Barclaycard/BOS transfer nightmare

incorbin

Hello everyone!

I have a real nightmare situation developing whilst trying to use my recently aquired Barclaycard platinum with 22 month balance transfer. It's a long and complex matter with both HBOS and Barclaycard managing to make a complete pig's ear of what should be a straight forward transaction. I'll try to keep it short but there's a lot to detail.

I got a loan from Capital Bank (BOS Group) a few years ago. At the same time they sent me a Capital Bank preference account debit card with a credit limit of £4500. This was not asked for and I had no intention of using it but thought I'd hang on to it just in case. I never used the original card and in time was issued with another. I paid off the original loan in the allotted time and had started using the preference card bit by bit.

In time I decided to consolidate and got another loan from Nationwide with the intention of clearing this card and boosting my current account but unfortunately had some unplanned expenditure which meant I didnt completely clear the card. I made 2 substantial payments to it but not quite enough to clear. Sadly I ended up using it again bit by bit.

Next attempt to clear it was a newly acquired Barclaycard which I got for the soul purpose of using the 22 month 0% offer. I went online to do the transfer on 12/04/12. It was accepted and the monies left my account along with the fee. On the 16th the money was returned to my account along with the fee. I contacted Barclaycard and was told that it was possibly because it was HBOS and not BOS. I said that the account and sort code were exactly the same and didnt see how that could have mattered. I contacted HBOS and they said that there was no reason why the transfer should have been retracted by Barclaycard. The usual scenario ensued with umpteen phone calls back and forth. It then transpired that when I set up the direct debit with Barclaycard it missed a £5 payment that was showing as unpaid. I was told by Barclaycard that if I paid the £5 then the transfer would go ahead. I got the advisor to confirm on the phone that the transfer would go ahead with the 22 month % free still in place and he confirmed that. Previously I was told that I had no offers when I initially tried to find out why the transfer was retracted. I have the clear evidence that I made the transfer with the offer approved. Next thig I learn is that HBOS are saying I owe them a payment because my Direct Debit was not in place!!! Again I have written evidence that the direct debit was set up on the 4th Feb this year. It had previously been cancelled as I was paying it off in large sums by telephone. I had asked for it to be reinstated and got a letter stating it was in place. HBOS have now confirmed that that was indeed the case and also confirmed the amount that I had asked for the direct debit to be (£90). As it stands THEY have put my credit as bad until I pay the one outstanding payment of £74 which should have come out on the supposed DD set up in Feb!!!

Barclaycard have sent me a letter, which I expect to receive tomorrow, explaining that because the HBOS card is recognised by their system as a Debit card their system wont allow the payment to happen. I only found this out this afternoon. HBOS say Barclaycard are to blame as HBOS recognise the preference account card as a credit card. This is a complete mess. I have told them both that I intend to make formal complaints against them both. Stating that they have both given me misinformation and false assurances that the transaction should happen. Blaming each other in other words. I'm waiting in for a call back from HBOS and have spent the past 2 days by the phone and computer. Just as well I have a week off work! Didn't expect to spend it doing this though!

Has anyone else any had issues with this Preference account debit/credit card fiasco? I honestly believe this was irresponsible lending initially on Capital Bank (BOS) part. Why cant those in a position of power get this matter resolved once and for all? This card has been described to me by HBOS as a credit card. They need to get this dealt with pronto.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Sorry its so lengthy. It could be longer.

Cell

I do remember trying to perform a balance transfer to the Preference account, possibly from Barclaycard. It wouldn't go through for the reasons you've detailed.

It isn't a credit card as such, though it has many of the hallmarks of one. It's essentially a revolving credit account, with a card that enables you to draw cash without any fees or special interest rate unlike a CC (If I recall correctly).

It came with a chequebook, and the card, I think, could act as a guarantee card, when they existed.

I don't think that it had S75 cover either, which would take it away from being a CC.

There was a sort code and an account number as well, implying a bank account type product.

It is recorded on Noddle as a Credit Card though.

However when I paid it off there were some problems with residual interest the advisor who sorted it out said that the reason for the problem was that they'd closed it incorrectly - as a credit card rather than a loan type product.

Reading the above I'm not sure if that's helped very much, except perhaps to confirm that its status was never certain to me and that you're not alone in your confusion.

Cell

Although not possibly as trustworthy as MSE, this also suggests it's a Debit, not credit, card:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081003042731AASO1m0

Donkey88

It is a debit card.

It does function as a credit card in a lot of respects, and yes, you'll get some £12 charges as well if you miss any payments or go over the limit. But as alluded to above, it is a 'revolving credit' account and therefore is not actually a credit card in the proper sense of the word.

It's not brilliant if we're honest - I don't doubt given the confusing nature of the product that it has been described as a credit card but wouldn't surprise me if there was some heavy terms and conditions leaning in the HBOS reply. Not entirely sure that Barclays will be able to help you in truth.

Cell

The plot thickens...

HBOS seem to think it IS a credit card, after all, though it didn't start off that way.

Deep breath, feet up, cuppa coffee to hand, and read away!

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?198901-BOS-Preference-Account-is-this-agreement-enforceable

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?231206-FDPM-WELL-V-BOS-(Preference-Account)-***WON***

incorbin

Thanks for responses everyone. As I said, HBOS definitely call it a credit card and they believe that Barclaycard should recognise it as such. However, I believe that BOS/HBOS are possibly the ones at fault here as they should be correcting the process to allow the transfer to be made. I still say that this was irresponsible lending by BOS in the first place as the card is obviously an odd ball which doesn't seem to be one thing or another. Today i will spend most of my time AGAIN on the phone.:mad:

incorbin

CELL, Thanks very much for the attachments. Fascinating reading and just confirms that BOS are in error with this card. I am about to call the Dunfermline 'Card Services' department as they have not called me back like they said they would.

Cell

You're welcome!

Good luck with HBOS.

It took 4 calls to sort out a residual interest demand for 13p. The fourth person said basically that very few people really understand the Preference product there and that they'd all got it wrong.

To his credit he said he'd sort it, and sort it he did!!!

skintdad

I used to work for bos and hbos when they merged. The pref acc is a debit card and therefore the acc number on it is a debit card one. Its basically an overdraft. Parts of the acc number or long number on the card identify which bank issued it and the type of card it is. Barclays probably won't be able to override this. Ask them to give U a money transfer to your current acc instead with 0% for same term(super balance transfer) and pay it off manually. They should be able to sort that and is probably the easiest option

Cell

While I don't doubt what you say the links above demonstrate that HBOS have now attempted to re-designate it as a credit card, which in itself caused problems, because whatever they think it is, it isn't (legally).

skintdad

I've not read the links. I assume hbos have issued you a new card in the last few years? It may be worth comparing the first 8 digits to a hbos debit card and credit card and see which it matches. Unless they have given U a new acc number the one you have will show as a debit card on Barclays system