URGENT Free £100 Loophole discussion: MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

Jo_N_3

Yes definitely leave the money in for a few days, you would need to wait for it to clear ( I think this takes 3 days? ) but I would leave it a little longer just in case.

Tim_L

Gets even funnier. My wife has finally got her account set up and asked for the information needed to set the account up online. What is supposed to happen is that you enter your handy easy to remember 20 digit customer number, and some digits from a passcode. This takes you to a screen where you enter a 'memorable word'. Except it didnt: there was a prompt for characters from the memorable word as if it had been set up, but it definitely hadn't.

No problem - there's a 'forgotten my details' button, which allows you to have everything sent out again. Clicking on the option for 'forgotten memorable word' produces an explanation that it will be necessary to send a new passcode by post to reset the memorable word. So my wife agreed to this, and pressed 'next' a couple of times.

Only to be greeted by the following:

30517 - Sorry, we have been unable to order a new passcode for you as our records show that one has already been issued for your membership number. If you haven't received your new passcode within five working days of ordering it, call us on 0845 600 2323 (outside the UK dial +44 2476 842063) quoting code 30517.

I.e. having asked for a memorable word reset, the site told her she had to get a new passcode and then refused to send one because she already had one.

Which now means three quarters of an hour on the phone to a succession absolute half wits in the call centre attempting to explain what is required.

This is not a bank, it is a comedy. Quite how anyone in their right mind would allow this lot to look after their money is absolutely beyond me.

suttonsaver

Jo_N wrote:

Yes definitely leave the money in for a few days, you would need to wait for it to clear ( I think this takes 3 days? ) but I would leave it a little longer just in case.

I agree, play it safe. If Barcs treat a cash deposit over the counter as cleared funds immediately, then you would be OK to transfer the money out again the next day. But cash paid in thru an ATM may well take 3 days to clear (ridiculous, I know, but that is Halifax practice), so you should wait for those 3 days to elapse before moving the money.

suttonsaver

Thanks Dan29, you've hit the nail on the head. Why give Barcs an excuse for not paying you the £100? JenHen shouldn't expect any clear steer from Barcs - not in their interests, is it?

innovate

suttonsaver wrote:

I agree, play it safe. If Barcs treat a cash deposit over the counter as cleared funds immediately, then you would be OK to transfer the money out again the next day. But cash paid in thru an ATM may well take 3 days to clear (ridiculous, I know, but that is Halifax practice), so you should wait for those 3 days to elapse before moving the money.

Why guess? It's an online account so you can check for yourself when the funds are cleared.

silverchair

I've really had enough of Barclays!!

I applied for the 100 pound incentive online banking on the 18th Jan. I then received the same letter as a few others on this board about bringing in ID etc. Went to my local branch waited ages for the customer advisor on information to say that she interpreted as I needed to open the account again.

Went home and phoned customer services and the man was brilliant said that I was entitled to it and told me that my branch should have phoned up product services he gave me the number and name of the person they should speak to. Went back to the branch and spoke to them again. The customer advisor said that they would ring the number and then call me back. She then handed me an unsigned electron card. Strange didnt even have a sorting code, account number or any info on their system. Didnt accept card :-)

Went home and booked an appointment to see personal banker. checked appointment was in their books during the week as realised they didnt take my name. No appointment in their books. Also no one had phoned me from the bank. Finally got to see personal banker. Very helpful. Did open account again but was told that they will complain as the letter was proof that I had my info in the computer and wasnt my fault that they lost it. Very happy as it seemed I was going to get 100 pounds. Deposited 1000 pounds.

Waited and waited for cheque book and card. Went to my mothers for her bday dinner. My cheque book and pin number were both delivered there. This was my previous address. I cant believe that they delivered this to my previous address. Its just luck that the previous address was my mothers. It was only because I complained that my card wasnt sent there aswell.
Im so careful with my banking details yet it seems my bank isnt. They havent even sent me a letter saying they will folow up on the complaint. I still cant believe that they sent this information to my previous address. I think its disgusting.

Is there anymore that I can do?

suttonsaver

innovate wrote:

Why guess? It's an online account so you can check for yourself when the funds are cleared.

Who said anything about guessing? I'm simply pointing out that HOW you pay in cash to Barcs will probably determine when it's treated as cleared funds. In other words, don't make rash assumptions.

suttonsaver

Balrog wrote:

Has anyone managed to open an account without going to a branch??

Yes. If you have a squeaky clean credit record with a number of different providers, haven't moved house for several years, and are on the Electoral Roll, Barcs can get all the ID verification info it needs from Experian or Equifax. So no need for you to take passport, gas bill, etc, into a branch.

joe13

suttonsaver wrote:

Yes. If you have a squeaky clean credit record with a number of different providers, haven't moved house for several years, and are on the Electoral Roll, Barcs can get all the ID verification info it needs from Experian or Equifax. So no need for you to take passport, gas bill, etc, into a branch.

Thats how it should work, but OH and I fit all the above criteria and still had to take ID into the branch.
Once in the branch they found me immediately on there system as I am a trustee for another account held at barclays.

Patr100

suttonsaver wrote:

Yes. If you have a squeaky clean credit record with a number of different providers, haven't moved house for several years, and are on the Electoral Roll, Barcs can get all the ID verification info it needs from Experian or Equifax. So no need for you to take passport, gas bill, etc, into a branch.

Yeah I'm all of those things as well but had to bring ID to a branch - but no passport - no Drivers licence - no account - Computer says No - as I reported earlier in this thread.