Tried opening a ISA with Barclays

kenny_61

My wife tried to open a new account and ISA with Barclays Bank but was told that as she does not have ID(a up to date passport or driving licence) she cannot open any account. How would she be able to open an account?. She is already with 2 other uk banks and is a uk resident since birth 62 years ago.

eskbanker

kenny_61 said:

My wife tried to open a new account and ISA with Barclays Bank but was told that as she does not have ID(a up to date passport or driving licence) she cannot open any account. How would she be able to open an account?. She is already with 2 other uk banks and is a uk resident since birth 62 years ago.

She should check whether she has any documentation that complies with their published list:

https://www.barclays.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/what-do-i-need-to-open-a-bank-account/

Other institutions will have similar requirements, so she'd face the same wherever she went, but most (including Barclays) will typically validate ID via online checks against credit agency data and only require paper documents if those electronic checks don't work, so she should check that everything is correctly recorded on her credit files, e.g. electoral roll registration, address details, etc:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

kenny_61

Thank you Eskbanker; They wouldn’t accept any paperwork or old passport so she has made a f2f appointment.

xylophone

so she has made a f2f appointment.

Won't she still have to prove her identity?

wyutani

Barclays saving account opening is farcical if you don't bank with them, I tried to open an ISA - you cant do it online, went to large City centre branch, told no appointments for six weeks...bloke gave me a slip of paper telling me how to use Barclays App to verify my ID etc ..I was a bit miffed but went away to do it thinking it would speed things up...NO! the app when used eventually verified my ID and then prompted me to ring call centre to make a branch appointment...what a farce.  Went online and opened an ISA with another provider for marginally less interest rate.  Rang Barclays customer line to complain, call handler said they are aware of this ridiculous system but their hands are tied but current processes in place.

Stargunner

I opened an ISA with Barclays online in my wife’s name to shelter some of my cash from tax. Opened a current account first and then the ISA. It was all done very easily in around 30 mins including sending I’d.  

debt_diva

I’m technically a Barclays customer as I have 2 savings accounts & an old ISA (all with under £1 in - I had forgotten about them). Tried to open their ISA, got error message, phoned & finally spoke to someone who said they could help me open the ISA - he hit a brick wall & didn’t understand why at first & then said it’s because they need my up to date salary details to proceed.  Even if I could tell him this exactly (I can’t as I’m recently widowed & still in the process of sorting pensions out - I’m 73 & retired), I would object - I’m not asking for a loan or credit card, I’m giving them money!  He asked if I wished to log a complaint so I have but am no further forward with opening the ISA!  

xylophone

Are you able to use the Barclays app?

If so, you could open a current account and ISA in minutes apparently.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/bank-account/?campaign=Current_Account&chnnl=PSB&s_kwcid=AL!5945!3!644063690858!e!!g!!barclays open current account&msrc=Google_PPC&cid=11718052062&asid=146633787484&adid=644063690858&kw=barclays open current account&match=e&ds_rl=1297856&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8aOvuIqi_QIVROztCh3J7ATuEAAYASAAEgLsxPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.barclays.co.uk/savings/isas/

But when you open a current account with any bank, it is usual for them to ask for details of income.

Why not just use the nearest approximation?

debt_diva

xylophone said:

Are you able to use the Barclays app?

If so, you could open a current account and ISA in minutes apparently.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/bank-account/?campaign=Current_Account&chnnl=PSB&s_kwcid=AL!5945!3!644063690858!e!!g!!barclays open current account&msrc=Google_PPC&cid=11718052062&asid=146633787484&adid=644063690858&kw=barclays open current account&match=e&ds_rl=1297856&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8aOvuIqi_QIVROztCh3J7ATuEAAYASAAEgLsxPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.barclays.co.uk/savings/isas/

But when you open a current account with any bank, it is usual for them to ask for details of income.

Why not just use the nearest approximation?

That’s where I started from (as a customer with a savings account) & kept getting the error message until in the end I had to phone.  I wasn’t opening a current account I was just trying to open an ISA, that’s why I didn’t see why they needed my income? 

xylophone

I wasn’t opening a current account I was just trying to open an ISA, that’s why I didn’t see why they needed my income? 

I don't see it either but no doubt they would justify  on grounds of "know your customer".

You could have gone into a branch and made an appointment to open the ISA but apparently this can take weeks to get.

If you still want the account, try the app route? 

debt_diva

xylophone said:

I wasn’t opening a current account I was just trying to open an ISA, that’s why I didn’t see why they needed my income? 

I don't see it either but no doubt they would justify  on grounds of "know your customer".

You could have gone into a branch and made an appointment to open the ISA but apparently this can take weeks to get.

If you still want the account, try the app route? 

I tried that & kept getting error messages so had to phone.  I guess as there doesn’t seem to be a comparable ISA at the moment, I will have to swallow my pride & make an appointment in branch