Barclays do they want customers?

Grahmb65

Do Barclays want or need any more customers?

I applied online for a Barclays current account on 26th November. I have an excellent credit score and I answered all the questions correctly, but right at the end of the process I was told that my identity could not be verified, so could not open an account online, but the message said, “not to worry” I could take my passport to a branch to verify my identity. But I had to make an Appointment first. I phoned the number given and was told the next appointment available at any of the three branches in my area was around March 2023. Four months away.

I tried to message them on their webchat, but got the message, “sorry webchat has been disconnected.” And trying the “contact us” link was hopeless.

I have concluded that Barclays do not really need or want any more customers. But why? After reading lots and lots of poor reviews on Trust Pilot their customer service does not sound great, so why do they have so many customers that they do not need or want any more? I have given up.

sourcrates

I have just opened a new account with Barclays.

Simple and straightforward application online, identity proved by Driving licence, and address proved by Passport, short video to record, job done.

Banks such as Monzo etc will open online accounts using similar methods.

eskbanker

Grahmb65 said:

I have concluded that Barclays do not really need or want any more customers. But why? After reading lots and lots of poor reviews on Trust Pilot their customer service does not sound great, so why do they have so many customers that they do not need or want any more? I have given up.

Trustpilot is full of negative reviews, not just about Barclays but all their high street competitors, so isn't a particularly reliable method of choosing banks, although the digital challengers tend to attract less opprobrium.

You'll probably find a similar situation elsewhere too, i.e. that those who can't be verified electronically for whatever reason (any ideas, are you on the electoral roll, etc?) will need to make a branch appointment, and these are undoubtedly hard to come by.

I'm not saying this is ideal, but just recognising that organisations aren't obliged to make applications equally easy for all customers, so it may be that Barclays (and others) are happy to focus on the majority who pass the electronic ID verification process.

WillPS

Grahmb65 said:

Do Barclays want or need any more customers?

I applied online for a Barclays current account on 26th November. I have an excellent credit score and I answered all the questions correctly, but right at the end of the process I was told that my identity could not be verified, so could not open an account online, but the message said, “not to worry” I could take my passport to a branch to verify my identity. But I had to make an Appointment first. I phoned the number given and was told the next appointment available at any of the three branches in my area was around March 2023. Four months away.

I tried to message them on their webchat, but got the message, “sorry webchat has been disconnected.” And trying the “contact us” link was hopeless.

I have concluded that Barclays do not really need or want any more customers. But why? After reading lots and lots of poor reviews on Trust Pilot their customer service does not sound great, so why do they have so many customers that they do not need or want any more? I have given up.

They absolutely do want some customers. If they didn't want your custom it would have been a 'no', not an ask to complete a process which will cost them time and money (as well as yourself). One thing is for certain, this "excellent credit score" had nothing to do with the outcome of the application as they will not have seen it, it is made up by the CRA or middleman and shown only to you.

Barclays lean toward archaic on their process side of things. Your choice is either to jump through the hoops or not bother.

flaneurs_lobster

I have had no relationship with Barclays until ten days ago when I opened a current account with them online with no problems at all. Received debit card in post after a couple of days followed by access code for online banking. PIN (which is needed to activate app) delayed by postal dispute so wandered into local branch (no appointment) where an efficient CS chap was able to source an access code to activate the app, and take a signature example from me saving cost of stamp. 

The coffee was grim, I shall mark down my Trustpilot review accordingly. 

RG2015

flaneurs_lobster said:

I have had no relationship with Barclays until ten days ago when I opened a current account with them online with no problems at all. Received debit card in post after a couple of days followed by access code for online banking. PIN (which is needed to activate app) delayed by postal dispute so wandered into local branch (no appointment) where an efficient CS chap was able to source an access code to activate the app, and take a signature example from me saving cost of stamp. 

The coffee was grim, I shall mark down my Trustpilot review accordingly. 

I am also a new customer, but I have a question for you. Is your online banking site fully active?

My app is fine but I cannot set up payees or make payments online. The icons are just greyed out.

Band7

Have you tried this: https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/help/making-payments/why-are-some-of-the-options-to-authenticate-myself-greyed-out

RG2015

Band7 said:

Have you tried this: https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/business/help/making-payments/why-are-some-of-the-options-to-authenticate-myself-greyed-out

Very interesting, but if I can do everything I want on the app I must have been fully validated.

Band7

Here's another potential reason

RG2015

Thanks again Band7, but I am using pinsentry.

Even Barclays haven’t been able to help me.

Shakin_Steve

RG2015 said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

I have had no relationship with Barclays until ten days ago when I opened a current account with them online with no problems at all. Received debit card in post after a couple of days followed by access code for online banking. PIN (which is needed to activate app) delayed by postal dispute so wandered into local branch (no appointment) where an efficient CS chap was able to source an access code to activate the app, and take a signature example from me saving cost of stamp. 

The coffee was grim, I shall mark down my Trustpilot review accordingly. 

I am also a new customer, but I have a question for you. Is your online banking site fully active?

My app is fine but I cannot set up payees or make payments online. The icons are just greyed out.

How long have you had access to the app? On the few occasions I have downloaded the app on to a new device, I have had a letter a few days later telling me that certain features (it doesn't say exactly which features) will be unavailable for a period of time.