Barclays Current Account and online banking - telephone banking appauling

fleemkt

Over two and a half hours in trying to get through to Barclays ...... !!

Trying to register a savings account for online banking but coming up with error and advised to call their digital helpdesk.  After entering the saving account's sort code and account number on the phone, they wish to verify security and put into queue for telephone banking.  I appreciate the times we're in, but over two and half hours' wait...

Was thinking of applying for current account using their apply online link within the Barclays App blurb re. current account, in the hope an account would be created and online banking will fall into place from there.  Question is - will my exisiting savings accounts be automatically linked to my online banking?  Or will there be an option to add these saving accounts to my online banking profile once up and running?

Just think of alternatives as unable to get through on the phone (this is third/fourth attempt), as I belive once online banking's in place for my existing accounts, a current account would then be applied for.

It doesn't help with branches being closed at the moment.

penners324

Barclays have pretty awful savings rates, why not use Marcus or NS&I?

fleemkt

Not much in there TBH ....

Just need to get online to view accounts and apply for current account.

Does anyone who may have been in the same boat share their experiences, in terms of applying for current account, be issued / setup with online banking, then adding their existing accounts?

The logical steps would be to obviously register for online banking for the savings accounts, then apply for current account from online banking but between a rock and a hard place.

Unable to visit branch or get through on phone.  Hung up after holding on approaching 3.5 hours!

jonesMUFCforever

So this was 'essential' was it? The phone lines should only be used for real emergencies or essential things IMO this could have waited.

colsten

jonesMUFCforever said:

So this was 'essential' was it? The phone lines should only be used for real emergencies or essential things IMO this could have waited.

May be the OP needs to get at their savings so they can buy food for their child? Thereby making it an essential issue.

jonesMUFCforever

They presumably WERE able to access the funds and as the OP only had a savings account could not use internet banking for such things as shopping for food!

fleemkt

jonesMUFCforever - I see your point but it's frustrating to not be able to register for online banking, should be straight-forward.

Never anticipated it took over 3.5 hours in the queue though before finally giving up!

Expected a lomnger than usual wait of say 1 hour or so for a simple query?

harsh_but_fair

Forgive my curiosity I was just wondering who Paul was

colsten

jonesMUFCforever said:

They presumably WERE able to access the funds and as the OP only had a savings account could not use internet banking for such things as shopping for food!

You obvsly missed the tongue-in-cheek.....but in any case, money from savings accounts can be used to buy food, despite having to first transfer it to a current account, which is easy to do once you have online/app access.

Thrugelmir

fleemkt said:

jonesMUFCforever - I see your point but it's frustrating to not be able to register for online banking, should be straight-forward.

Never anticipated it took over 3.5 hours in the queue though before finally giving up!

Expected a lomnger than usual wait of say 1 hour or so for a simple query?

Call centres aren't any good for social distancing unfortunately. 

jonesMUFCforever

colsten said:

jonesMUFCforever said:

They presumably WERE able to access the funds and as the OP only had a savings account could not use internet banking for such things as shopping for food!

You obvsly missed the tongue-in-cheek.....but in any case, money from savings accounts can be used to buy food, despite having to first transfer it to a current account, which is easy to do once you have online/app access.

....But she does not hold a current account with Barclays.