Barclays Additions

shanni

I never read anything here about Barclays Bank (is that a suprise)? I've had their additions account for nearly 4 years because I've always needed the overdraft facility which is currently £1k. However, thanks to this site and me getting sensible at last, it has only taken 2 months to bring my bank acc bank into the black (been living off 0% cc) so it's time now to ditch the additions. I've never taken advantage of the extras that come with the additions and am unlkely to. I need to stop paying the £9.50 month for the priviledge.

Quick question: As I'm about to move, I can't face changing my bank account at the same time, so does anyone here have their basic current account? Or should I really go for a change to one of the others recommended here?

M_Thomson

I never read anything here about Barclays Bank (is that a suprise)? I've had their additions account for nearly 4 years because I've always needed the overdraft facility which is currently £1k. However, thanks to this site and me getting sensible at last, it has only taken 2 months to bring my bank acc bank into the black (been living off 0% cc) so it's time now to ditch the additions. I've never taken advantage of the extras that come with the additions and am unlkely to.  I need to stop paying the £9.50 month for the priviledge.

Quick question: As I'm about to move, I can't face changing my bank account at the same time, so does anyone here have their basic current account? Or should I really go for a change to one of the others recommended here?

If I would you I would change to Smile. Great customer service, and as a bank it takes a really good ethical stance.

sergeant121

If I would you I would change to Smile.  Great customer service, and as a bank it takes a really good ethical stance.

If you decide to move on (IMHO, that's got to be a good idea), I'd recommend you undertake the setting up of new Direct Debits and Standing Orders (and, afterwards, putting in writing to Barclays as part of your, "Close my account forthwith" letter deletion of the old ones) yourself.  For some reason, all the banks appear to have a problem managing that side of things even if they boast about providing you with a 'personal changeover agent' or some such rubbish as part of their sales patter.

AndyR_3

Cancelling your Additions with Barclays should be a two minute job, and you can keep the same account number and card that you currently use. You'll probably also be able to keep an overdraft facility, which will be more expensive to use than the Additions one, but handy for emergencies.

Paul_Herring

Cancelling your Additions with Barclays should be a two minute job, and you can keep the same account number and card that you currently use. You'll probably also be able to keep an overdraft facility, which will be more expensive to use than the Additions one, but handy for emergencies.

This is what I did - though when I rang up, they told me they couldn't do it over the phone for me - I had to write in.

They just renamed the account from Additions to 'BBA OVDRFT NO PROTECTION',stopped charging me £7.00 or whatever it was back then a month and lowered my overdraft by about £400 (the free part of it - I still have an overdraft limit, though I've never used it since cancelling the Additions.) No change of account number/card etc.

Quick question: As I'm about to move, I can't face changing my bank account at the same time, so does anyone here have their basic current account? Or should I really go for a change to one of the others recommended here?

Before cancelling however I would suggest that you use up the features like the will writing service.

johnllew

If I would you I would change to Smile.  Great customer service, and as a bank it takes a really good ethical stance.

I agree; Smile is an excellent bank and its updated website is great - if you apply before the end of November, you can get 6 bottles of wine free here.

jb84344

I to had an additions account and a £1,000 overdraft. However, it's still cheaper to have the £1,000 overdraft without additions! ???

Anyway - scrapping additions is easy and they let me do it via telephone banking - although they did try and sell me an even more expensive version >:( (£12.50 pcm I think) before they did get rid of it though!

hth,
JB

DiB_2

Hello, first post, so please excuse any faux pas.

I am also with Barclays and have been for 10 years, since being a student. Really begrudging paying £9.50 per month, but a bit wary of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Haven't used overdraft for quite a while, but have moved in with boyf and we are still finding our feet, so like it as a safety net. Worried about moving and missing DD's etc and getting charged. Bit lame really since I am already giving them a tenner of my hard earned money each month. I liked the sound of the A&L, but then read the post about all the problems people have had. Can anyone advise?

anitha

Hi,

I am currently paying the £12.50 charge a month, we do not use the overdraft and I am still to get down and use will facility. We do use the travel insurance and green flag plus membership and card protection.
My justification is that all of that would have cost me more than £150 a year , but am open to your thoughts and suggestions.

Sceptical...........

anitha

jb84344

Hello, first post, so please excuse any faux pas.

I am also with Barclays and have been for 10 years, since being a student.  Really begrudging paying £9.50 per month, but a bit wary of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.  Haven't used overdraft for quite a while, but have moved in with boyf and we are still finding our feet, so like it as a safety net.  Worried about moving and missing DD's etc and getting charged.  Bit lame really since I am already giving them a tenner of my hard earned money each month.  I liked the sound of the A&L, but then read the post about all the problems people have had.  Can anyone advise?

Get rid of paying the money to additions - nothing will change except you'll be nearly a tenner a month better off or over £100 in a year. - however, get your will done first seeings how you've paid for the priviledge. Your bank account number, direct debits and everything else will stay the same.

Anthony_MK

jb84344 wrote: »

Get rid of paying the money to additions - nothing will change except you'll be nearly a tenner a month better off or over £100 in a year.

Thats true. Until you factor in paying for holiday insurance for yourself/family, breakdown cover, additional years warantee on electric goods, will writing and numerous other services.

Just because a well known bank offers a paid for service, doesnt mean it isnt good value.