Barclays Tax Haven ISA: Have you opened one?

Trying_to_be_good

FINALLY, having applied for my 08/09 ISA on 20 March online (existing mortgage customer), it was opened on 19 June after many phone calls and three visits to brnaches, Barclays have TODAY credited my ISA with the promised backdated interest for 6 April to 19 June (just under £50).

They have thus far offered £10 compensation for all the hassle and time off work, then a further £10 when I said I wanted £100. Off to the FOS I go...

Oh, and they won't give me a copy of my complaint file unless I call them back again - apparently knowing all the details of the accounts and complaints isn't good enough for passing their stringent 'security' rules for releasing information under the Data Protection Act.

FellowesWay

TomsMom wrote: »

Yes, OH and I have done this a few times.

Just make sure you have your ISA account number and sort code and ask the cashier for a print out. You will get an "Entries Report" which will be a statement of transactions with dates, amounts and balance. We did this just last week.

Edited to add: Doesn't cost anything and they do it on the spot.

Many thanks TomsMom for the advice.

I went into the bank and got an "Entries Report" which made me furious as interest has only been paid from 22 May (the date the account was finally opened - application dated 1st April for 2007/8 tax year)). I was invited to see a Personal Banker and I said I was extremely annoyed about this. Interestingly he immediately said " Interest should have been paid from the date of application" and he telephoned the ISA people who told him that interest was only payable from 14 days after the application date - he expressed surprise! He told them that this had clearly had not been done, and they agreed to look into it and write to me.
He also asked the ISA person when I might expect a reply to my complaint of 15 May about the delay in opening the account - I have had interim "replies" dated 19th May, 9th June and 4th July, and the Barclay computer showed it as due for review on 11th August (my visit to the bank was on 20th August!) and he relayed their answer to me " they have a backlog of complaints and are currently dealing those raised in the first half of May and expect to send a reply in the next 14 days".
14 days have passed, and no reply.

The advisor on 20th August was very helpful, he advised me that I could have monthly statements sent to me by post, and he set it up - the first arrived today (still showing interest only from 22 May).

So to those Tax Haven ISA holders who do not have access to Barclays online, I would suggest you get down to your nearest branch, ask for an "Entries Report" check it carefully, and then arrange to get a monthly statement sent to you.

babsx

babsx wrote: »

As I previously wrote, Barclay's mucked up on opening my 07/08 ISA, I did complain to the Financial Ombudsman, although due to a back log of cases to look into so I've not had a final response from them as yet.

However, I'm not sure if Barclay's were aware I had made a complaint, but they've written to me today, and basically there's no way they can rectify the problem, (so I've lost my tax allowance for 07/08)...and they've calculated the interest on what I would have earned from my deposit of £2950 for tax yr 07/08 and they've given me a cheque for £191.75

I wondered what you guys thought of that offer

The Financial Ombudsman has been in contact and offered me a further £80 in compensation, they thought it was a fair compromise, they said if I wanted to take it further then it could take several months until a final legal outcome was reached...as I pointed out it's not about the loss of interest, but the loss of my annual ISA allowance as I've come this far then what's several more months of waiting for a final response. I got the feeling the FO had only done a preliminary investigation into my complaint and it would only start in earnest when I refuse this new offer... which I now have!

bonnie_stpierre

I went into Barclays on 12th April to open an ISA with £1 cheque (I was going to deposit the rest once opened). Went back several times to find out what was happening, and was told to be patient and my interest would be backdated, even the £3599 I was planning on depositing, as long as I could prove I had the funds waiting.
4 MONTHS later when I went in for an update I was told it had never been applied for. I could open one but would take another two weeks and they wouldn't backdate my interest (yeah right).
I wrote them a letter of complaint, and the manager rang a few days later to tell me I could open the ISA or a savings account and he would deposit the interest I'd lost into it, because there was no way he could send me a cheque. I reluctantly agreed and booked an appointment only to find out it was with the !!!!!! who cocked it up in the first place. I rang the manager and told him I didn't want to open an account with them, and if he couldn't send me a cheque I'd go the ombudsman. To which he told me I was wasting my time as they'd given me a solution to my problem.

Does anyone know if this is the case?

chambta

Barclays have finally backdated my interest to the day of application (April 7th) for the full £3600 and have added £29 something to my ISA. I will be moving it as soon as this tax year is up!

TomsMom

chambta wrote: »

Barclays have finally backdated my interest to the day of application (April 7th) for the full £3600 and have added £29 something to my ISA. I will be moving it as soon as this tax year is up!

You don't have to wait until this tax year is up, you can move it now. That's what I've done and I didn't lose the bonus, it was paid up till the date of transfer along with the interest. Just find another provider who will accept transfers in and transfer it.

chambta

I know I can but I will take the rate I have and move my business elsewhere next year. I won't allow Barclays to mess around my money again but I'm not going to lose myself interest just to spite them.

TomsMom

chambta wrote: »

I know I can but I will take the rate I have and move my business elsewhere next year. I won't allow Barclays to mess around my money again but I'm not going to lose myself interest just to spite them.

The difference on the interest between my new provider and Barclays isn't enough for me to lose any sleep over compared to the almighty fiasco Barclays have managed to create these last two years with their ISAs and the frustration they have caused their customers. I'll give them their due though, they managed my transfer without a hitch and in pretty good time too :rotfl:

katzeyes_2

Still waiting for 2008 ISA to be opened and I applied mid April, it's now 15 September, 5 months later! Is this a record? I opened a 2007 ISA with Barclays on 1st April 2008 just in time before the end of the tax year. This went quite smoothly and took a couple of weeks to process. A few weeks later I added to the account the current years contribution, done in a local branch and a cheque handed over. 6 weeks later nothing, money still sitting in my current account awaiting transfer.. on ringing Barclays I was advised to stop my cheque as it must have gone missing and asked to post them another cheque, which I did with a letter quoting the complaint number I was given. I have since received two letters both saying that my complaint is not yet resolved.

I have telephoned several times and each time am "promised" that it will all be sorted and interest will be paid back to the date I first tried to add the 2008 money to my existing account.
Question..has anyone any ideas how to move this on? Please...

byronbay_2

Made appointment with adviser in March, she had no idea what she was doing! could'nt open ISA because of "computer glich" andtold me to put the money into my partners ISA and she would transfer it once mine was open. Tried again few days later and was asked to write another cheque for my ISA which was eventually opened a month later. The original money is still in my partners ISA because Barclays won't transfer it !!!. Complaing is pointless, they cannot even tell me what branches are open on Saturdays!!!
Both me and my partner are Moving our ISA somewhere else, no amount of interest is worth this!!!