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Barclays children's accounts cannot be opened in branch

Hi all,
Just to let you know branches in Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket have both confirmed you cannot currently open Barclays children's accounts in branch or via the website. You can only use video banking and you must be an existing customer for that.

I am putting a complaint in as their website clearly says they can do in the branch and so there is a lie somewhere. This is a shame as Barclays offer best regular saving rates other than HSBC which we already have.

I'm hoping the complaints and social media messaging will result in them opening the accounts for me in the end, however is there anything else I should be doing or other avenues of complaint?
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Comments

  • EarthBoy
    EarthBoy Posts: 3,096 Forumite
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    nickoi said:
    I'm hoping the complaints and social media messaging will result in them opening the accounts for me in the end, however is there anything else I should be doing or other avenues of complaint?
    They are more likely to correct their website to say you can't open children's accounts in branch.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
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    edited 25 January 2021 at 4:04PM
    nickoi said:
    I am putting a complaint in as their website clearly says they can do in the branch and so there is a lie somewhere. 
    No there isn't.

    Not every error, inconsistency or failure to update a website has to be a lie.

  • eskbanker
    eskbanker Posts: 33,543 Forumite
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    https://www.barclays.co.uk/
    Trying to call or visit us?

    We know you may need to call us or visit a branch sometimes, but to help us support our most vulnerable customers, please only do so if you really need to.

     

    We’ve re-opened as many branches as we can, but we’re limiting our appointment bookings to help those who need us most. Please contact your local branch for details.

  • Notepad_Phil
    Notepad_Phil Posts: 1,422 Forumite
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    Why do you want to open an account at a bank which you seem to think is lying to you?
  • A_T
    A_T Posts: 969 Forumite
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    edited 25 January 2021 at 6:45PM
    nickoi said:
    I'm hoping the complaints and social media messaging will result in them opening the accounts for me in the end, however is there anything else I should be doing or other avenues of complaint?
    I can't think of anything else - but you should definitely spend many hours of your time pursuing this noble cause
  • colsten
    colsten Posts: 17,597 Forumite
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    There is a simple solution if you are so desperate for an account that can presently only be opened by existing customers through a videolink. Become a customer. Although, as above, would you really want your child's money with a bank who you think is lying?
  • They are lying not only to you. Barclays is one of the worst offenders when it comes to money laundering, lying, breaking the law and abusing customers. List it too long to write in one post, therefore I am redirecting you to search engine, have a look yourself.


  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 18,231 Forumite
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    edited 23 September at 1:51PM
    They are lying not only to you. Barclays is one of the worst offenders when it comes to money laundering, lying, breaking the law and abusing customers. List it too long to write in one post, therefore I am redirecting you to search engine, have a look yourself.


    What is that supposed to prove? If you type the word controversy preceded by the name of a random bank you will always get a list of links like that. In yours some don’t even relate to the bank, e.g Barclay brothers.
  • ic
    ic Posts: 3,312 Forumite
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    I opened a current account via the website, and at the end was prompted to take ID to my branch, which I duly did (even though they know who I am as I have a mortgage with them).  Whilst I was there the member of staff kept going on about the risk of covid and how I should have been there only for essential banking.  She still sorted the issue for me, but it seems they've had very strong messages downwards that conflict with their business - fundamentally they don't seem to want new business if it involves you going to branch, regardless of what the website says.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Forumite
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    edited 23 September at 1:51PM
    They are lying not only to you. Barclays is one of the worst offenders when it comes to money laundering, lying, breaking the law and abusing customers. List it too long to write in one post, therefore I am redirecting you to search engine, have a look yourself.


    What is that supposed to prove? If you type the word controversy preceded by the name of a random bank you will always get a list of links like that. In yours some don’t even relate to the bank, e.g Barclay brothers.

    I don't care if you are too lazy to search for yourself and offended because one of the links in the search engine URL I provided doesn't lead to Barclays controversy. If you have any wits you will find information I mentioned.
    But how is that:

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