'Barclays adverts make me want to growl!' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's 'Barclays adverts make me want to growl!' blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Barclays adverts make me want to growl!' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

Paul_Herring

It's like most advertising. Similar to ING's "One great rate for everyone" which

1) Wasn't one rate
2) Wasn't great
3) Wasn't for everyone.

Stephen_Leak

A worthy successor to the Picture Finance ad' that was pulled by the ASA.

Debtfix

Why is everyone so surprised by Barclays running these ads in the UK?

This site represents a small but growing community of opinion that the banks will have to recognise.

Meanwhile the ignorant mass of us in minor money matters will continue to be hooked on these spurious offers. THE uk IS TOO LAZY AND UNINFORMED about money matters and this allows banks to get away with this stuff.

I worked for a doorstep lender for 2 months as a credit manager. Our customers were referred to as "credit junkies" our top rate was 209% but it was the "pay £10.00 a week Mrs Jones" that did the selling job.

However I ran into a High Street bank that was charging 750% on an overdraft on one account and in a similar case was charging 800% to some one else. I define all costs of borrowing money as interest and arrived at the above figures. So who are the "sharks". Doorstep lenders or High Street banks?

However it is the sense that money matters are "too difficult" for most of us that allows the banks to lead us away from the best deals and drop into these interest holes.

I cannot blame the banks for taking best advantage to further their business they are capitalists after all, but I do agree that we should expose their efforts for what they are.

It is a battle out there and we cannot trust anyone with our money short & long term, constant review and adjustment are needed. What chance do our kids and young people have with GCSE maths or economics? NONE at all. Money management is not a school topic. Yet it is not rocket science, but they are kept as mushrooms to feed the economic machine.

JeremyC

So why is my father getting 0.1% !! on his Day-to-Day savings account! I'm so frustrated with Barclay's. I have joint POA with my sister, as my father is unable to manage his money now and I have tried to close this account and transfer the money. I have written to the branch manager, but guess what he doesn't open the mail, he just sends it on to Leicester to a central sorting office, so much for personal banking, and not at all helpful on the phone, 6 weeks latter and nothing has happened, I'm having to write again, or meet in the branch with my Sister, who lives 100 miles away, and yes the customer friendly branch in Cufley, Herts is not open on a Saturday......so do I take a day off work, you bet the sooner I can close it the better, Dont Bank with Barclay's find someone else Like Nationwide

Debtfix

All banks are difficult when things go wrong. Working as a debt manager for 200 clients I meet problems with them all when trying to work through problems. The departmental attitude is the MOST difficult of all because getting to the right department is rarely well sign posted. At the moment I am having difficulty with credit card collections departments, most of these are allied to banks, and they tend to ignore my letters and faxes which causes me to put the accounts into "dispute" because of the posting of unnecessary charges. Citicards and MBNA are being particularly difficult at the moment. MBNA is in contravention of the OFT rules in that four legal entities have been chasing my client at the same time; that's MBNA, Alliance & Leicester, NCO, and Aegis (all documented so no libel). This is in contrast to earlier dealings with MBNA which have been smooth and trouble free. To round up Barclays are no better or worse than other such organisations and I have had very good service from my branch of Barclays since 1982, but then I don't save with them or get into debt with them either! All too often it is the individuals that work in these places that make the difference, a cocky arrogant person can screw up an otherwise straight forward request and tarnish a hard won reputation in minutes, but someone willing and able to help is worth their weight in platinum!