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

gelato_cat

... at about 4.35pm, only had to wait a couple of minutes and told the girl I wanted to open an ISA. She asked if I had ID of proof of address with me, I said yes and that I've filled in the form. She asked for the stuff and I said "can we not go and sit down somewhere?". So she took me to a room and I gave her the stuff including a cheque for £1. She said that I have a £3k allowance for this year. I pointed out that I want to open the ISA for next year. "Oh," she said. "You can't do that. If you open it now it has to be for this year." I pointed out where I had ticked the box saying I want to contribute in 2007-8 :rolleyes: and said I already had an ISA for this year, at which point something in her head told her I can't have two ISAs in one year (even though I don't want two)! She was adamant that I had to come back after April 5th to open it for next year. I told her to check, she argued with me, I said I know people who have opened it for this year and told her to go check again. So she did.

She came back and said "OK, I'll send it off". I said "so I can open it for next year then?" She said yes and that I now have a £2999 allowance for next year (no !!!!!!, Sherlock). I asked for a receipt and she said she couldn't give one to me (part of the reason why I only gave them £1) but that she could give me a photocopy, which I spose is better than nothing. She wrote the address of the processing place on an envelope and said that she was putting it in the internal post. I asked when it would arrive there, she said tomorrow (not sure about that considering it was nearly close of play and the processing place is in Glasgow). I asked how long I should wait to hear back, she said two weeks. I've a feeling it might be longer than that, given the time of year, but we'll see.

She didn't enter anything into her computer at the branch and I've all but decided that if my application isn't accepted for any reason I might as well just top up the NS&I one I contributed to last year as I can't be !!!!!d with the hassle of arguing with Barclays over things like me spelling my own name wrong according to their poxy records. My £3k is languishing in a Halifax websaver and I want to get it out of there and earning decent interest as soon as I can!

Suze

gelato_cat

What forms of ID did she take to the branch with her? If Barclays try to pull something like that on me I think I'm going to say adios, I can't be doing with arguing with bank people any more than I have to!

Suze

Fred_Bear wrote: »

I advised my 18 year-old dd to open a Barclays ISA. Two weeks ago she applied on-line and printed the form, as required, and took it to the local branch. However today she has received her form back in the post with a letter from Barclays saying the date of birth on her application form is "different to the one we hold on our system" and that if she does not supply them with her correct date of birth they will cancel her ISA. She has never had an dealings with Barclays in the past so how can they already have her date of birth in their system? Any ideas? The date on the form is correct BTW.

gelato_cat

When I applied about an hour ago, the girl stapled the cheque and photocopy of ID to the application form and put it all in an envelope to go in the internal post to the processing place in Glasgow.

Suze

thumshie wrote: »

The ID isn't sent with the application, that it 'retained' at the branch(well thats what they told me). In my case they still had the photocopy of passport and bill, so you may not need to reprovide- unless they went one better and lost cheque+ID photocopies !!

Pound

I just applied for mine today but realised my chequebook was empty. Guy said I could just put the cheque in there and post it myself and it would count as part of this tax year.

Is this right because it won't get there until Tuesday.

gelato_cat

I'm not convinced...

Suze

Pound wrote: »

I just applied for mine today but realised my chequebook was empty. Guy said I could just put the cheque in there and post it myself and it would count as part of this tax year.

Is this right because it won't get there until Tuesday.

babe_ruth_3

well I too went into Barclays yesterday armed with application forms (On for me one for OH) two forms of id and passports.

First I was told you can't apply for next year because the offer will probably have ended come next week. When I showed him the form I had printed off from their web site he said that they were too busy to see me and booked me an appointment for the 10th next week.

Has anyone else heard that they might be withdrawing this product?

OH yes he also started asking me (infront of other people queing up) what I did for a living, did I hold bank accounts else where as I obviously didn't bank with them and how much money did I have in the other bank accounts :eek:
Of course I didn't tell, just told him i couldn't remember.

He also rambled on about how barclays don't make anything by offering this product (like its my fault:rolleyes: ) and how they have been inundated with new applications bla bla bla

Pound

Suzey wrote: »

I'm not convinced...

Suze

About what?

MrChips

Check out the Today programme on Radio 4 tomorrow morning about 8.30am. There will be a report about this (including (hopefully) an interview about my experiences opening a Barclays ISA - see page 2 of thread!)

Fred_Bear_2

Suzey wrote: »

What forms of ID did she take to the branch with her? If Barclays try to pull something like that on me I think I'm going to say adios, I can't be doing with arguing with bank people any more than I have to!

Suze

She took her passport and a Nationwide bank statement. She has had problems opening several different accounts so is getting used to bank mistakes and inefficiency but that's the subject of another future thread.

gelato_cat

That they'll accept your application for this year. Did they stamp your cheque at the branch? AFAIK, the ISA allowance is use or it lose it - and if you don't apply on or before April 5th, you've lost it...

Suze

Pound wrote: »

About what?