Barclays Tax Haven ISA: Have you opened one?

Jherhome1

I think that if you are an existing Barclays customer and apply online then your ISA will be opened quite quickly. (Well mine was done in less than 5 days anyway) . However I am not sure about applying in the branch.

DUS

Jherhome1 wrote: »

I think that if you are an existing Barclays customer and apply online then your ISA will be opened quite quickly. (Well mine was done in less than 5 days anyway) . However I am not sure about applying in the branch.

Well, it actually doesn´t matter anymore as it´s now the end of July and Barclays should have managed to open the majority of accounts by now. :rolleyes:

Jherome, just for the records: I was a Barclays customer at the time I applied for the ISA and I applied online aback then. But these useless ****** still needed 3 months to open the account. Barclays´ service is absolutely crap!

Petal_3

Well.....having applied for 07/08 and 08/09 3 months ago.....I have now given up! Not one item of correspondence from Barclays although I have had several phone conversations and been into branch twice. All along they have assured that I can have 07/08 and 08/09 - first visit to branch to find out what's taking so long "you haven't been ID'd" Me: "Why didn't they write to advise me of this" Them: "they did" (never received anything). "Your application should go through now - expect to hear shortly". Weeks go by....nothing. Go into branch again and after 10 mins of them holding and speaking to ISA dept. "the time limit for 07/08 has lapsed now and you will need to reapply today for 08/09". Even the staff in branch are saying what a mess it all is.....one member even said "you would think that they would have learned from last year....this year is even worse" In between I have made phone calls where I was put on hold for 10 mins and then cut off....only to call back, explain I'd been on hold for a long time and been cut off and go through security again and put on hold for so long that I began to doubt that anyone would ever come back to speak to me so I gave up! There's loads of other stuff to (as I also applied for my OH for both years) but I really can't be bothered anymore. We have various accounts with Barclays and will shortly be closing them all. The level of "service" has been absolutely appalling. :mad:

I fancy an ethical bank.....Smile anyone?

I feel I should write a letter of complaint but I can't even be bothered to do that.......I'll just let me feet do the walking.

~x~

iolande

It's almost August and I still haven't got my Barclay's ISA!!!!

I opened this in March. It's just that Barclay's didn't open it. (apparently unless they open it nothing I did counts. I tell a half-lie - they have half opened it - I can't use it, and I can't get another ISA. damn)

They have, however, sent me a letter advising me to take my complaint to the Ombudsman.:eek:

What to do now to gain my tax-free account?:mad:

UK007BullDog

We got a letter and they will credit the ISA with £50 because they could not open the new ISA because they are too stupid to swap an old ISA into a new one. Because if one wants to take part in a new ISA one needs to stop the Direct Debit into the current ISA at least 6 weeks before the new ISA comes out. Otherwise their computers cannot cope as one cannot have two ISA's at the same time.

I know the government wants to be nice and give us a little extra (very little it is though). But the banks need to get a grip and Barclays is just a joke when it comes to this.

I think they cannot cope and will fob off some with £50 of potentially lost interest or some other stupid rule, just to get all those complaints off their tables.

Well, I made a reminder to stop the DD in middle Feb and then manually pay in on March to ensure I can have the better ISA in April if there is one.

jimbow25

I've opened one of these accounts- I don't have any other Barclays accounts and this is the first time I've had a branch-based account that doesn't have a cash card or passbook.

I was told I could view it via internet banking when I opened it but an earlier post on this thread said that's not possible unless you also have a current account.

I'm paying in monthly by standing order and so I'd like to know how fast the interest is accuring- the question is, how do I check my balance and access the money? What would I need to take the branch to do either of these things- a letter or bank statement? Can I access it by internet banking?

TomsMom

jimbow25 wrote: »

I've opened one of these accounts- I don't have any other Barclays accounts and this is the first time I've had a branch-based account that doesn't have a cash card or passbook.

I was told I could view it via internet banking when I opened it but an earlier post on this thread said that's not possible unless you also have a current account.

I'm paying in monthly by standing order and so I'd like to know how fast the interest is accuring- the question is, how do I check my balance and access the money? What would I need to take the branch to do either of these things- a letter or bank statement? Can I access it by internet banking?

We are in the same position as you - no other account with Barclays and it is not possible to view it on line. Go into the branch, make sure you have your ISA account number and sort code, then ask branch staff to give you a print out. We have done this a couple of times already. You will get an "Entries Report" with details of receipts and a balance.

parkemitch

on behalf of familly member..

:mad:

Going to make it short..for now..

2 ISA's were opened in branch in April - 1 was opened the other wasnt..

A few weeks later, we had a response saying that it was becuase of incorrect details, we then found out the manager had entered the wrong branch sort code. Again, it was nearly May now, and after many in branch visits and calls still not sorted. A complaint was then lodged, along comes May, saying it will be a further month.. More calls and visits, in this time we see a really helpful member of staff in branch and she ended up getting reported by the other Barclays member of staff at the call centre!
Along came June, and a letter saying there not in any position to respond...
More calls ...
Along comes July... not even a date when they would be replying..and no more luck in branch or on the phone.. :mad:

We have been a member of Barclays for over 30 years and have never had an problems....

So basically at the end of the day... money sitting in an account doing nothing.. and not even a glimmer of any backdated interest etc :mad:

Petal_3

My ISA - applied for 4 months ago - not one item of correspondence - went into branch and told them to forget it after various calls and visits. Now I've received a letter saying they are investigating my complaint! I said FORGET IT!

His ISA - despite having a letter upholding our complaint and saying he could have the 07/08 allowance as well as 08/09 they now say he can't. "We have credited your account with £220 compensation"

What a mess....

peas

I have just received a letter from Barclays cancelling my Tax Haven ISA. Apparently my standing order into 07/08 ISA although it left my account in the first couple of days of april arrived at barclays on 8th april ie in new tax year. they therefore took that as an opening deposit for my new ISA which was just the one I opened last year.
so they have moved my money to a low interest paying savings account and deducted the tax on the interest I earned.

I am sooooooooooo angry I don't know which way to go. Do I have a valid case for complaint or shall I just drop the case?

If I should complain do I contact customer services or go into the local branch?

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers