Direct Debits and Barclay's Blue Rewards

teachermark

I have a regular current and low-interest savings account with Barclays.
Barclay's Blue Rewards program members can get over 5% on their savings.
The fee is £5 a month. This is waived if you have TWO direct debits.
I have one direct debit and need a second. Unfortunately, I don't have any other bills I can use this way.
(I pay for gas/water/electricity on a sub-meter to my landlord.)
Is there a way of setting up some sort of qualifying direct debit with an entity?
Basically, I want a free current account with access to the 5% savings easy access account, too.

wiseonesomeofthetime

What is an entity? 

If you mean any other company or provider, there are a few mentioned in similar threads. 

Easiest, possibly, is link your PayPal account to Barclays via DD, but you will of course need to then set that as a default and make a payment via PayPal at least once a month. 

I used Ecology Building Society previously, however, DD is set up via post so may take time. I used their RS at £25pm. First payment though is not via DD so slower. 

Remember though, whichever you choose the DD has to PAY OUT each month, not just be attached, in order to null the £5 fee. 

Martico

I use TV licence, a CC and monthly payment to a S&S ISA as DDs on my "burner" account. If none of those are options, you can set up a DD with a charity and that should be OK.

teachermark

Of course... Credit Card direct debit... thanks for that! Yay!

keiran

With Barclays , I know empirically that a single direct debit mandate which collects more often than once per month does qualify , if that helps anyone 

Martico

teachermark said:

Of course... Credit Card direct debit... thanks for that! Yay!

And thanks to you! I have Barclays as my primary bank (I transfer funds to Chase every month to take advantage of the 1% cashback) and hadn't realised before today that they now offer 5.12% easy access savings. OK, it's only for the first £5,000, but I'm not at that level anyway. It's as good as I've seen and very easy to set up. Bye bye Chase 1.5% savings! 

teachermark

Martico said:

 OK, it's only for the first £5,000...

That £5,000 is earning £21 a month now, so it's not to be sniffed at, right?
Basically, my internet (£15 with BT if you're on Universal Credit) is now free with change left over!)
Did everything online, including the credit card direct debit.
It may take a month to 'cycle in' but all in all, a good move.
I just hope the rates don't go down, as they are variable!

Martico

Intriguingly, Barclaycard have also today offered me a money transfer with 0% interest until June '24 at a 2.6% fee. I'm almost tempted to take £2,000 from them and put it straight into that savings account. It'd make me a few quid, but it's not really worth the hassle at the moment.