to get this account opened!

First of all when she went into Barclays to prove her id and finalise opening the account the girl at Barclays got my wife to sign up for a credit card without my wife's consent. HOW you might ask? - Well, during the signing of various forms she popped in a Credit card application form :mad: It was only when I met my wife in the branch and saw a form headed "Credit agreement" I stepped in and asked why the OH was signing a credit agreement for a bank account. The Barclays girl went a little red faced and said that the Credit card was optional and when I quizzed the OH about the credit card application she didn't understand what the *sausages* the girl was doing trying to sign her up to a credit card.

If that wasn't bad enough, when the account was finally opened and we received all the documents through the post, it turned out that Barclays had signed up the OH to one of their premium Additons current accounts instead of the basic no frills account.

We contacted Barclays immediately to ask them what the *sausages* was going on and they logged a complaint, blah, blah.

Well, the next thing we know - Barclays send a statement through showing a £5.00 debit in Febuary for their Additions premium account. Back to the Customer Services again to request that they open the account that we originally applied for. Met with much "Computer says No". Can't possibly do that we are told because there is an ongoing compliant on this account and it will take a month to investigate :mad:

By this time we are getting extremely agitated with the "Customer Services" dept and request to speak with a supervisor who tells us exactly the same.

What the *sausages* is there to investigate, I ask? It's all very simple, we applied online for the £100 cashback offer, requested a basic bank account and the silly Barclays Girl at our local Branch rather slyly (IMHO) opened a premuim account instead (presumably because she's in line for some bonus if she opens X premium accounts a month). Now, please downgrade the account to a basic account as originally applied for. Customers Services reply "Computer says no, can't do that until the investigation is over".

Did point out that the offer to induce new customers was kinda back firing on them due to their poor customer relations which would not inspire those newly aquired customers to remain with Barclays. Yes, I understand your point, came the reply but Computer still says No :eek: !

Anyhow, requested that they confirm in writing that the OH would still be entitled to the £100 as all this faffing around was due to Barclays *sausages* Customer Services. Will await the letter confirming the above but in all honesty, I don't hold out much hope :wall:

Advice to all those considering switching accounts to Barclays - DON'T!

Oh, BTW along with all you others out there in Barclay Land who have been similarly dissatisfied with the Customer Services Dept, I would urge you, once you have received the £100 cashback, to leave you account open with a balance of £0.01 just so it costs the *Sausages* company money to administer the open account

adm_4

Following Barclays complaining that my wife hadn't specified her income, she received on Saturday a request to supply ID at a branch. We phoned up the number given for our local branch to book an appointment (obviously it wasn't the branch we got through to but rather a call centre). They said the branch would phone back in 2 hours but didn't...
I guess this means my OH has be accepted and therefore we should make the final effort!?

Adam

JenHen

suttonsaver wrote:

Surely safer to let a full calendar month elapse between payments? So if your Barclays account is credited the first time with 1k on the 15th, then the second 1k should not hit the account until the 15th of the following month (or later). Otherwise Barclays have the perfect opportunity to deny you your £100.

I don't see why this should be any 'safer'. I made my first 1k payment around 10th Feb and am intending to make the second payment to arrive in the account on 1st March - the quicker to get my hands on the £100. Provided the two payments are in separate, consecutive calendar months, does it really matter that they're less than 30 days apart? I phoned the 0500 Barclays account opening helpline (not their customer services helpline, which is useless) last week to try to get a definitive answer on this. The lady I spoke to said there was nothing in the terms and definitions of the account or the £100 offer to say that I couldn't make one payment on 10th Feb and another on 1st March. She said as long as Barclays can see that two payments of £1000 have been made in two consecutive months from opening, that will qualify you for the £100. I asked her to double check this with her superiors, which she did and confirmed it was correct.

If anyone has heard any differently from Barclays, I'd be very interested to know...

Dan29

JenHen wrote:

I don't see why this should be any 'safer'.

It obviously is, because it would mean the payments are made both in separate calendar months and more than one month apart, whatever definitely of a month you use (28 days or 1 calendar month). I don't see the point in risking losing the £100 by not meeting their terms and conditions, just for the sake of getting it a few weeks earlier.

harrythedog

next thing to watch out for!

After complaining, Ive had wrtten confirmation that I will get the 100 as long as I do the 2x1000 thing

Last week received a "welcome pack" in the post. It said I had an "Additional Plus" account. This account has benefits like travel insurance, green flag , domestic cover etc.. sounds great but its at a cost of course. £13 a month

Ive got most of the stuff anyway.. Just had to call them to "downgrade" the account. even though I didnt apply for it in first place..

monki_man

Hey guys,

I was wondering as it's an online account does that mean you have to deposit £1000 online or can you walk into a branch and bung 1k into the account then withdraw it? If we can do the latter, can how long do you guys leave it in your bank before moving that lump of money elsewhere?

May thanks in advance