Barclays switch bonus problem

thejinkazama

Hello,

I recently completed the Barclays £175 switch bonus offer but haven't received my money. I spoke with a representative on live chat who informed me that HSBC rejected my switch on 28th November and that there was a document uploaded on my account to inform me. They also say they sent a paper letter informing me of this. I did not receive a letter otherwise I would have actioned it. Unfortunately, no notification was received of the online correspondence either despite them being switched on. 

The bank are refusing to honour the switch bonus as not all criteria were met, which I can understand. I have tried to reason with them via live chat to no avail and will call tomorrow when they are open to try once more. Should they refuse to budge, would it be possible to ask them to remove all traces of the account so that I am able to reapply when the deal reappears?

I might be on a road to nowhere here but thought it was worth a try! Looking forward to seeing what you think. 

Zanderman

The comms failure is annoying, but if the switch criteria weren't met (there wasn't even a switch if you still have the HSBC account) then that's that, probably.

As for the existing Barclays account which you no longer need you can either close it, or keep it (and use for another switch to another bank later) or switch it now, getting rid of it and perhaps back to your account at HSBC. 

You'll never remove 'all traces' as it will be on Barclays records as having existed, albeit only for a short time.

But if you are thinking you might try the Barclays switch next time it's offered (which might be years away), if they use the same criteria as in November 2023 (which they might, or might not), you merely need not to have had an account when the offer begins.

Which, if you closed it now, you wouldn't. So there's no point in trying to lose 'all trace', as it wouldn't matter. You'd just need to close it now. Or switch it away now. Or if not now sometime before the next Barclays offer, which might be years away.

I'd keep it if it was me, and use it for the next offer at another bank (if eligible, obvs)!

boingy

If the switch failed why did Barclays open an account?

Zanderman

boingy said:

If the switch failed why did Barclays open an account?

Because you have to have opened an account before you switch. That's how switches work - there has to be an account to switch to.

adamp87

Lodge a complaint with Barclays - there’s been tons of issues with this switch process it seems and their communication around it looking around online.

Whilst I agree it didn’t happen and was rejected the bonus won’t be paid, why you weren’t communicated with at any point about this is something to complain or query.

I’ve had massive issues with Barclays communication lately including closing a complaint down that apparently we’d sorted and giving me a deadlock letter - no communication after my complaint arrived so it’s now gone straight to the FCA to hopefully solve.