barclaycard 20 month 0% deal

timbo58

anyone else had problems with an application?

I've forwarded my experiences to the FOS now,.


I applied around the 10th march 2011.


1.I Got the card and the paperwork had no apr etc about a week later.
So I rang up the helpline just to check the APR etc and do a BT.
2.Call centre: 2 calls and 2 different aprs and lengths: neither were the advertised 20 months.
Also call centre were reluctant to say anything before I 'activated the card': I had to insist to speak to a supervisor both times!
3.Call centre again to complain and find out what was going on: ''you applied 'too early' to get the 20%''. ( I applied around 11 Mar, they said the offer started on the 17th: however the website DEFINITELY said 20 Months and I used the link from MSE to get there!).
4.Sent letter of complaint: 2 letters back apologising for the wait:
eh? I ONLY wanted to know the APR and length of 0% deal in writing before I activated the damn thing! it doesn't take 2 months to tell someone that!
5.Phone call today: No 20 month deal apparantly: (hmmm) so I cancelled the card.
6.No, we can't remove your credit scoring record for this application either.....

I've escalated it to the FOS:
a) NO apr/finanacial basics on any of the paperwork
b) Pressure on customers to activate products that are not those they believe they applied for
c) Refusal to remove credit scoring data when such was taken under false pretences.


I'd be VERY interested to know if anyone else had the same 'you applied too early': here's an inferior product or/and had accompanying paperwork that was blank in the most crucial areas of APR etc.