Barclays Tax Beater Cash ISA - experiences so far (merged)

gelato_cat

Further to this message, I rang again today as I haven't yet received confirmation that my account has been closed.

Guess what?

They opened another one for me on 4th May - three days after I spoke to the guy who told me the account was closed! They've paid in my £1 cheque too. I've told them to close this new account. God knows when I'll see my £1 again!

Suze

Suzey wrote: »

Hey all

So, I rang the helpline this morning to close my Barclays ISA. Got through, told the guy I wanted to close it. Gave him my account number, sort code, name, date of birth and mother's maiden name.

He had a look at his screen and chuckled. "Ho ho ho," he said. "There was a small bunch of about 500 accounts which were closed in error and yours was one of them."

How weird is that?

To recap, I visited the branch on 5th April, the guy confirmed that my account was opened on 12th April, then closed on 14th April. On 26th April I received a letter dated 19th April saying my account was open. I guess this whole rigmarole explains why my £1 cheque hasn't been cashed thus far.

I asked if he could send me a letter confirming my account was closed and he said that it would be sent out by the system within 10 working days of closure (in my case, it should be here soon). When I queried the timescale, he said it was due to the sheer volume of work over there.

So, I'm going to wait a week for this letter to come through and ring them again if it's not sorted. Hopefully (several fingers crossed) the account has actually been closed and I won't need to do anything further (ISTR someone - Kitty? - saying that their bf's account had been closed by mistake, maybe he was in the same boat as me).

Having read today's posts about the interest I am very glad to be shot of Barclays!

Suze

i'm-skint

Had started to get worried after reading a few peoples replies on here recently, but have just checked my current account and it finally looks like my accounts been opened, thats exactly a month since writing the cheque out :T Hopefully the 'welcome' pack will arrive soon and the backlog of account opening has finally started to dwindle, decided to stick it out in the end, just hope they have back dated the interest.

morg_monster

LankyMoneySaver wrote: »

I wonder if thats the same Ian Lee off of the 11 o'clock show a few years back. If so his career must have really taken a turn the the worse lately

I said the same thing to him and he went deadpan and said "don't ever compare me to him..." i bet he gets it a lot!

I'm not so sure about his career taking a turn for the worse by working for barclays - i watched him with his band last year in a pub near Kings Cross and they were really, truly, terrible!

sly_dog_jonah

I took my 2007/2008 application into a branch on 3rd April. Finally got confirmation in the post yesterday (9th May) that the account had been opened 23rd April. This is beyond the 14day cancellation period, so can I cancel and open an Egg or N&SI or is too late? Their T&Cs are rubbish, as its taken them over 14days to send me any paperwork whatsoever. Also as the opening date is (23/4), they presumably won't back-date interest to the beginning of the tax year (6/4)? Doens't matter too bad as I only opened with £250, but its annoying as i wanted to top up to the full £3k in early April when my A&L regular saver matured.

Worth a complaint do you guys think?

exel1966

seagles wrote: »

Yippee got ny account setails today and welcome pack. Which included some forms and an envelope.
1. Envelope freepost to Leicester.
2. Change of address form.
3. Pay in slip (1).
4. Regular standing order form.

The web-site says you can manage your ISA on-line or in branch. Went to site but you need to have a current account to manage on-line. Went to branch and all they can do is accept a "cheque" (no cash allowed), they will then complete a paying in slip and send it in the post to the ISA department (do not see much managing by ISA in Branch). Tried to call the help desk but the system hang up as they are so busy taking calls that they ask you to call back (no call queuing). Eventually tried a different tack and pushed the buttons to pay-in some money. Asked if I could use the details on the form to do a Standing Order from my NatWet account to Barclays as a 1 off, was informed that they only accept Standing orders from Barclays account, she could not explain why there was a standing order form in pack that showed that you could do it from any account? Also the address she gave me for sending in cheque was different from the envelope in pack, again she did not know why the envelope was different.
What a waste of time, so it appears that unless you have a Barclays current account the only method to pay in more money is by cheque, either through the post (there was only 1 paying in slip in pack) or in branch.
I was amazed at how bad this set-up is after having managed ISA's online since year dot....... My last question which I will have to go back and ask the branch (when I have cooled down), is can the branch actually get me an ISA statement, rahter than wait 6 months for one to appear?
:mad:

I suggest you return to the branch armed with a copy of the T&C's and ask to see the branch manager. Do not accept NO for an answer and don't be afraid to make a fuss in front of other customers. If they still say no tell them to ring Glasgow who will assist them in correcting their error.

steady__eddie

Originally Posted by Woodyrocks
"It says it was opened on the 5th of April, can some please confirm that they haven't fuc** up as it is meant to be for 2006/2007 opening. And also can someone provide the 0800 number for the ISA enquiries. Mucho Gracias"

"Just looked into this as my letter has the same date. The new tax starts on 6th April so 5th would mean that it is the previous tax year."

My O/H has received her welcome pack today and guess what ? opening date 05/04/07 when she opened it on 19/04/07 i.e. in this tax year. Like a dummy she rang the 0845 number but, "Due to unprecedented demand.........."
It has taken me a few years to extol the virtues of tax free savings to her and she opened her first ISA in February of this year. Now she reckons that as soon as "The taxman" sees that she has opened 2 ISAs in one tax year, the place will be swarming with tax inspectors and anti-terrorist police. She has already intimated that I'll get no supper tonight.
I'm going to use the freepost envelope contained within the welcome pack to point out to Barclays the error in their administration (and do my own supper).

exel1966

The worst that can happen for paying into 2 ISA's in the same year is that you'll be asked to pay tax on the interest earned on one of them if they actually realise, but as this was a Barclays !!!!-up ? (i'm assuming you did tick the box for THIS year) they'll have to amend the date to the 6th if you ever get through to them.

Kazza242

According to Easier.com, the Barclays Tax Beater ISA is being withdrawn at close of business tomorrow (Friday). See the article here.

monkeymaster

I applied for my ISA on the 26th March for tax year 2007/2008, have rung them twice to complain and have just been told they're dealing with a backlog and they should all be opened by the 15th of this month. Has anyone else been waiting as long as this cos I'm seriously worried!

carpy

received my welcome pack today and also received an acknowledge letter (separately) about my complaint regarding this ISA fiasco!!!