Barclays Tax Haven - any problems opening?

zippy08

I applied for this ISA online on the 16th, and apart from the acknowledgement email, I've not had any other information to say the account has been opened. The funds have also not been taken from my current account .

Testing here if this is normal before I get on to Barclays. Has anyone else had delays in account opening?

Lokolo

You are definately opening a tax haven ISA for 07/08...? Check email, if it is, then I would go into a branch to check.

Toastie

zippy08 wrote: »

I applied for this ISA online on the 16th, and apart from the acknowledgement email, I've not had any other information to say the account has been opened. The funds have also not been taken from my current account .

Testing here if this is normal before I get on to Barclays. Has anyone else had delays in account opening?

Oooo i knew it, i'm setting mine up on the 9th of april (already have one for this year) just had to tell me my worst nightmare

Ask in branch tomorrow see what they say, i usually get my way, mind you i scared the staff in there when they said it was my fault about random payments, soon sorted with a good old rant and voice raise

10_66

zippy08 wrote: »

I applied for this ISA online on the 16th, and apart from the acknowledgement email, I've not had any other information to say the account has been opened. The funds have also not been taken from my current account .

Testing here if this is normal before I get on to Barclays. Has anyone else had delays in account opening?

Going on last year's experience, it took them a couple of months to sort it out, though they claim to have employed more staff to help with the situation this year. However, as has been pointed out previously, the extra staff probably won't make that much of an impact because Barcalys will have even more work this year, because of all the transfers out they'll have to cope with due to the Tax Beater bonus being removed at end of 12 months.

tfboy

I've had fun trying to get one open.
Went into the main branch at Reading Saturday lunchtime. Queued for a few minutes then noticed a flipchart saying that people who wish to open an ISA account need to apply online because the bank has gone past the closing time/date for application (???)

So then phoned them up on the 0845 6030845 number. However, their telephone lines had shut :mad:

So waited till this morning to give them a call, and having got through to their menu system, I'm told that I cannot apply over the phone unless I'm an existing Barclays customer (which I'm not).

I press 1 to continue anyway and all I get is an engaged tone.

Obviously, they've really got their act together :rolleyes:

tfboy

Well, after queueing for 20 minutes on an international phone call (in France at the moment) to Barclays, finally managed to get through.


Was told "Sorry, need to apply online". I explained the notice shown at the Reading branch but the lady apologised and said that's incorrect information and they need people to apply in person to check ID. I did ask her to do start the process and I would go in bank to sign and prove ID when I could, but she said that was not possible and an ID check was required before any application could be made.

So, as far as I'm concerned, they've lost a prospective customer. How could someone put a sign up like that?!?

Lokolo

To solve all your problems I have a brilliant solution:

Don't wait until the last minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tfboy

Lokolo wrote: »

To solve all your problems I have a brilliant solution:

Don't wait until the last minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for that info, however would be more useful if you'd told me earlier

Lokolo

Hehe indeed.

If you aren't that bothered about losing some interest and you still struggling to open Barclays then go elsewhere?

I have just been to Barclays branch to open 08/09 ISA and she said it will be processed about 2 weeks after the new tax year begins

tfboy

My father opened an ISA with Barclays on Friday without any problems. He did try to get through to the manager who dealt with his case, but after being moved from department to department, being put on hold, speaking to some chap in India who hardly spoke a word of English and who's sole purpose on the phone was to redirect him to another department, my father gave up after building up some frustration.

Seeing as I'm moving around Europe this week, but won't be in the UK, I'm trying to find places I can open an ISA online. Annoyingly, A&L's 6.25% is not available online anymore for the 07/08 year, despite what the guide on MSE says.

Do you know of other places still taking applications online for the 07/08 year? Doesn't have to be a good deal as I can move it to another ISA I can open for the 08/09 year once I'm back in the UK.

polomint_2

I had no problems openeing one in branch. But money isnt taken from the account until the new tax year starts.