Barclays, ID check in branch

ceredigion

I applied for a Barclays account earlier, got to the end and apparently I need to take ID into the branch . Well because Barclays have closed all their little branches , the nearest one is a 60 mile round trip. Fully understand why these little local branches are no longer viable as people like me do it all online these days. But cant help but feel there must be something wrong with Barclays online verification system, when you consider I have 18 current/ credit accounts and I have never been asked to provide ID before . One of those current accounts happens to be with Barclays , which I've had for 27 years. Closing branches is all well and good. But!.
Actually looking forward to the conversation I'm going to get in the branch , sorry no comments required ,just ranting.

pmduk

Just make sure the staff member knows what they're doing. I had to revisit the branch twice as the original employee certified the ID copies incorrectly.

rusty_f

Did you ask to use the current account switch service? I just recently opened a new account with Barclays and I was told I had to show ID in branch to do a full switch, but not a partial switch. It is an inconvenience, as I have done full switches with TSB, First Direct and Santander and not one of them asked for ID to carry out a switch.

eskbanker

rusty_f wrote: »

Did you ask to use the current account switch service? I just recently opened a new account with Barclays and I was told I had to show ID in branch to do a full switch, but not a partial switch. It is an inconvenience, as I have done full switches with TSB, First Direct and Santander and not one of them asked for ID to carry out a switch.

Sounds like misinformed branch or call centre staff again - unless I'm badly mistaken, ID checks are associated with account opening and are nothing to do with the entirely separate switching process(es).

rusty_f

Nope, this was during the online application process to open an account - I ended up going for a 'partial' switch to avoid the ID requirement.

colsten

rusty_f wrote: »

Nope, this was during the online application process to open an account - I ended up going for a 'partial' switch to avoid the ID requirement.

You, and/or Barclays, appear to be quite confused.

Applying for a current account is subject to credit and ID checks.
Switching, whether partial or complete, is not subject to either.

Many people, including employees of banks, don't understand that "switching" doesn't include opening a new account.

rusty_f

I'm just telling you what I experienced just 3 weeks ago on the online application. By opting for a partial switch, the requirement to go to the branch with ID disappeared.

EDIT: as a new user I can't post links, but Google 'benefits of switching to barclays' and select the top hit - slide 4 in the section 'How It Works'. "if you apply for a full switch you'll need to visit one of our branches within 5 working days, so we confirm your identity".

As I said in a previous post, this is the only bank where this condition has been set for switching an account.

GingerFurball_2

colsten wrote: »

You, and/or Barclays, appear to be quite confused.

Applying for a current account is subject to credit and ID checks.
Switching, whether partial or complete, is not subject to either.

Many people, including employees of banks, don't understand that "switching" doesn't include opening a new account.

So how do I switch to Barclays given I have no accounts with them?

badger09

GingerFurball wrote: »

So how do I switch to Barclays given I have no accounts with them?

You don't -

colsten wrote: »

You, and/or Barclays, appear to be quite confused.

Applying for a current account is subject to credit and ID checks.
Switching, whether partial or complete, is not subject to either.

Many people, including employees of banks, don't understand that "switching" doesn't include opening a new account.