A tale of barclays... one honest man in a company full of lies

never-in-doubt

BarclaysManager wrote: »

hell, we even give you free statements if you send in DPA SARs.

That'll be because you have to or don't you know the DPA and in particular the 6th principle...? Regards to the 'fee' you are permitted to charge, if I request CCA then you may levy a reasonable charge per copy statement but when I send a SAR the maximum 'fee' is £10.

Now don't go telling me that you do free SAR's cos I know damn well fine that you don't so what is the point of your post, as quoted above?

You don't actually give free statements cos you'll charge a £10 SAR statutory fee. So why say this?

whitevanwoman

I'm a Barclays customer and have never heard of a Reserve. What is it? If I haven't opted out through ignorance of this Reserve, what are the financial implications?

For info, I have no overdraft, no cheque guarantee card and I manage my account very very carefully, going without essentials if necessary (a contradiction in terms I know, but a reality of life on a low income) so that I don't go overdrawn. I left Abbey and went to Barclays due to unfair bank charges which were only part refunded despite the fact that I wrote explaining hardship and they could see that the majority of my income was tax credits and disability allowance.

I don't want to have to start changing accounts again but also I don't want to be hit with Reserve fees (whatever they are and whatever they are for). Perhaps BarclaysManager could enlighten me as my own branch doesn't seem to have done, unless it is hidden somewhere in the small print on those glossy sales leaflets which are included in with my monthly statements.

iblametheparents

td_007 wrote: »

The frontline call staff be in the UK or somewhere else have the same cheat sheet to work from and same targets and incentives to sell. I cannot count the number of times I have called up UK call centres and been given the sales pitch. It is their job!

There are four centres in the UK and two in India.

Inactive

BarclaysManager wrote: »

As a reminder, at least two mailings were sent to every customer - more to some depending on their statement usage, etc. - and advice was given through every point of contact, including branches, telephone banking, online, etc. that the Reserve was being introduced and you could opt-out. It was an opt-out as it was converting the previously informal nature of your overspending to a formal one.

The old " opt out " trick, the OFT or/and the FSA should outlaw it, but of course we all know that they will not.

Dirty tricks brigade.:rolleyes:

never-in-doubt

Inactive wrote: »

Dirty tricks brigade.:rolleyes:

you got it matey -

delain

BarclaysManager wrote: »

We take responsibility for your money, and invest considerable amounts in providing you with a branch network, safe and secure internet banking, etc. and re-imburse you for fraud, no questions asked.

In return, we ask that you take some responsibility for your money too, and don't spend money that you don't have. If you don't want to do that, okay, we'll remove your Reserve for you, and we won't let you unless you guarantee the payment as a cheque, etc.

If you do want to, we'll tell you how much you can spend and what it will cost you in a clear and consistent manner.

As a reminder, at least two mailings were sent to every customer - more to some depending on their statement usage, etc. - and advice was given through every point of contact, including branches, telephone banking, online, etc. that the Reserve was being introduced and you could opt-out. It was an opt-out as it was converting the previously informal nature of your overspending to a formal one.

Before i had my reserve, i went overdrawn ONCE! and that was because of virgin media's error.

I have been in to barclays ((as i said before) and pretty much begged them to help me get back on track, told them how i was planning to manage my finances with a seperate bills account and i came away with the overriding impression that as long as you got your £22 a week it was fine and dandy for us to struggle.

As i said, the only one who said any different was when i went into another branch and one of the staff told me that the rules are only to make money, said i had a good case for financial harsdhip, and directed me here!

delain

krisskross wrote: »

Just one question for the OP. The reserve was always your choice to have or not. Why did you not cancel it sooner? You presumably have online banking where it is shown clearly if you have opted to have it. No good complaining now when it was your decision to have it. Is the account still showing a minus balance? As you say you normally get £88 charges per month perhaps you should have sorted your indebtedness to the bank out sooner.

I have borrowed £170 -£180 a time from friends and family to put my account in credit, but the charges have taken what i need to live on, what do you expect me to do, not feed the kids?

thesim

Hate the personal reserve, and cant not have it because I keep falling into it with all my bills then get whacked for another £140 for going into it. :mad:

Plus you get a letter a day saying you've used it..duh know that with the first letter talk about waste of paper

dc110

This is a BIG problem with Barclays. The foreign call centre staff are a COMPLETE AND UTTER WASTE OF TIME. Most of them don't have two brain cells to rub together.

you have met them presumably to make this generalisation?

British jobs for British people, serving British customers - that's what I say.

i know plenty of people who work in call centres who are not british but were brought up in britain and speak perfect english (which i assume is your problem). Where do they fit in? What about non british customers? Who deals with them?

What are foreign companies doing to support British jobs in this recession?

What the hell has that got to do with anything?

Katy_M_2

The telephone banking staff ALWAYS tell me something different to what I am told in my branch.

It is sooooo infuriating, I try not to bother ringing them at all if I have to. I find the people in my branch to be extremely helpful so avoid ringing up at all costs.

Although....I haven't been able to log into online banking since last week which is also beginning to really irritate me!