Barclays £175 Switch Offer - 15th July 2025 to 28th August 2025

Lens

Harsh requirement that rules out anyone who has ever had a current account previously so pretty much all existing customers. I was ready to go for this one, assuming it meant you couldn’t switch into an account that was already open before the 15th July, eg you have to open a new one. But I agree now having read all these comments and looked again at the terms and conditions, I totally agree. It rules out all existing customers. Almost unethical. 

danny13579

Lens said:

Harsh requirement that rules out anyone who has ever had a current account previously so pretty much all existing customers. I was ready to go for this one, assuming it meant you couldn’t switch into an account that was already open before the 15th July, eg you have to open a new one. But I agree now having read all these comments and looked again at the terms and conditions, I totally agree. It rules out all existing customers. Almost unethical.

I wouldn't let that put me off giving it a go, especially if you haven't received switching cash from them before.

danny13579

goatfaced said:

Yes, I had a look for my kids who had kids accounts with Barclays but as both matured to adult accounts I don't think they count as new customers even though they never had any sort of bonus from them. Both switched away about 18 months ago. One of them might chance it, the other doesn't want to waste money in blue rewards if it's not a guaranteed bonus. 

I've been trying to figure out if there's a way to get around having to pay the £5 first monthly fee for Blue Rewards.

I don't think there is. But you can try to minimise the chance by having 2nd August as your switch completion date and waiting until 1st August to register for Blue Rewards, thereby satisfying all the switch requirements on 2nd August and giving yourself the maximum time before the first £5 Blue Rewards fee is taken (second working day of September which is 2nd September).

If you manage to get your switching cash before then, or get declined, then cancel your Blue Rewards (and maybe switch out the current account) before they have a chance to take the £5 on 2nd September. 

However, they have up to 28 working days to assess your account and pay the bonus. 

So best case scenario is that you get your £175 before 2nd September and can cancel your Blue Rewards before you can be charged the £5 on 2nd September. 

Next best case scenario is that you get your £175 but it comes after 2nd September, cancel your Blue Rewards in September, and you still net £170. 

After that it's being declined before 2nd September, cancelling your Blue rewards in September, so you're no better or worse off. 

Worst case scenario is that you're declined after 2nd September, cancelling your Blue Rewards in September, and are down £5. 

darkovo

A lame one for me personally, having to open a new current account in the app requires deleting the app if already used for another service, ie credit card. Then start a new current application, which fell at the 2nd hurdle for me for requiring to upload a valid photo ID (valid passport or driving license). I don't have either - being an paper driving license holder. There's no other way to apply in order to get the cashback 

Altior

Strange, I have a Barclaycard and use the app, and had to install a different Barclay app to apply for the current account. It is a bit tedious with the ID check, I took a clear picture of my driving license 4 times and it kept stating it couldn't read a face. Well worth persisting for the bonus though, had to use my passport instead in the end. 

clairec666

Lens said:

Harsh requirement that rules out anyone who has ever had a current account previously so pretty much all existing customers. I was ready to go for this one, assuming it meant you couldn’t switch into an account that was already open before the 15th July, eg you have to open a new one. But I agree now having read all these comments and looked again at the terms and conditions, I totally agree. It rules out all existing customers. Almost unethical. 

I had a current account with Barclays, about 20 years ago, which was a "backup account" which I barely used. When my card expired and I asked them for a new one, they insisted that my account didn't exist and they had no record of me. Refused to pay me the 9p that was in the account, so I haven't banked with them since. I'm tempted to apply for this switch offer, just to see if they mysteriously find my old current account and use it as grounds to refuse me the bonus!

clairec666

danny13579 said:

OK, I see what you're saying but why put in the "before"? 

Why not just say "You already have any open Barclays Current Account when this offer started on 15 July 2025."?

If I had an open Barclays Current account on the 4th July, and closed it on that day, is that not an open Barclays Current Account before this offer started on 15th July?   

Now I'm confused. They could have worded this a lot better. Need to take a leaf out of Natwest's book, they make it crystal clear - "This offer is for new and existing customers who don’t hold a NatWest current account as of 24th June 2025."

danny13579

clairec666 said:

Now I'm confused. They could have worded this a lot better. Need to take a leaf out of Natwest's book, they make it crystal clear - "This offer is for new and existing customers who don’t hold a NatWest current account as of 24th June 2025."

Natwest are great at switch offers and their wording is always pretty clear, also their switches are the least cumbersome (no messing around with direct debits). 

Barclays are one of the worst, not only for their terminology, but if you look at old Barclays switch threads you can see the problems many people had when availing of a switching offer with them. Their customer service is pretty abysmal. They're the bank I've made the most complaints to. Switch and ditch 'em! 

subjecttocontract

Anyone know if it's possible to switch an overseas bank account (Bankinter) to Barclays using their switch service ?

danny13579

subjecttocontract said:

Anyone know if it's possible to switch an overseas bank account (Bankinter) to Barclays using their switch service ?

No. Here's the list of banks that participate in CASS.