Problem with opening a Barclays current account via their mobile banking app

Marchitiello

What an experience and sadly not unheard of from current Barclays customers.

I really sympathise with you and hope you get somewhere with your FOS complaint, however seeking compensation for “loss interests“ on a product you do not have yet or that Barclays is well in their right not to offer to you (they may well decide that only basic account is what they want to offer you, business decision, nothing they need to explain to be linked to credit profile as the advisor did really) is a big stretch, and if you do get something would be counting yourself very lucky 

DSM08

Thanks all for the information in this thread! I am in a very similar situation. Switched away and still have my Barclaycard, but got the error code whilst applying in app. I tried opening an Everyday Saver as a way around it, which did work in preventing the error code. However, upon getting a step further in the application process, I was then declined.

Currently weighing up if I can be bothered with Barclays!

CuriousGirl

Marchitiello said:

What an experience and sadly not unheard of from current Barclays customers.

I really sympathise with you and hope you get somewhere with your FOS complaint, however seeking compensation for “loss interests“ on a product you do not have yet or that Barclays is well in their right not to offer to you (they may well decide that only basic account is what they want to offer you, business decision, nothing they need to explain to be linked to credit profile as the advisor did really) is a big stretch, and if you do get something would be counting yourself very lucky 

Well as I see it  first time my application was declined because of my Barclays profile problem (the closed & switched away account), same problem as with Band7, nothing to do with my 'dodgy' credit history. However they ( their app) did not tell me about the decline. It told me to try again instead of clearly stating that my application was declined.

Every time I tried to apply I was leaving another mark on my internal Barclays file, thanks god it was a soft search, not a hard one. So no wonder that at the branch they were able to offer me just a basic account, because of the 6 declined applications which suggested there was a problem with my credit history. I totally accept the fact they do not have to explain me why it was declined but  surely they should prevent me from trying again shouldn't they?

And after all that palaver I have just opened it as a new customer in two ticks following the Band7's trick, this time successfully passed their internal and the external credit agency's checks!  If there really was a problem with my credit file/history I would be declined again. 

To be honest it would be nice to get a compensation from the FOS but I am more concerned about  Barclays to be sorted out as the way they handled the issue is absolutely unacceptable and it is not just my experience. 

CuriousGirl

DSM08 said:

Thanks all for the information in this thread! I am in a very similar situation. Switched away and still have my Barclaycard, but got the error code whilst applying in app. I tried opening an Everyday Saver as a way around it, which did work in preventing the error code. However, upon getting a step further in the application process, I was then declined.

Currently weighing up if I can be bothered with Barclays!

Try to use the trick of applying as a new customer and still complain, they need to fix it. 

Perksy5

Sounds like an issue with in app applications.
I really wouldn't recommend opening an account as a new customer, this can create a separate customer record and leads to you having two sets of online banking/app memberships meaning you won't be able to view all of your accounts in 1 place or it will create an error if you try to access the old membership.
Can cause quite a headache. 
The previous poster with only a barclaycard got lucky that there c.c details 100% matched the new application so the records merged when applying as a 'new' customer.
Just be cautious, might be more hassle in the long run especially if you're struggling to speak to customer services.
P.s best time to ring is after 3pm, better 3.30pm. Some branches close and staff jump on the phones.

Band7

Perksy5 said:

Sounds like an issue with in app applications.
I really wouldn't recommend opening an account as a new customer, this can create a separate customer record and leads to you having two sets of online banking/app memberships meaning you won't be able to view all of your accounts in 1 place or it will create an error if you try to access the old membership.
Can cause quite a headache. 
The previous poster with only a barclaycard got lucky that there c.c details 100% matched the new application so the records merged when applying as a 'new' customer.
Just be cautious, might be more hassle in the long run especially if you're struggling to speak to customer services.
P.s best time to ring is after 3pm, better 3.30pm. Some branches close and staff jump on the phones.

You seem to have missed that the recommendation to apply as a new customer was made by a Barclays employee. Who also advised that the new and existing profile can be merged. Though this was not necessary in my case but I would have happily coped with 2 separate logins for a while, or perhaps forever.

Recommending to ring after 3pm or 3.30pm is questionable. I didn't mention this earlier, but when I asked, the local Branch gave me their direct line. I left two voicemails on this number, about 3 weeks ago, with requests for a call-back. I am still waiting.

flaneurs_lobster

Perhaps the title of this thread could be changed to indicate that the problems with applying for a new account are only occurring when an account existed in the past?

FWIW I've just opened a new current account online with no problems at all, took less than ten minutes. I have no previous relationship with Barclays at all. 

Perksy5

Band7 said:

Perksy5 said:

Sounds like an issue with in app applications.
I really wouldn't recommend opening an account as a new customer, this can create a separate customer record and leads to you having two sets of online banking/app memberships meaning you won't be able to view all of your accounts in 1 place or it will create an error if you try to access the old membership.
Can cause quite a headache. 
The previous poster with only a barclaycard got lucky that there c.c details 100% matched the new application so the records merged when applying as a 'new' customer.
Just be cautious, might be more hassle in the long run especially if you're struggling to speak to customer services.
P.s best time to ring is after 3pm, better 3.30pm. Some branches close and staff jump on the phones.

You seem to have missed that the recommendation to apply as a new customer was made by a Barclays employee. Who also advised that the new and existing profile can be merged. Though this was not necessary in my case but I would have happily coped with 2 separate logins for a while, or perhaps forever.

Recommending to ring after 3pm or 3.30pm is questionable. I didn't mention this earlier, but when I asked, the local Branch gave me their direct line. I left two voicemails on this number, about 3 weeks ago, with requests for a call-back. I am still waiting.

I didnt miss it. I read it. I still typed what I did.

Customer care colleagues historically were cashiers who didn't have the knowledge most personal/moment bankers did.

I used to see a lot of customers as a personal banker with duplicated records and several issues with various lending applications being unable to proceed because the wrong details are picked up from a duplicated record.
Statements being sent to historic addresses again because of an old customer record. Old, because long forgotten accounts unable to be accessed so the fix for the customer in their eyes was just to open a brand new account as a 'new customer'.

Ignore me if you want I'm trying to save people further hassle here.

Why would calling after 3pm be questionable? Literally sat in my branch this week to do work and they confirmed their rotas. Most branch staff hop on the lines around 3 or 3.30 for calling before they go home.

I really don't care if you don't believe it, but the information is here to help others to avoid unnecessary admin, stress and wait times.

Branches don't usually give out phone numbers for this reason. If the person that took your call mislays the note or is off sick then who's to call  you back? It's a fast paced environment and things slip the net (not an excuse). You'd be better off ringing the number on back of your card or speaking to someone f2f in branch if you're nearby. 

Band7

Thank for your amazingly constructive (?) advice on how people who can't open another Barclays current account after they have switched away / closed a current account. You are right on the wavelength of the Barclays personell who the OP and myself experienced - with the exception, of course, the actually helpful lady in the Barclays complaints team that I was fortunate enough to get in touch with.

grizzlegrizzle

Similar problem experienced here when opening a Barclays current account. Tried repeatedly in app over a couple of weeks and kept getting an error message. Gave up and tried online and the account was opened successfully. 

Still can't use the app though! Customer service can't resolve this. The Barclays app seems to be very problematic.

Family member who did manage to open a current account through the app (and was an existing Barclays customer) has since had repeated error messages and no one at Barclays has any idea what the error codes mean or how to resolve it. Only workaround was to request activation of full online banking (doesn't happen automatically when the current account is opened) and was still a complete pain to lose access to the account and not have the app functionality.