Barclays Tax Haven ISA 2008/09

ISA_Aspirant

I'm coming to the UK on April 4th and plan to open an account with the Tax Haven ISA to use this year's allowance before April 5th. What do I need to take with me to the branch in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly and I can get it up and running in one visit and more importantly, before the deadline? Do I need to book an appointment or can I turn up and wait?

BruceyBonus

ISA_Aspirant wrote: »

I'm coming to the UK on April 4th and plan to open an account with the Tax Haven ISA to use this year's allowance before April 5th. What do I need to take with me to the branch in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly and I can get it up and running in one visit and more importantly, before the deadline? Do I need to book an appointment or can I turn up and wait?

I've been in Barclays on Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon to speak to someone and there hasn't been any wait.

I took my passport and driving licence, plus my National Insurance number and cheque. They "forgot" to take a second piece of ID first time so my application was rejected.

BallandChain

KitGeorge wrote: »

So I read all this about the Barclay's Tax Haven ISA - sounded great. I'm not a Barclay's customer, so off I went to a Barclay's Branch to get one for me and one for the wife. Easy, yes? No!
"There's no-one here who can do it for you, you have to have an appointment" Thanks very much but I'll try in the nearest City Branch.
"You'll still have to make an appointment". Okay, I'll phone up and make an appointment. Easy, yes? No!
All branches have the same 0845 number which connects me to a call centre. I explain that I want to speak to the Branch in the nearby City, the Asian lady leaves me on hold for ages ... and then I am cut off.
I try again. The Asian gentleman doesn't seem to want to tell me exactly where he is speaking from, but tells me he knows all about ISAs. Actually he doesn't, so reluctantly says he will put me through to the Branch I want. I get the Branch and a recorded announcement says I should ring the 0845 number if I am not a customer.
Tomorrow I shall drive into the City in my polluting gas-guzzling 4x4 and visit Barclays - I suppose they'll tell me that I'll have to make an appointment and come back some other day.
All this hassle to try to get an extra 0.15 per cent interest? Am I crazy, or what?

I wouldn't bother going anywhere else just for the extra 0.15%. I opened my Barclays ISA (still waiting for paper work though I did have a letter to say they are processing my application for the 2007/08 tax year.)

I had similar problems to opening the ISA. I'm not a customer of Barclays so had to ring the 0845 number just to get to arrange an appointment with my local branch. First guy I spoke to said there wasn't a direct number to my branch but he'd put in a request via computer for my branch to call within 2 hours. Several hours passed, no call came.

I telephoned again and this time a lady answered. (Both call centre staff Indian so realised that I was going through their call centre in India.) She said she could transfer my call, tried and said they were shut. I knew that as I said it was 4pm and all I wanted was a number for my branch.

She couldn't give me a number and said "try again in the morning." So I decided to go to Barclays website and there is a number on there for complaints. Managed to get through to a Scottish lady (thank God an English call centre!) relayed all that happened and she sent a fax to my branch. Within a few minutes I got a call from my branch, the lady working there just happened to see the fax and was working late.

I had e-mailed them on the contact us page of their website and would you believe I didn't get a reply from them until after I'd opened the ISA and had already seen my branch! I don't know why they have these call centres abroad, it's more time consuming and a pain all round.

While I'm here does anyone know if I'll get the 6.50% interest for a year on the 2007/08 ISA? I have only just opened it March 2008. I was told in branch that the 6.50% would be good for a year so just wanted to check.

10_66

BallandChain wrote: »

While I'm here does anyone know if I'll get the 6.50% interest for a year on the 2007/08 ISA? I have only just opened it March 2008. I was told in branch that the 6.50% would be good for a year so just wanted to check.

The 6.50% is a variable rate, which includes a 1% bonus for 12 months from when account is opened (the bonus can be withdrawn at any time).

sallysaver

Hi,
Am I the only one who thinks Barclays have lost the plot in not accepting transfers in especially when the money is already in their Isa. Like everyone else who has a Tax Cash Beater Isa (2007-2008) we are about to loose the 1% bonus and most will be thinking of transferring. I know I will be. I wonder if they realise just how much money is about to be withdrawn. Perhaps they think that the majority of folks won't bother to look elsewhere but I can assure them I won't be with the majority on this one. Sally

Lokolo

sallysaver wrote: »

Hi,
Am I the only one who thinks Barclays have lost the plot in not accepting transfers in especially when the money is already in their Isa. Like everyone else who has a Tax Cash Beater Isa (2007-2008) we are about to loose the 1% bonus and most will be thinking of transferring. I know I will be. I wonder if they realise just how much money is about to be withdrawn. Perhaps they think that the majority of folks won't bother to look elsewhere but I can assure them I won't be with the majority on this one. Sally

It won't make much of a difference to them, as they have their 08/09 deals which have a 1% bonus, so all those people will come back with more money (as the allowance has gone up) for that tax year

bristolleedsfan

Lokolo wrote: »

It won't make much of a difference to them, as they have their 08/09 deals which have a 1% bonus, so all those people will come back with more money (as the allowance has gone up) for that tax year

What Sally_Saver means is that Barclays will be doing all the administration involved with transferring Tax Beater accounts out and new Tax Haven account openings, had they allowed Tax Beater accounts to be transferred into Tax Haven accounts administration would have been minimal.

ISA_Aspirant

Can one simply apply online for a student account with Barclays in order to benefit from the online application to open a Tax Haven ISA? I'm abroad and can't get to the UK easily. Are there any fees/drawbacks for opening a student account? I already have a student account with HSBC.

londonman81

Just want to check if I am thinking straight.....does the following make sense?

I've yet to use my ISA allowance this for year. So if I deposit £3000 with Barclays on 5th April and then £3600 (all of next years allowance) on 6th April, does this mean I get 6.5% for one year starting from 5th April?

This way I am getting 6.5% on £6600 for almost a full year? (less one day on 5th April when I can only have £3000 in the account).

Is this correct?

jem16

londonman81 wrote: »

Just want to check if I am thinking straight.....does the following make sense?

I've yet to use my ISA allowance this for year. So if I deposit £3000 with Barclays on 5th April and then £3600 (all of next years allowance) on 6th April, does this mean I get 6.5% for one year starting from 5th April?

This way I am getting 6.5% on £6600 for almost a full year? (less one day on 5th April when I can only have £3000 in the account).

Is this correct?

Yes that is correct.