Did you apply for a Barclays Monthly Saver in December?

armagnac

I popped down to my local branch to open up this savings account. Like others, I was also informed that it was actually only 6% and that the 7.75% savings account simply doesn't exist (despite having rung Barclays before heading down to my local branch to confirm so that I wouldn't have a wasted trip!). Headed back from the branch feeling somewhat peeved and called the Barclays call centre back to explain what had happened.
The call centre confirmed the 7.75% and apologised for the mix up. In the end they offered to set me up with a savings account at 6% and have committed to transferring the difference I would have made if I'd saved £250 each month for the full 12 months on 7.75%). It's all been a bit of a faff to be honest and I'm not sure it's actually worth the hassle but glad I've managed to get myself a decent savings account.

sjb92

Went to the Victoria Street London branch at lunchtime.

I was also shown the leaflet that said 6% AER (and 4 point something monthly net). I showed the Personal Banker a printout from this site and she fetched the manager. The manager said they could only offer the rates on the system, so I asked her to telephone the Head Office or Saving Department. I was told that they had no way of phoning Head Office and the only way I could query the rate would be to lodge an official complaint which would be responded to "within 48 working hours".

As I already bank with Barclays I tried telephone banking. Was initially told 6% so was passed on to someone else who left me on hold while she spoke to savings (long enough to ensure they've made back any difference in interest rate I get) and was then told 7.75%.

So all sorted, but a branch has no way of phoning head office? Very lazy...

pauline_kimber

Confusion reigned in Barclays, 2 people told me that the account didn't exist, but then i found a very nice gentleman that said no problem open the account today (31st) and as we were existing customers transfered the money there and then.

oxfordbiker

Went to my branch in Woking and was told that the MSE site is wrong and they 'haven't updated their rates yet'. I asked for his name and asked whether he would like to check with head office. He just looked up a brochure and showed me the rate of 6%, so I left. Its odd, but i just trust MSE so much I thoguht i wouldnt let it lie, so then I thought I would phone up Barclays customer services, and they (after lengthy consultation with a senior advisor) told me the 7.75 was correct, so back in i went and, in the meantime, the representative had found out that it was in fact available! Next problem was that I couldnt pay by cheque as it would take 5 days to clear and as I didnt have a personal account, I had to make the standing order from my business account to get the money in there straight away (which I do have with Barclays). In the new year, I need to cancel this and re-instigate it from my personal account elsewhere.

So, a bit of a battle, but all very friendly when I returned the second time and eager to help. So thanks Martin for the heads up!:beer:

Hiram

My husband went into Barclays, Uttoxeter branch and was told the rate was 6% and opened it anyway. No problems.

I went into Ashbourne branch and told the clerk about your website claim and she checked the rate. She said it changed to 6% on 1st December and Martin Lewis has not updated his website! I opened the account anyway.

All very friendly staff here in the sticks. On time for appointments.

However, to contact a local Barclays branch by phone is a nightmare. They have a one number fits all. As I had no Barclays account number to enter, I had to listen to all the options for many minutes before I spoke to someone with a hard to comprehend accent. They wanted all my personal details, when all I wanted, was to make an appointment with the local branch.

When I left only my name and contact number for the local branch to contact me and make an appointment, the man did not inform the local branch of my enquiry.

I eventually found the local Barclays branch number in an old directory. It still worked!

intalex

I always thought that bank accounts are pre-defined products within their systems, which bank staff can only select as they are (i.e. can't specify alternative rates and other criteria) when opening new accounts. So why didn't everyone just take a chance and open the account anyway, and fund it with cheque/cash (whatever has been confirmed on the Barclays statement to MSE), and then wait and see? Why all the effort of arguing with uninformed bank staff and running around withdrawing cash cos' bank staff said cheques, or in a worst case, choosing not to open the account?

All it took was to commit £20 (min.) and wait a couple of days to find out. A few of us who opened it and funded it in December should be able to tell on Friday what rate we got.

A bit late I know, but people worry too much about small things in my view!

Franklins

Went into my local branch today, they had to phone a main branch for advice but did set it up, I already had a Barclays account so pretty fuss free, again took in the MSE print of the offer which worked well, (already took the standing order out of my account by the way).

Definitely worthwhile as my ISA is now only paying 3.5% and even tax free it's much less than this account will be after tax.

Thanks to OP, will make a few extra quid this coming year.

jgilly

I went into the Sheldon Branch, B'ham early p.m. and opened an account for 7.75% no problem.

However, I was informed that under the terms of the account money can only be transferred in by a Bank Standing Order, how this could be achieved in an afternoon, had me thinking. so I offered to pay by cash, cheque or fill in a direct debit mandate, but was informed this was unacceptable.

In an effort to try and get things moving I told the advisor I would go to the Halifax branch where I bank 50 yards away, to get a BSOraised, and guess what, they were closed (p.m).

After reading the threads that money had to be deposited in the account by the 31st Dec 2008, I'm holding my breath on what rate I will get.

The_Grim_Reaper

chaotic_j wrote: »

...Word of warning:

I was told by a lady in Barclays that if you accidentally pay in twice during a month, it would cancel the contract for the Monthly Savings Account.

Apparently if you had the S/O set up for a certain day, and then that day fell on a weekend, it could end up that two payments are taken one at the beginning of the month one at the end so make sure that the date is chosen carefully..

By the way they also said that there was no notice on their system!

Well I opened a monthly savers account at Barclay's on-line, as I already have accounts with them, I thought this would be easier. This was 10.11.2008
There were three questions to answer (can't remember the exact phrase but something like),
1. How much do you want to transfer now:
2. How much do you want to transfer each month:
3. When do you want to start:

I answered
1. £229.17
2. £250.00
3. 10.11.2008 (now, today)

So a little while later I checked back (on-line) to make sure all was going according to plan. It was not, the 250.00 had gone though without a hitch, but the 229.17 had been bounced back to the account from where I had sent it. Okay I've done the date thing wrong, It'll come right I thought.
So I waited for the December payment to move into my new monthly savers account. I kept my eye on it, and nothing happened, also they only gave me around 3% interest on the 250.00.
So on the 17.12.2008 I went into my local branch, explained what had happened. They said that the problem was I was trying to setup a standing order from a savings account, and this was not possible, it has to be from a current account. I explained that when I'd setup the account on-line there were no errors or error flags shown, and I assumed everything was alright. I then asked if they could set this up correctly for me, now. They said that because it was over a month (I didn't know anything was amiss before the second payment didn't go in) they couldn't do anything for me, except close the account and start again, at a lower interest rate. When I pressed them, they gave me a number to ring when I got home.

I rang the number, talked to a nice lady in Mumbai for about half an hour. She explained that all I had to do to earn the top interest rate was to, not make a withdrawal. I could pay by SO from a current account or by individual payments each month from any type of account, or by cash/cheque over the counter. She also said she would sort out the 229.17 as she could see it was not a withdrawal. I'm still waiting for something to happen.

I do feel I'm paying the price for there system mistakes, although I'm not totally blameless.

spaggy

went to the Huntingdon branch today.. my husband and I both opened an account and as already with Barclays it was easy to do a transfer then and there for the deposit. Got the 7.75% rate no problem..all very straight forward