Why is Barclaycard so special?

Paul_1977

The days are long gone when having a Barclaycard had a status about it, if it ever did.

In my view Barclays really should class it up a bit.

starM

I remember when completing credit card application form - it asked which credit card held - Barclaycard and Amex tick box showed separately and then other Visa/Mastercard.

This is not the case now.

chuckley

they're certainly the BEST at marketing in their field.

Anthorn

DonDino wrote: »

Hi all!

I've been looking at the forum for quite some time, but this is my first post here.

My first question will be about Barclaycard. Whenever I use my Barclaycard to pay at a shop using the chip & pin machine, the screen shows 'Barclaycard Visa'. But when using any other debit or credit card, the screens simply show 'Visa Credit', 'Visa Debit' etc., they don't show the full brand of the card.

Why is Barclaycard the only one whose name shows on the machines? How come they're so 'special'?

Internationally, VISA and in U.K., Barclaycard are long established. Along with Access, Barclaycard was probably the first credit card to be offered in the U.K. and probably the first multi-card for cheque guarantee and credit card in the U.K. and my first such card for my Barclays current account back in 1978. As I recall the alternative was Midland bank and their Acess credit card and separate cheque guarantee card and National Girobank with their Postcheque cheque guarantee card which along with Postcheques worked throughout the European and Scandinavian Giro zone as an alternative to travelers cheques.

That's why it's special.

Paul_1977

Barclays don't make much use of its heritage.

mark55man

which is probably a blessing when you think of the last 10 years - not a whole lot there to shout about

interesting thread OP - thanks

SnowTiger

Paul_1977 wrote: »

Barclays don't make much use of its heritage.

Barclaycard seems to look more to the future than the past.

Wikipedia has a long list of (1st to market) achievements: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclaycard#Barclaycard_Payment_Acceptance_timeline

And, apparently, "Barclaycard has 10.4 million customers in the United Kingdom, issuing one in five United Kingdom credit cards. It is currently the leading United Kingdom credit card issuer."

Barclaycard also seems better at making itself noticed than other providers. They write to me at least once a month with transfer offers.

Sadly, I only have their bog standard Platinum card, so there's no incentive for me to use it over other cards.

chattychappy

Anthorn wrote: »

National Girobank with their Postcheque cheque guarantee card which along with Postcheques worked throughout the European and Scandinavian Giro zone as an alternative to travelers cheques.

I still have a book of Postcheques. They are rather pretty. (And now, pretty useless too.)

I opened a Girobank account when I was 15 and they gave me the postcheque/cheque guarantee card when I was 17. I was on holiday with my parents in Austria and when we needed cash it was great going to the village post office and cashing one of the "special" cheques. There was no other way of getting local cash in that place.

Barclays Bank wouldn't entertain my having a Barclaycard/cheque card until I was 18 which was pretty standard - though I think there was a facility to have a parental guarantee.

SnowTiger

chattychappy wrote: »

I still have a book of Postcheques. They are rather pretty. (And now, pretty useless too.)

Thought I'd have a quick gander at Google for these.

It returns images of foreign Postcheques and pictures of a Scottish wedding.

Google's results are very weird sometimes.

JKSandy

Barclays also operate card payment terminals, maybe its because of that it shows up.