Any way to get a >> UK << call centre for Barclays?

Andy3142

Is there any sure and certain way to reach a UK-based call centre for Barclays Bank? Some magic phone number? The story:

I used a little-used Lloyds credit card to keep it alive. The direct debit from my Barclays current account failed and Lloyds got cross with me. I looked on my Barclays account, no direct debit to Lloyds any longer. Ring the Barclays call centre, get overseas.

I asked "Please can you tell me, when a DD isn't used for a while, how long before it lapses?" Answer, "Oh no, it NEVER lapses." Based on that utterly false information I asked why, then, the Lloyds DD didn't get paid? And overseas Barclays Bank passed me to ... overseas Barclaycard who of course have NOTHING to do with this and caused quite a bit of confusion as I talk to them on the assumption I am talking to the bank, while they think I am asking about a Barclaycard.

After quite some time struggling to make myself understood I finally got the UK call centre where an excellent person explained that DDs lapse after 13 months disuse ... and when I complained about the 4 previous agents, gave me £50 compensation!

Well, £50 for an hours work that - now I've calmed down - is quite funny to talk about is actually not bad. Still, my conclusion over many years is that the overseas call centres just get things wrong a lot, plus they do not have the skills at telephone English to understand non-standard enquiries. Which brings me to the point of all this, does anyone know a phone number that directly reaches only the UK call centres for Barclays?

Regards to all

Andrew

grumbler

Is it not simpler just to google instead?

http://www.directdebit.co.uk/DirectDebitExplained/FAQs/Pages/InactiveDirectDebits.aspx

In this case you stand no chance of getting told lies and getting a compensation though...

Petlamb

There's not a UK only call centre, though usually if you ask politely they'll put you through to onshore, if that's what you prefer.

But yes, the eventual info that 13 months is the expiry is correct. Set so as to allow for annual DDRs.

FOREVER21

Barclays call centre in Liverpool 0333 202 7510 spoke to them last week complaining about my ISA.

Andy3142

Forever21,
THANK YOU! I tried it and got a luvvly Liverbird accent.

Also just to say it does seem to be specifically Barclays - I just spoke to M&S Indian call centre and the guy was excellent.

Cheers

Andrew

EssexExile

Whereas you speak to a Santander UK call centre & you may as well be speaking Urdu.

TheEffect

I've always found the 'Call us' function within the Barclays Mobile App always puts you through to a UK call centre.

Herbalus

TheEffect wrote: »

I've always found the 'Call us' function within the Barclays Mobile App always puts you through to a UK call centre.

What number does that call though?

I noticed the 'Call Us' function on the Capital One app for example uses an 0870 number, which is horrendously expensive and has never been part of a mobile call plan.

stclair

Herbalus wrote: »

What number does that call though?

I noticed the 'Call Us' function on the Capital One app for example uses an 0870 number, which is horrendously expensive and has never been part of a mobile call plan.

The Barclays call us buttons are 03 numbers.

TheEffect

Herbalus wrote: »

What number does that call though?

I noticed the 'Call Us' function on the Capital One app for example uses an 0870 number, which is horrendously expensive and has never been part of a mobile call plan.

It's a local 03 number, with a generated code at the end which verifies you. It's pretty handy actually, pressing a button and they answer with 'Hello Mr xxx'. No security questions.