Barclays Tax Haven ISA: Have you opened one?

Daps

Went into the branch to open the account on April 9th. I have had one letter about 2-3 weeks later letting me know that there was a delay, but acknowleding the application. Still not opened though, and the cheque has still not been banked.

cashless-cow

Tried to open one of these for my husband using my on-line banking. Filled in all the details correctly including his date of birth and National Insurance number but recieved a letter from Barclays welcoming 'ME' (not my husband) to my new ISA account. The letter actually showed my husbands' date of birth and NI number but with my name. When I eventually got through on the phone to Barclays, I was assured that 'THE SYSTEM' would reject this application which had occurred because I used my on-line banking system to make the application and my details had overridden the information that I had submitted for my husband. As suggested I applied again using the direct link from the Barclays main website and 6 weeks later I finally recieved the new account details.
To my horror, the ISA account which Barclays set up in error in my name with my husbands details, has still not been cancelled as it is subject to an internal enquiry and it was only today after many weeks of phonecalls, that I persuaded them to transfer back the £3000 that had been sitting in this account for the last 6 weeks. Unfortunately I cannot accept the interest that this money has been earning as I already have an Halifax ISA account that I have paid into for the current tax year and this would contravene the ISA rules.
I am also waiting for another ISA for my son which was applied for on the same date as my husbands (2nd attempt), but which Barclays have no record of. This is also subject to an internal investigation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When Barclays started to investigate my case, I recieved a letter to say they would contact me with an update by 9/5/08, I have now had a letter to say they will contact me again by 9/6/08.
I would guess that I'm not the only person to have suffered this sort of **** up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aliwali

I've just sent my email complaint, highlighting that they have no interest in customer loyalty. We'll see what comes back.
Alison

Rod1883

My wife received a letter today (10/05) saying that her ISA was opened on 6th May - exactly 1 whole month after she applied on line. The interest reate quoted is the new one of 6.25%, it was 6.5% when she applied, and the letter makes no mention of backdating any interest either. As she is a Barclays current account holder she has had to hold the funds in her effectively zero interest paying current account.
She will be phoning to complain.

I applied in branch on 12th April, and have still heard nothing (apart from the initial acknowledgement letter).

I am now feeling that we've been conned - getting us to sign up to 6.5% and then the bank, knowing that it will take a month plus to process the application, drop the rate in that time. We would have gone elsewhere if they had been honest.

Rod

aliwali

Hurrah
My bad vibes sent to Barclays must have worked as my account was opened yesterday, had I not left my debit card at the postoffice I probably would have known that before sending the email. But now I don't seem to be able to transfer my money online or set up a standing order???? I think someone else mentioned this as well, how pointless is that so now I have to go to the branch on monday to sort!!!

Hope others are finally getting there as well.
Alison

BruceyBonus

Rod1883 wrote: »

I am now feeling that we've been conned - getting us to sign up to 6.5% and then the bank, knowing that it will take a month plus to process the application, drop the rate in that time. We would have gone elsewhere if they had been honest.

The account is not fixed rate, so people who signed up before the rate dropped will also be receiving the new lower rate. However I do agree with you about it being a con in the sense the money is left in your current account earning no interest for a month.

kazwookie

According to the Inital letter I got from Barclays, which I have now read properly, I am a Crown Employee!!:rotfl: :eek:

Does that make me a judge or something similar?

I have phoned Barclays and they say they will adjust thier records. Mean while my money still sits in my current accounts............................

deep_pockets

aliwali wrote: »

Hurrah
My bad vibes sent to Barclays must have worked as my account was opened yesterday, had I not left my debit card at the postoffice I probably would have known that before sending the email. But now I don't seem to be able to transfer my money online or set up a standing order???? I think someone else mentioned this as well, how pointless is that so now I have to go to the branch on monday to sort!!!

Hope others are finally getting there as well.
Alison

dont get to excited you have to go into branch queque up to see personnal banker, they fill in a "fax instruction for cash isa top up " form,which they fax off to isa admin dept in liverpool, where they take in my case 6 days to transfer the money finally into your isa!

so you will still be losing interest for another week yet.

good luck

lucyd_2

I realise that Barclays have the right to drop the interest rate on their Tax Haven ISA (hence the term "variable") but imagine my dismay when after seeing adverts throughout Feb and March for a whopping 6.41%, the actual interest rate on my Tax Haven ISA is 6.08%!!!!

Lokolo

lucyd wrote: »

I realise that Barclays have the right to drop the interest rate on their Tax Haven ISA (hence the term "variable") but imagine my dismay when after seeing adverts throughout Feb and March for a whopping 6.41%, the actual interest rate on my Tax Haven ISA is 6.08%!!!!

They changed it May 1st after the BOE base rate drop in April.