How hard is it to open a new barclays bank account rant!

phillw

[Deleted User] said:

They only have a retail offering because of all the customers at joined them in the past.

I suspect a lot of people joined recently for the rainy day saver, though of course that advantage is being slowly eroded.

B0bbyEwing

Well this is a strange turn of events.

I'm usually quite critical of, well, everything to be honest. 

And MSE members usually jump to praise anything I criticise. 

Yet my personal experience of Barclay's has overall been a positive one. 

It was a bit of a ballache opening the current account but only because I had to go in branch which I'd rather not do. Same with having to get on the phone to people - I'd rather just do things myself online without involving other people but I accepted it as a hoop to jump through for whatever the perk was at the time.

I quite like the mobile app even if I don't really use the account for anything other than its perks. 

When my wife has had to call on their CSRs to sort her logins, they've been quite helpful.

At least I can remain consistent in going against the grain.

flaneurs_lobster

B0bbyEwing said:

Well this is a strange turn of events.

I'm usually quite critical of, well, everything to be honest. 

And MSE members usually jump to praise anything I criticise. 

Yet my personal experience of Barclay's has overall been a positive one. 
.......

At least I can remain consistent in going against the grain.

Just to spoil your consistency....

My experience of Barclays has been pretty solid. Joined online primarily to get the Rainy Day, no problems with ID, couldn't get the app to run so popped in to local (City-centre) branch w/ no appointment. Chap sorted that and took my signature sample too. 

10 minutes online to set up the cash ISA, about the same to set up extra current account for switching.

Free cute card reader thing with it's own card & PIN.

What's not to like?

B0bbyEwing

flaneurs_lobster said:

B0bbyEwing said:

Well this is a strange turn of events.

I'm usually quite critical of, well, everything to be honest. 

And MSE members usually jump to praise anything I criticise. 

Yet my personal experience of Barclay's has overall been a positive one. 
.......

At least I can remain consistent in going against the grain.

Just to spoil your consistency....

My experience of Barclays has been pretty solid. Joined online primarily to get the Rainy Day, no problems with ID, couldn't get the app to run so popped in to local (City-centre) branch w/ no appointment. Chap sorted that and took my signature sample too. 

10 minutes online to set up the cash ISA, about the same to set up extra current account for switching.

Free cute card reader thing with it's own card & PIN.

What's not to like?

Well obviously first off, I never said I'd be the only one to be happy with them. Having a read through this thread though there's a few having a good moan which they'll feel is justified for them.

I could do the same with Chase or, dare I even say it ..... First Direct. Yep, the super duper candonowrong FD.

All comes down to what you want, what you like, what you don't like, just your own personal experience.

Anyway, as you say, there's nothing from my end to dislike. I want Barclay's for their 5% savings so at the moment they're serving a purpose. 

When they don't they'll get relegated to the £1 only to keep the account open status.

And if such a time comes to bag a switch (providing I catch the thread in time on here), they'll get sacrificed ... unless they make themselves useful again.

Though my preference for switching is to open a C.A. with a bank who don't require you to go in to open it & leave the troublesome accounts (Barclay's, HSBC) as a last resort. There's a few that tick that box.

[Deleted User]

It does seem that those that had positive experiences have not actually used the account as the main account. I am sure it is fine if you never have to speak to a person. My account has been fine in terms of money coming in and out. But that's just a computer.

devansuk

These are the highstreet bank accounts I've opened without setting foot in a branch 

Royal Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland 
Natwest
Nationwide
Halifax 
HSBC 
Lloyds
Virgin

The one bank that insist I travel 10 miles to the city centre passing other Barclays branches on the way for a appointment which isnt avalible for 8 weeks 

Barclays 

Guess which bank contacted there own local branch to me on Monday to see if I could verify my ID and havnt yet had a response from there own branch?

Barclays 

All this to open a current account and to open a rainy day saver God help people wanting a mortgage 

sybilpoon

devansuk said:

These are the highstreet bank accounts I've opened without setting foot in a branch 

Royal Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland 
Natwest
Nationwide
Halifax 
HSBC 
Lloyds
Virgin

The one bank that insist I travel 10 miles to the city centre passing other Barclays branches on the way for a appointment which isnt avalible for 8 weeks 

Barclays 

Guess which bank contacted there own local branch to me on Monday to see if I could verify my ID and havnt yet had a response from there own branch?

Barclays 

All this to open a current account and to open a rainy day saver God help people wanting a mortgage 

Well, not worth it, isn't it?  Must be so frustrating for you.
I had good experience with Barclays until today.  Ironically, the Premier team called me only 1 month ago asking if I would like them to invest my saving account money but today, they won't let me open a joint account.  

idc1

I tried to apply via the app for the switch and it’s cash uploaded everything they did there credit search then I got message stating they can’t complete in the app need to make an appointment amazingly it’s in a couple of days but my question is why have I got to provide I d when I’ve already uploaded it. They don’t care I’ve got mobility issues I’m so tempted to cancel the appointment and stick with who I’m with 

prowla

Barclays are a weird bank.

They consistently refuse me credit:

• Apple Store's interest-free scheme with upgrade options; I've walked out of that store, gone to another, and then gone straight back to the Apple Store to buy a case and get them to fit a screen protector.
• Amazon's pay in 3 months interest free; I did it a few times with their previous credit provider, no problems.

The Apple Store one has happened over years: three iterations of phone renewal. (It won't happen again, as I've shifted to another brand.)

I subsequently found out (after asking several times) that they couldn't get the info they wanted from my main bank account instantly.

Now I just check who the credit provider is and if it's Barclays I don't bother.

They just don't want my custom.

I've also had a current account with Barclays since 1980; I keep it as my second account and just ensure it's in credit.

My credit rating is fine, I've never missed a payment, I have a mortgage, I've lived at the same address for years, etc.; the last time at the Apple Store, I bought a new BMW on the same day.

WillPS

devansuk said:

These are the highstreet bank accounts I've opened without setting foot in a branch 

Royal Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland 
Natwest
Nationwide
Halifax 
HSBC 
Lloyds
Virgin

The one bank that insist I travel 10 miles to the city centre passing other Barclays branches on the way for a appointment which isnt avalible for 8 weeks 

Barclays 

Guess which bank contacted there own local branch to me on Monday to see if I could verify my ID and havnt yet had a response from there own branch?

Barclays 

All this to open a current account and to open a rainy day saver God help people wanting a mortgage 

Probably too late for you now, but be aware that you can make appointments for banking away from branch (for non-cash stuff) with Barclays Vans, Bank Hubs or Barclays Local (usually in libraries and community centres):

https://events.uk.barclays/local/

https://events.uk.barclays/barclaysvan/

It's way easier to get an appointment with these than a traditional branch, I've found.