Bad Experience in a Barclays Branch

pinkdalek

You should complain, sorry but to made to feel like a 2nd class citizen and embarrassed like this is a disgrace. It's a bank not some high upper class gentleman only club. The whole thing stinks.

It could have should have been handled so much more effectively.

Switch to a bank that does not discriminate and would be happy to help you regardless of the colour of your card.

Blimey if Barclays had queues depending on the colour of your skin there would be outrage.

I hate banks who have this snobbery around "Basic" account holders. I think they forget to realise that these customers still need insurances/savings and whilst they may not be profitible at first, tend to stay loyal and many end up being able to have a full account with credit facilities. Also word of mouth is such a great advertising tool, if you bank somewhere and they either mess you around or give great service you are going to tell people!

alternate

Complain as they have an unofficial policy (comes from a friend who used to work there) of fobbing off any minor complaints with a 25 quid compo offer. Worth an email I would say.

dunstonh

ou should complain, sorry but to made to feel like a 2nd class citizen and embarrassed like this is a disgrace. It's a bank not some high upper class gentleman only club. The whole thing stinks.

Do you think the OP has the name and address of the customer that made him feel that way?

Blimey if Barclays had queues depending on the colour of your skin there would be outrage.

If people are willing to pay for enhanced services then those that are not willing to pay should not access those services. It should be noted that the FCA themselves have taken firms to task where services priced one way have been given at a lower cost to others.

I am no fan of firms acting as snobs. I have suffered it myself with the Land Rover dealership in Norwich. It cost them £100k in lost sales that found its way to the Halesworth dealership. And that is the best way to deal with firms that act that way. Snobbery should not be tolerated. However, this is not snobbery. This is provision of service to those that are paying and not providing it to those that don't.

This was a simple error by the staff member giving out duff info or perhaps the cashier not realising they were running as an over-spill till (during busy periods). The rest of it is down to snobby customer and they have no control over that.

Ryan101

pjcox2005 wrote: »

Whilst the guy shouldn't have made the assumption and acted arrogantly, wouldn't it just have been easier to tell him "I am a premier customer and therefore in the right queue, but thank you for your concern". That way staff didn't have to be involved, nor did you have to embarrass and make the person feel rubbish in front of others.

I did it because:

1) It was fun !.
2) He got right up my nose.
3) Because maybe he might learn not to judge people on how they look or act.

If it made him feel rubbish good, I would never judge a person like that, dont judge a book by its cover and all that.

AlisonGray

I think Barclays are the Worst for this, I have a Premier Account but also a Joint Barclays Wealth account with my Husband. Almost every time I go into a branch I am asked if the Debit card is mines !, and in the past I have even been asked for proof (Driving Licence or Passport).

I admit it is partly my fault as Skinny Ripped Jeans is maybe not the correct image, but at the end of the day who is to judge.

FOREVER21

dunstonh wrote: »

Do you think the OP has the name and address of the customer that made him feel that way?



If people are willing to pay for enhanced services then those that are not willing to pay should not access those services. It should be noted that the FCA themselves have taken firms to task where services priced one way have been given at a lower cost to others.

I am no fan of firms acting as snobs. I have suffered it myself with the Land Rover dealership in Norwich. It cost them £100k in lost sales that found its way to the Halesworth dealership. And that is the best way to deal with firms that act that way. Snobbery should not be tolerated. However, this is not snobbery. This is provision of service to those that are paying and not providing it to those that don't.

This was a simple error by the staff member giving out duff info or perhaps the cashier not realising they were running as an over-spill till (during busy periods). The rest of it is down to snobby customer and they have no control over that.

Just for interest Barclays Premier account does not involve a charge. It is an account for customers who have saving/ investments over a certain amount also to those who have a current account with a yearly turnover of a certain amount Although I am a premier account holder I can't remember the actual amounts needed.
The perks are quite good my grandchildren are currently enjoying free ice cream from Thorntons each week during the school hols.

ceredigion

dunstonh wrote: »

Do you think the OP has the name and address of the customer that made him feel that way?



If people are willing to pay for enhanced services then those that are not willing to pay should not access those services. It should be noted that the FCA themselves have taken firms to task where services priced one way have been given at a lower cost to others.

I am no fan of firms acting as snobs. I have suffered it myself with the Land Rover dealership in Norwich. It cost them £100k in lost sales that found its way to the Halesworth dealership. And that is the best way to deal with firms that act that way. Snobbery should not be tolerated. However, this is not snobbery. This is provision of service to those that are paying and not providing it to those that don't.

This was a simple error by the staff member giving out duff info or perhaps the cashier not realising they were running as an over-spill till (during busy periods). The rest of it is down to snobby customer and they have no control over that.

Nice theory but Premier is a free account

Flobberchops

OP, are you certain the greeter was directing you to the Premier queue, or just to a deposit box/machine possibly adjacent? I ask because the former is completely inexplicable and the latter much more commonplace and sensible.

As an aside, nobody should ever queue for the counter if just paying in cheques. They clear just as fast if you use a deposit envelope or pay-in machine.

eDicky

In Singapore, bank staff tend not to make the kind of mistaken judgements of their customers that have been mentioned here. If some old geezer shuffles into the premier section wearing shorts, singlet and flip flops they jump and fall over each other in their eagerness to please him. This is because they are terrified that he is much more likely to be an extremely wealthy and influential figure who feels no need to dress formally just to go to the bank, than just some nobody who has wandered in the wrong door.

colsten

Flobberchops wrote: »

OP, are you certain the greeter was directing you to the Premier queue, or just to a deposit box/machine possibly adjacent? I ask because the former is completely inexplicable and the latter much more commonplace and sensible.

As an aside, nobody should ever queue for the counter if just paying in cheques. They clear just as fast if you use a deposit envelope or pay-in machine.

Very good advice. An alternative could be to use the mobile cheque imaging and to face no queues at all
http://www.barclays.co.uk/MobileBankingservices/MobileChequeImaging/P1242668620764