Barclays current account switch

No_Name

Am I correct in stating that you cannot perform a full switch all online without having going into a branch?


I'm an existing customer without a current account, but it looks like I will have to go in branch to request a switch after applying for a current account? If I applied online as a new customer, it seems you have to go into branch no matter what - is that the case in practice? What are people's experiences?


Also, I don't have any direct credits or debits to move over other than a small balance - would this be a problem?

qsk

Not sure about switch but in my case I had to go into a branch to open a current account, all because I have a saving account with them. The branch manager agreed with me: it is ridiculous!

Zanderman

I'm an existing current account customer, and had to go to branch to arrange a switch in for the current offer. It is, as everyone says, ridiculous - they know who you are and they can online switches for absolute strangers, so why not do the same for people they know? Go figure.

Anyway, having been told that not only should I go to branch but also to make an appointment (!) and that the waiting list was 2 weeks (!) for both my local Barclays, I decided to just be cheeky and walked into the bigger of the two on Saturday and asked at the customer services if they could fit me in.

They said, yes, possibly, sit down there and wait. So I did. It took 45 minutes for them to see me, but only 5 minutes to then arrange the switch - armed with my Barclays debit card to prove I'm me (they do this with pin entry) and my sacrificial HSBC debit card for the switcher account.

So - yes it's a nuisance, but once you're sitting down with them it's easy. But getting that appointment might take time. And they were turning other opportunists like me away whilst I sat there - they clearly only wanted one unscheduled person at a time!

venomx

I applied for a Basic Current Account online, 3 days later i received my contactless Debit card and pin code/customer number etc

Zanderman

venomx wrote: »

I applied for a Basic Current Account online, 3 days later i received my contactless Debit card and pin code/customer number etc

But that wasn't a switch? Which is what the thread is about.

No_Name

It seems to me that even if you're a new customer, applied online and have requested a switch, you'll have to visit a branch in any case (even if you've passed their online checks).


Has anyone experienced different?

Zanderman

No_Name wrote: »

It seems to me that even if you're a new customer, applied online and have requested a switch, you'll have to visit a branch in any case (even if you've passed their online checks).
Has anyone experienced different?

I believe so - but you'd be better reading the original (and still live) thread which has more on that.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5837228/mse-news-barclays-offers-switchers-double-rewards-for-a-year