Barclays stealth 'upgrade' to 'Premier' still happening

marlewuk

Uxb wrote: »

I think all current accounts should be chargeable
After all the rest of the world pretty well charges customers for banking facilities.

so long as the customer is knows about it and is aware of what they are getting into.

All this opt out rather than opt in policy wont last - seems foolish that its started in the first place considering the mis -selling of packaged a/c's scandal. they wont be happy till they get slapped with another fine:doh:

thornbird

If we have to pay out at least be upfront!

mgdavid

thornbird wrote: »

Warning! Barclays W*nkers are writing to customers and moving them to their new 'Premier Service' which is a fee-paying account as reported by Simon Lewis of BBC MoneyBox. To get out you have to write in to opt out or you are stung with fees. I received a sales letter and brochures which I threw away without reading. A few days ago I was called by an incredibly pushy young lady who said she was at my local branch. She was very creepy and said 'she wanted to get to know me to help me with my finances'. I kept telling her I wasn't interested, and she kept saying: 'how do you know you are not interested?' So I told her 'I've told Barclays time and time again I don't want them to call me to sell to me'.:mad::mad: She insisted it was a 'service' call to 'welcome me' and as she would not give up I hung up.

Here is the update from the BBCs Simon Lewis (any relation to Martin?)
Has Barclays swapped you to a fee paying premier account because you didn’t specifically opt out of the move? email [EMAIL="moneybox@bbc.co.uk"]moneybox@bbc.co.uk[/EMAIL].

I thought this was now outlawed by the Ombudsman? I am even more perplexed they tried this with me because I've already got them back for unfair bank charges, miss-selling me high risk investments have 2 claims outstanding with them for PPI I'd never asked for! Do they never learn?!?

Please watch out for it. And tell me - honestly - are all banks the same, where is a safe haven for my humble pension where I will not be harassed, conned and mis-sold to? Where should I switch to?:A

I have a theory they just pick on certain customers just to wind them up (usually very successfully).
I've been with Barclays over 45 years now and never paid them a penny for anything. I've never claimed compensation either, as they've never cocked anything up. :T

ColdIron

They seem to have quite a high eligibility criteria

Have an annual gross income paid into a Barclays current account of £75,000+
Or
Have £100,000+ saved or invested through Barclays

If you meet the criteria, you can get a Premier Current Account for £10 a month.
However, if you have an annual gross income of £150,000+ or £150,000+ saved or invested with Barclays, we will waive the monthly fee.

oldfella

I suggest you read the letter carefully - mine said we are able to offer you Premier at no charge. Its a valuable package as well - £1000 free overdraft and free entry to Royal Academy and English Heritage are good for me.

westy22

oldfella wrote: »

I suggest you read the letter carefully - mine said we are able to offer you Premier at no charge. Its a valuable package as well - £1000 free overdraft and free entry to Royal Academy and English Heritage are good for me.

You can also use the VIP Premier lounge at the O2

thornbird

Looking at that criteria I don't meet it. So I am still non the wiser?!?

ColdIron

I wonder if it's a way of easing us out of free banking. The blurb with the account says We review eligibility for Premier Banking and the waiving of the Premier Current Account fee regularly.
So they could legitimately start charging for it in a few years time especially if you come nowhere close to meeting the criteria

I've got a platinum account with free CHAPS transfers that is worth more to me than the Premier advantages so I gave them a ring and opted out easily enough but I was mildly miffed they automatically assumed I would want to move

oldfella

thornbird wrote: »

Looking at that criteria I don't meet it. So I am still non the wiser?!?

I dont meet it either, by a long way, but they seemed happy to provide it at no charge

thornbird

oldfella wrote: »

I dont meet it either, by a long way, but they seemed happy to provide it at no charge

Did you get a letter and brochure too? Have you had the pushy sales call yet?