Barclays Golden ISA feedback

BruceyBonus

Elspeth wrote: »

I had no problems opening a new Barclays ISA (online).

I'm sure I requested a 'Golden' version, however the letter I received yesterday congratulates me on having opened a 'Cash ISA' and states the interest rate at 0.1% (rather than the 3ish% of the Golden one).

It could just be that I've been sent the wrong letter, but I'll need to put some effort into finding out; and if I have been given the poorly-paying version I'm glad I read the letter carefully!

I would have thought that the letter is sent out automatically, so highly unlikely to be the wrong letter. What does the account show as online?

bendix

I went to Barclays to open both a current account (for my general banking needs) and a Golden ISA. Got it sorted in 10 minutes. Transferred some funds from my 'holding' account at Natwest yesterday and then redirected £3600 of that into the Golden ISA.

No mess, no fuss.

GiraffeMan

Elspeth wrote: »

I had no problems opening a new Barclays ISA (online).

I'm sure I requested a 'Golden' version, however the letter I received yesterday congratulates me on having opened a 'Cash ISA' and states the interest rate at 0.1% (rather than the 3ish% of the Golden one).

It could just be that I've been sent the wrong letter, but I'll need to put some effort into finding out; and if I have been given the poorly-paying version I'm glad I read the letter carefully!

That would suggest you clicked the wrong option. Ring them on 0845 603 0845 as google would suggest and tell them you would like to void it. Then when they close it reapply and open a Golden ISA. Obviously you can only do this within the 30 day cooling off period (from date of opening).

bankemployee101

Elspeth wrote: »

I had no problems opening a new Barclays ISA (online).

I'm sure I requested a 'Golden' version, however the letter I received yesterday congratulates me on having opened a 'Cash ISA' and states the interest rate at 0.1% (rather than the 3ish% of the Golden one).

It could just be that I've been sent the wrong letter, but I'll need to put some effort into finding out; and if I have been given the poorly-paying version I'm glad I read the letter carefully!

Hi Elspeth, if this is an error on the opening system, I have to say it is the first instance I've seen. Either way, it can be resolved, provided fairly swift action is taken (as per the advice of GiraffeMan); the quickest way to find out which one of our ISAs you opened is simply to call telephone banking and ask them the specific name of the account! I'd like to assure you that the system is not 'rigged' (or any other nonsense) to open the lowest paying account, as evidenced by the other feedback on this thread so please don't lose faith! Hope this helps

ali1972

gbjbasdw wrote: »

At the other branch I saw one of their "customer service" people ( what a joke ! ) who again told me I need to book a 40 minute appointment. When I asked him why it was going to take 40 minutes to fill out a piece of paper he produced a booklet that we were supposedly going to have to fill in. One of the boxes was entitled " Tell us about your lifesyle". I pointed out to the guy that this had sod all to do with opening an ISA and that my lifestyle meant I didn't have time to spend answering questions that were none of their damn business.

Similar experience by phone. I answered most of their questions, but refused to tell them my annual income. I'd already told her I was self employed so when she asked about income I said "It varies". She was remarkably insistent I tell her what it was last year. I was remarkably insistent that she didn't need that information. That I could understand if I was applying for a loan or a mortgage, but not an isa. Her supervisor told her I had to tell her. I asked why. It was only when I said I would invest elsewhere that her supervisor told her I could "skip" that question if I wanted. Cheeky so and sos.

I don't need to tell them about my lifestyle because I don't need them to advise me on my finances. I'm sure some people are delighted to receive tailored advice from Barclays but they should accept that "No, that's personal" means just that. I will be delighted if I receive no other direct mail from them. They just need to sodding look after the money I'm trusting them with and I'll wory about the rest of my life.

BruceyBonus

ali1972 wrote: »

Similar experience by phone. I answered most of their questions, but refused to tell them my annual income. I'd already told her I was self employed so when she asked about income I said "It varies". She was remarkably insistent I tell her what it was last year. I was remarkably insistent that she didn't need that information. That I could understand if I was applying for a loan or a mortgage, but not an isa. Her supervisor told her I had to tell her. I asked why. It was only when I said I would invest elsewhere that her supervisor told her I could "skip" that question if I wanted. Cheeky so and sos.

"Skip" the question means make up a figure.

When I applied for a Tax Haven ISA last year (key word is apply, rather than open), I was asked this question and replied with "I'd rather not say". She then asked my occupation, which I responded as "Student". End of the matter about my income.

A few days later I phoned up to query something, one of the security questions I was asked is what is my annual income. My response was the same as before. He asked a couple of other questions then told me that the branch had recorded my income as being £3000 - which tbh wasn't a bad guess.

ali1972

Yes, she tried to say "Well, I can see £xx,xxx went into your account last year" and I said "That's before my business expenses come out, so you're well off the mark." They are going to end up with extremely inaccurate data if they make it up themselves.

As for "apply" or "open" - aren't they are rather desperate for our (the savers') money? Just semantics in the current economic climate I would have thought.

BruceyBonus

ali1972 wrote: »

As for "apply" or "open" - aren't they are rather desperate for our (the savers') money? Just semantics in the current economic climate I would have thought.

The reason why I made the point about apply not open, was because I applied for the account but they never managed to open it before the end of the tax year.

bagsacash

Similar experience by phone. I answered most of their questions, but refused to tell them my annual income.

I was asked the same question when opening a Natwest account my reply was "its nothing to do with natwest what I earn" the woman skuttled off only to return a few minutes later saying "its ok we don't need to know what you earn because you don't want a credit card or credit faucilities".

Only tell em what they need to know!

ali1972

BruceyBonus wrote: »

The reason why I made the point about apply not open, was because I applied for the account but they never managed to open it before the end of the tax year.

I catch your drift.;)