Opening Barclays account difficulty...

BB101

I went bankrupt back in July. I opened a Co-op bank account a few months before this. I applied for a cashminder account, but head office upgraded it to a current account (should have objected) and a few months after BR they wrote to me saying it was against their T&C's and closed it (no debt - it was a small amount in credit).

After reading all the advice on here I decided to try to open an account with Barclays. I had hesitated before as I had a debt included in my BR with Barclaycard.

After a 6 working day wait for my appointment I went to Barclays to open a cash card account. The person processing the application told me that they would open the account with a savings account as well and that a 5 GBP deposit would be required in each. I don't recall reading this anywhere but never mind carry on. I informed them of my BR and that I was receiving JSA and that I had been banking with NatWest up until my BR (Natwest debt in BR). They then spent the next 10-15 minutes telling me that I need to go to NatWest to see if I can open a basic type account with them first. Also they informed me that they don't want to open an account unless there is a regular salary or something being paid into the account. I said I'm receiving JSA, she didn't reply. I told them I don't want to open an account with NatWest, I want to open a cash card account with Barclays and that it is well known that NatWest wont open an account for an un-discharged BR.

I asked them (there was two of them in the room most of the time as the clerk went to seek advice) several times are you refusing to open an account / process an application for me then? I didn't get a direct answer.

After going round in circles a few times I told them several times if your not willing to process an application they I want to make a complaint. She filed the complaint and said the bank manager may telephone you tomorrow and that is where things stand currently.

I'm guessing the bank manager will likely have the same mentality and try to fob me off as well?

Has anyone else had this initial response to opening an account to Barclays and later been successful?

I guess if I don't get anywhere with the bank manager or I can't get him to escalate further then I would have to resort to writing to their head office and maybe bringing the financial ombudsman into it? I imagine that could take months before getting anywhere. Grr.

I'm so fed up with this I may just push this thing through to it's conclusion while look at my other options. i.e. approach co-op again to open cashminder.

confused76

sounds very strange to me. see what the manager says, but you can open a barclays account via telephone so worth giving that a go

dojoman

I opened a Barclays account without a problem and they were one of my biggest creditors. I only use it as a spare account in case my Coop visa debit is not accepted, if this happens I then transfer some money in to the Barclays one and use my visa debit from them. I don`t have any sort of income going in to the account and never have, I told the PB why I wanted the account and she was fine with it. Strange why they are treating you so badly, hope you get something sorted.

Manoona

I alos had trouble with Barclays. I was able to open an account initially in brnach but it was closed a week later without reason. i spoke to the people in teh branch who found it very strange but there was nothing they could do, I telephoned the manager and was told it was down to head office, I spoke with them who just said due to a recent change in the Ts and Cs they had to close it.

I complained, I took it the financial ombudsman but there was nothing they can do as it is downt ot he indivual banks what there Ts and Cs are.

So although not wuite the same thing as you I didnt get very far when I complained!

Hopefully yours will get sorted though, they have to at least process the application surely, and I didnt have to put any money into the basic or savings account either!

It all sounds a little strange to me!

Can you not open a basic co-op account? Many people have had theirs closed and gone back down the day after BR and been accepted again!