Barclays Tax Haven ISA: Have you opened one?

pennyman_2

applied for a barclays isa online on april 6,got email confirming,heard nothing since.

freeasabird

I went to a local branch of Barclays to pay in a cheque before the end of the 07/08 year. I was told that they couldn't accept any payments and was given an envelope to send a cheque to their office in Glasgow. I then rang t ISA customer services and was told to send it to their office in Liverpool. They wouldn't accept an electronic transfer because I have a current account with another bank. I sent the cheque off to Liverpool and waited and waited. When I called ISA customer services, they said they couldn't find the cheque. I asked to speak to a manager and she apologised and told me that they would look into it. I was also promised £30.00 compensation. Despite reassuring me that they would contact me to let me know what has happened; I haven't heard anything and now I've discovered that my cheque has been cashed. Barclays sent me a letter saying that they will reply to my complaint by the middle of May. I've lost the will to live.

Wells_Next_the_Sea

I applied in branch and got confirmation letter of 15th March, my account still hasn't been opened. Doubley miffed as was persuated to open account with only £1 and told I could put in the other £2,599 when it was opened. I have had this money standing idle in my current account for a month now. Have telephoned their ISA department and called in at my branch and there is nothing anyone can/will do.:mad:

snarffie

Opened online on 6th April. £1500 sitting in crummy barclays current account since then.

ISA opened today, 3 days under 1 calendar month!

I will check to see if my lost interest has been credited next month. :rolleyes:

burnoutbabe

isa opened Friday, after applying online 6th April. £3k was at least sat in my barclays 4.42% e-saver for the month.

We shall see what happens about the interest

yorkie3761

I applied in branch clutching passport, utility bill etc for I.D. and my application was filled out by branch staff. They already had me on file from a previous account so it was all straight forward. Some time later (I was on holiday) I received a response telling me that I would have to return to branch to re-verify my I.D. because branch had made an error in getting my status right on the computer. I said that I wasn't returning anywhere since it was a 20 miles round trip and half a day by public transport. Under the circumstances it was logged as an official complaint and I was assured that it would all be sorted out. About a month later I received a letter telling me that I would have to return to branch to re-verify my I.D. Since it was their error they would reimburse my bus fare ( I am an OAP with a free bus pass). I said that it was too much hassle and that there were other institutions that would be happy to take my money so to forget about it. I haven't heard anything since.

Nod1234

As non Barclays customer I had to open at branch, where staff refused to open a/c without appointment with financial adviser. Forms completed, id checked and cheque handed over on 22/4/08. Manager said some delay with paperwork is expected but interest will be backdated to 22/4. Letter dated 27/4 received from barclays cust service Glasgow stating I should expect a/c to be opened within approx 4 weeks, and interest will be earned from that opening date. No mention of backdating. I'm about to make a formal complaint to the branch and if necessary to the centre. All this is not worth the trouble - I should have gone for one of the many online offerings. Barclays forces new customers to a branch so can sell extra things but is unable to cope with demands or keep its managers' promises.

JezzE

Can't begin to tell you how pathetic I think Barclays are. Impossible to get to speak to anyone; a/c only just opened after 5 weeks; not a hint of any promise regarding backdated interest; second year in a row they have done this.
Barclays must know that if it offers market-leading rates promoted on websites such as this there is going to be huge demand and should gear itself up accordingly.
Needless to say, I shall not be considering Barclays for my ISA money next year regardless of how glamourous their interest rates are - it's just too much hassle and grief!

deep_pockets

surely by now it is obvious there is a clear pattern of incompitance, misleading promises of "backdating interest", incorrect term and conditions of payments into a/c , poor customer service when approached to sort out any of these problems , and inability to open a/cs within a reasonable time period to get MSE to update and at least for warn people to the pitfalls to opening a BARCLAYS TAX HAVEN CASH ISA.

There must be a lot of people over this weekend, sat around on their computers looking at opening an isa and yet MSE are still recomending them on their main site?

surely a warning to this pattern of problems is called for!

nathanhill69

Exactly the same thing happened last year (if you look back to this time last year the exact same thread theme was the top thread for at least a couple of months). This year I actually tried to warn some forum users about Barclays incompetence in opening ISA accounts but was dismissed by some of the very same posters who are complaining now - guess until it happens to you and all that......

As far as a warning, I think there is some mention in the ISA article regarding Barclays and their promise to back date interest but agree that it may be helpful to put a more prominent warning up highlighting the issues Barclays customers are having, at least in the short term.