Barclays £175 switch offer - new customers only, Nov 1 - 30 2023

Largs

federer said:

my switch goes through today apparently...

got my £10 cashback or it will be paid shortly as i selected it to be paid to my bank account

Yes, I am today too.  Ulster have already sent over my balance so fingers crossed incentive in the pipeline.  I have a transfer in progress too to First Direct.  I have already received a bonus from them in the past so not sure how that one will pan out.

Clicker9180

So when I tried setting up a new Barclays account this morning, I truthfully answered the questions about my income (gross >75k) but then the app offered me the "Premier Current Account" with no opt-out. On the plus side, this means I wouldn't have to deal with the "Blue Rewards" stuff and paying in £800/month to get the £175 premium, but on the other hand the footnote on the Barclays app says: "You also need a gross annual income of at least £75,000 paid into the account".

So what does that mean in practice? Because (a) I don't want my income to be paid to the Barclays account and (b) my after-tax income is below 75k so how do they even confirm my gross income (everyone's tax situation is different)?

Can I just ignore it and get my £175 without doing anything else besides the current account switch? Or do I have to actually get one month of salary into that Barclays account? If the latter, what if I just "forward" my salary from my main account and then send it back?

Also, there was no checks or anything - so doesn't that mean anyone can just open a Premier account and skip the Blue Rewards?

PRAISETHESUN

Clicker9180 said:

So when I tried setting up a new Barclays account this morning, I truthfully answered the questions about my income (gross >75k) but then the app offered me the "Premier Current Account" with no opt-out. On the plus side, this means I wouldn't have to deal with the "Blue Rewards" stuff and paying in £800/month to get the £175 premium, but on the other hand the footnote on the Barclays app says: "You also need a gross annual income of at least £75,000 paid into the account".

So what does that mean in practice? Because (a) I don't want my income to be paid to the Barclays account and (b) my after-tax income is below 75k so how do they even confirm my gross income (everyone's tax situation is different)?

Can I just ignore it and get my £175 without doing anything else besides the current account switch? Or do I have to actually get one month of salary into that Barclays account? If the latter, what if I just "forward" my salary from my main account and then send it back?

Also, there was no checks or anything - so doesn't that mean anyone can just open a Premier account and skip the Blue Rewards?

I don't have firsthand experience, but the way I see it you've provided all the info truthfully and they've still offered you the account. Eventually they might realise their mistake and downgrade you to a standard current account, but I'd expect that to be down the line (your £75k income could be irregular for example). I'd just take the account offered to avoid the Blue Rewards faff

Nasqueron

info_maniac said:

Apologies if this has been asked previously, I have been trying this evening to open the account using the app, but am unable to find any option to open a new account through the app.

I have seen another thread where it is mentioned that the new account opening option is only available through the app during the daytime business hours:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6486838/barclays-175-how-can-i-apply-via-the-app/p1

What I do see in the app this evening is an option to "register" using a barclays debit card or a barclaycard credit card. 

I am an existing barclaycard customer so can go ahead and complete the app registration using my barclaycard. But, I am not sure that after I register for the app using barclaycard, I will then be able to open a new bank account.

I do use the barclaycard app, but on a different phone. I read on this thread earlier that installing the barclays app on a phone with already existing barclaycard app causes some issues, so I decided to install the barclays app on a completely different phone.

I have a Barclaycard too, I downloaded the separate Barclays app, created the account and switched that way. Within a couple of days they had merged them so my CC was in the Barclays app and could be managed there so I deleted the BC app, I had no issues doing it on the same phone (Android fwiw)

miller

I activated Blue Rewards in the "Barlcaycard" App and have received the incentive. Account opening and switch request was done in the "Barlcays" App, shortly afterwards it broke with error 00002 (probably a profile issue) which is why I used the other one.

WillPS

Clicker9180 said:

So when I tried setting up a new Barclays account this morning, I truthfully answered the questions about my income (gross >75k) but then the app offered me the "Premier Current Account" with no opt-out. On the plus side, this means I wouldn't have to deal with the "Blue Rewards" stuff and paying in £800/month to get the £175 premium, but on the other hand the footnote on the Barclays app says: "You also need a gross annual income of at least £75,000 paid into the account".

So what does that mean in practice? Because (a) I don't want my income to be paid to the Barclays account and (b) my after-tax income is below 75k so how do they even confirm my gross income (everyone's tax situation is different)?

Can I just ignore it and get my £175 without doing anything else besides the current account switch? Or do I have to actually get one month of salary into that Barclays account? If the latter, what if I just "forward" my salary from my main account and then send it back?

Also, there was no checks or anything - so doesn't that mean anyone can just open a Premier account and skip the Blue Rewards?

You should additionally be able to get 25,000 Avios if you take Premier Rewards, which is £166ish to spend in Sainsburys. Cancel it when paid out (or leave it and get a few quid more in Nectar if you like).

harz99

Switch happened this morning (used Dvr Lic not P/P for ID), later today received the Barclays list letter, Lloyds switch out letter, Barclays Debit card and pin number all in the same postal delivery!!

Wife still not able to partake via passport.

Gimmee the money and I'm gone !

Brewer21

Just come at the right time, made a purchase with my debit card at Argos 4 days ago, got the £10 reward, £22 worth of Nectar points. Still have the £175 incentive to come, that'll pay an hefty chunk towards the Argos purchase.

DiamondLil

miller said:

I activated Blue Rewards in the "Barlcaycard" App and have received the incentive. Account opening and switch request was done in the "Barlcays" App, shortly afterwards it broke with error 00002 (probably a profile issue) which is why I used the other one.

@miller - May I ask how you activated Blue Rewards please ? I've been using the debit card for a couple of weeks now and nothing in Blue Rewards Wallet. Switch completed on 10th November and still no incentive payment received either. Beginning to think I'm not doing things correctly.

miller

DiamondLil said:

miller said:

I activated Blue Rewards in the "Barlcaycard" App and have received the incentive. Account opening and switch request was done in the "Barlcays" App, shortly afterwards it broke with error 00002 (probably a profile issue) which is why I used the other one.

@miller - May I ask how you activated Blue Rewards please ? I've been using the debit card for a couple of weeks now and nothing in Blue Rewards Wallet. Switch completed on 10th November and still no incentive payment received either. Beginning to think I'm not doing things correctly.

I opened the Barlcaycard App (Barlcays App was broken at this point), clicked on Products, then Blue Rewards. An Error UD001 was displayed, pressed the back key (as discovered on this thread), then Activate. My first payment to NS&I did take a few days to track for the 5% cashback.