Fed up with Barclays

Flobberchops

Sounds a bit weird they wouldn't serve you at the counter (unless it was a Premier/Business/Travel Money only counter, in which case fair enough), but it sounds like the problem could have been avoided very simply by having a card on you.

Moving staff away from the counter where they'll spend most of their day doing repetitive transactions that can be made quicker and more accurate through automation is probably inevitable. As you say yourself, you do 95% of your banking online. In the 21st century there's no reason you should need a human to hand you money, take a deposit, or print a statement off for you - why not do that yourself? And, in the case of making transfers, checking your balance, amending standing orders and so on, 24/7 from the comfort of your own home? The "human touch" may be nice but it's a costly and unnecessary luxury, which is why you never see a manned elevator or petrol pump these days.

20aday

One of the reasons I opened a Barclays bank account was for the self service machines; at least with theirs you can deposit notes and coins (rather than notes only at Lloyds/Halifax).

I found Lloyds weren't too pushy if you wanted counter service over an automated machine; I guess they try to speed up length of time waiting if all you are doing is depositing notes/cheques or wanting to transfer money between accounts.

buttonmoon

Thank you for everyone's comments. Yes it would have been quicker if I had my card on me but I had rushed into town and forgotten it. I had my ID and account details so I just wanted to withdraw cash over counter which hasnt been a problem before!

For me it is about giving the customer a choice in the situation and making things faster not slower.

Everytime i have to go into a branch now there is always a massive queue to use the machines as they are so slow and or broken! Then there is a even bigger queue for one counter which is left! Every time I seem to visit a branch now (on the 99.99999% of the time I do have my card on me) when I do try to use one of the machines it is invariably always for something the machine don't do so I get directed back towards the single counter with massive queue in front it!

buttonmoon

20 a day, the branch I use has machines you can't deposit coins into. So if you want to pay in coins that is another thing you have to join the massive single counter queue to do!

Flobberchops

buttonmoon wrote: »

20 a day, the branch I use has machines you can't deposit coins into. So if you want to pay in coins that is another thing you have to join the massive single counter queue to do!

The branch probably has quick deposit envelopes? Just put your mixed coins in a coin bag, put it inside the envelope, and deposit it in the quick drop box. They'll be in your account within about 2 hours.

zolablue25

MisterMotivated wrote: »

There will be people who have had problems at every bank. Of all the banks I hold accounts with, I use Halifax branches most often. The staff have always been polite and helpful, and I've never been "forced" over to a machine.

Forced is perhaps a strong word but I have certainly been "strongly encouraged" to leave the queue and avail myself of the machines. When I refuse (because my cards don't work - long story) I am met with a grumpy face at the counter telling me I should have used the machines. I explain that my card won't work and they are all indignant about it "of course it will" until they find that it won't work in their reader either.

This is not a one-off situation, or even in a single branch. I have, as of last week, left Halifax.

I've had a Nationwide account for a fair few years and they are always very pleasant in branch.

We are also in Devon.

ernie-money

I live in Devon, I have accounts with Halifax, Lloyds and Santander, OH has Barclays and Natwest. Out of all of them I would recommend Lloyds, but Halifax are generally ok as well. Natwest ALWAYS make you use the automated machines, even if there is a queue for them and there is nobody waiting at the counter. Barclays don't even have a normal counter desk anymore, and the local Santander branch has recently been closed down. Oh, my son has a Nationwide account, and they are also very nice.
But I agree - it is ridiculous that the bank that has your cash can't even deal with something as common as forgetting your cash card without all that palaver...

Bloomberg

buttonmoon wrote: »

Basically, Barclays service has been shocking and really nosedived since they took counter service out of their branches so I am looking at switching my accounts to another bank which is more customer service orientated. Now there are machines which don't do anything you would like to do, or your banking takes 10 times as long in branch as it used to before they removed the counter!

I probably do 95% of my banking online and visit a branch rarely but when I do I don't want to feel like a bit of my soul has died!

The kicker yesterday was where I had nipped into town but forgotten my connect card. No problem I thought I will just nip to the branch and withdraw some cash (I had ID and account details). Apparently, you cannot withdraw cash over the one counter left! Instead you have to speak to the iPad lady, make an appointment, sit and wait, go see personal banker who gives you a QR code then you take the QR code to one of the stupid machines, then type in a million details, then the machine has a think, then you finally get your cash after 30 mins from when you first walked in!

Can anyone advise of any banks you think are good and helpful towards customers? All I need is a normal bank account with a debit card (and a small interest free overdraft would be good) with online banking but good branch service when you need it!

I can understand why you are not happy with the service and simple things being made over complicated. I personally think that what Barclays are doing i.e replacing humans with machines is the way that all banks will eventually go. Personally I am happy with Barclays but it's what you think that matters.



By all accounts Natwest seem to be more service orientated. Funny enough in my mum's hometown the local Barclays branch was shut down despite being very busy - queues out of the door. There is a Natwest across the road, apparently people have deserted Barclays in their droves and gone to Natwest. Hopefully if enough people insist on old fashion branch banking then the banks will be forced to revise their aggressive branch closure program.

Mrs_Ryan

I think it's an LBG thing with Halifax and the machines, I'm with Lloyds and when I went in the other day to take out some money it took me five attempts to get them to understand that my Chip and Signature card won't work in cash machines :mad:

Paul_1977

Confirmed, avoid Halifax, a terrible bank and a terrible service!

Im sure there are branches with lovely staff, but clearly head office is doing its best to drive them out.