Barclays Rate Switcher Problem

daveynorwich · 18 April 2014 at 2:48PM

Hi

Could anybody please give me an idea whether this would be unfair treatment and cause for official complaint.

I have 2 mortgage accounts with Barclays, as rates may rise soon I want to switch the higher part to a 5 year fix at around the same rate as my current tracker. I cannot move company as the other account is an exceptionally low tracker rate that would be best to keep as is.

Previously a few years back I have rate switched with them with just one phone call, switched there and then.

I called them on the 2nd April to be told I would need to book a rate switch appointment over phone or in branch, the earliest available being tomorrow (18th). In the phone conversation I expressed my concern that barclays rates change often, of which I asked what if the rate I want is no longer available, they said they don't foresee rates changing before then.

Surprise surprise new rates were released on the 16th and that rate has now increased and I expect in my visit tomorrow that I would have to except the new higher rate.

I don't consider this fair, as I understand if I were to apply for a mortgage elsewhere I would get the rate available at that time as long as accepted and it is completed before a specific date, I don't see that I should have to accept a higher rate because they didn't have an appointment available for over 2 weeks.

Any advice please?

Thanks