Barclays Bank Account Switching

Chomeur

I've opened a new account with Barclays intending to switch my old account to them to get double Blue Rewards for the next year. I understand to get this I have to switch my old account. They tell me I have to go to a branch to do this. Is this correct or is there somewhere online I can do it?

YorkshireBoy

Chomeur wrote: »

Is this correct...

I don't bank with Barclays but it appears to be the case from the info on their website. Looks to me like you could have initiated the switch during the application, but for an existing account up and running it's a branch visit.

Check the info on their site and see if you agree?

Chomeur

Yes I think you're right. What a pain.

litepay

Chomeur wrote: »

I've opened a new account with Barclays intending to switch my old account to them to get double Blue Rewards for the next year. I understand to get this I have to switch my old account. They tell me I have to go to a branch to do this. Is this correct or is there somewhere online I can do it?

You cannot do it online or over the phone if you're an existing customer, it needs to be in branch. I have an appointment next week for the same thing.

Chomeur

litepay wrote: »

You cannot do it online or over the phone if you're an existing customer, it needs to be in branch. I have an appointment next week for the same thing.

You can't just call in?

litepay

In my area not really, it's quite busy...

datz

Chomeur wrote: »

You can't just call in?

From my experience, my local branch is always extremely busy. Not sure about yours, but you might want to make an appointment to ensure you don't have a wasted journey. But if you're going to be nearby anyway (and it doesn't take any extra effort), you can always drop in and see if they have any openings due to others not showing to their appointment (but don't be surprised if they turn you away!).

clivep

Wife & I opened a/cs yesterday. Painless and a/c nos given & internet banking successfully set up at same time. Also as part of process initiated our switches.


At end was given the info that we needed to book appointment in branch to submit ID's within 5 working days to allow switch to continue otherwise it would be cancelled.


So no ID's for a/c opening but needed for switch?


email acknowledgement received for my wife but none for me. Phoned to confirm all OK and book appointments by calling number given that it stated it was open until 6pm. This was prior to 5.45 and the call was answered with the message that it's only open during normal working hours! Alternative number given for 24hr customer services which I tried and seemed to be Indian call centre.


Automated reply asked for membership number which when entered it said not recognised. It then asked for sort code, and when entered it asked for it again. After entering 2nd time it then asked for a/c no. & when entered it also asked for a 2nd time. When entered 2nd time it then said a/c not recognised and I eventually managed to speak to someone.


Wanted to make appointment for Wednesday or Thurday but they only had a couple on Monday and Friday. Chose Monday for my 15 minute one but they needed to make second one for my wife... fortunately the following 15 minutes.


No switch date offered during the online application. Presumably this is sorted during the branch visit.



Not impressed so far.

Chomeur

I called in at 9:30am today and it only took about ten minutes. Might have been a different story on a weekday lunchtime.