Barclays Online Stockbrokers Account

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Just had confirmed by Barclays that the note that the bond is no longer eligible for an isa is an error as a result of the changeover they are working on fixing it for those products that are being flagged up as such

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Write up in investors chronicle
https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/managing-your-money/2017/08/31/barclays-working-to-fix-smart-investor-launch-problems/

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There is also a forum on citywire which lists the issues and general views on the situation for those interested

http://moneyforums.citywire.co.uk/yaf_postst4564_Disaster-at-Barclays-Stockbrokers.aspx

taylornj

boxedin wrote: »

They seem to be driven by security and regulatory issues at the expense of customer service.

Not that I can see, I sent a secure e-mail complaint, (you don't need a PINSentry device - but it's difficult to find).

Asking how they got past a PCI-DSS audit. First the level of encryption is reported by a old chrome browser as substandard. They expose the fact they are using IIS 8.0, which means Windows 2012 Server is being used. Windows 2016 Server is current, I don't do windows things any more but 2012 might be getting to End of Life why go with 2012 on something new?

I know Nationwide uses Windows servers, and compared the encryption level/ciphers and theirs is much high than Barclays reports. Also Nationwide mask the details of the server, by using a load balancer to a server farm - rather than give a clue like using IIS 8.0, so you know what form of attacks might work against the site.

The whole SmartInvestor thing goes against the basic security principals. The one thing you don't do is locate different parts of your business with different security requirement on the same servers, because you end up with the lowest common level of security.

taylornj

boxedin wrote: »

Just had confirmed by Barclays that the note that the bond is no longer eligible for an isa is an error as a result of the changeover they are working on fixing it for those products that are being flagged up as such

Thanks I hold Bonds in my ISA, I also hold some BUR bonds. Only good thing are the dealing charges on bond go down as before had to telephone to deal and that was expensive. Same with funds.

backfoot

What have they done !! The new system is a shambles, lacks decent navigation, has reduced functionality and half of the user guide tools leave you in a white screen lockout.
Contact either through phone, webchat or email is impossible or impossibly long winded. Really if you wanted to pee off your customers this is a textbook case.
They have another week or I am transferring to my other broker or to a new one.

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Bit of a write up here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/barclays-stockbrokers-switchdraws-complaints/

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Also the investors chronicle the comments section probably being the most accurate reflection of the state of the service.
https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/managing-your-money/2017/08/31/barclays-working-to-fix-smart-investor-launch-problems/

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Another write up here on citywire
http://citywire.co.uk/money/protest-as-barclays-botches-stockbroking-relaunch/a1046086?ref=citywire-money-latest-news-list

SoggyMoggy

backfoot wrote: »

They have another week or I am transferring to my other broker or to a new one.

I fully intend to leave, but I'm going to sit tight for a bit - if you read through the comments on the Investors Chronicle article linked above, many have already tried to transfer out, and found themselves floating in limbo, with 6 - 12 weeks being quoted for transfers, and also many unable to trade whilst the transfer is in progress.

What a mess. You'd think a company as well-established as Barclays would be able to get it right, but apparently common sense is anything but!