Regular Savings Accounts Article Discussion

dropkick_2

I went in to the hampstead branch and they categorically denied this. i have tried calling Barclays 10 times (such is my faith in Martin!) but have been repeatedly informed it is not true. What number can one phone to have them inform a branch of their error?

katybshopaholic

Hi, read of the 7.75 per cent and thought before I rush down to my local Barclays branch I would check it online to make sure it was available. It quoted 6 per cent and when I rang customer services they said it was now only 5.4. I quoted your website Barclays statement so she went off to check. And yes, you were right. So I am off with my id and cheque to see how I go on at the branch! Many thanks

katybshopaholic

The number I got through on was 08457555555, option 2 for new accounts. First time I tried I got someone with a terrible foreign accent I couldn't understand a word he said and he obviously couln't understand me either. Eventually he pretended it was a bad line and asked me to ring back. On my third attempt I managed to get someone who could speak passable english who told me the 7.75 rate had finished. I stood my ground and quoted Martin's website and she went off to find a supervisor who confirmed it is indeed 7.75 but ends today. She said if I get fobbed off at the bank to insist they ring head office to verify. Worth a try!

susieque_3

Hi
This is my first post so sorry if its a bit dodgy - but really need to share this with you all.
Armed with my copy of the statement issued by Barclays to MSE re 7.75% rate until 31/12/08, our passports and £400 CASH - my husband and I have just been to Barclays in Chichester to be told the rate is 6% not 7.75% today. We insisted he checked and came back to tell us one colleague says we will get 7.75% and another 6%. We decided to open two accounts anyway and argue about it later! We told them we had CASH to open the account today - guess what we've discovered a Bank that doesn't take CASH!!!!!!!!! The guy told us we would have to go to our Bank and get the money transferred to the new Savings Accounts today - but he couldn't accept CASH to open the accounts - how mad is that???????? Call me a synic - but could it be they were just making it difficult to open it today because of the rate debacle??
So we went to our own bank (RBS) who were incredulous that Barclays couldn't (wouldn't) take our CASH - we therefore paid in the CASH to our account and arranged for two CHAPS payments to be made to the new Savings Account by the close of business today at a cost of £20 per transaction ie £40!!!!! So amazed were RBS that they kindly waived one of the fees - but it has still cost us £20 - or has is Barclays?????? Do the decent thing and refund this amount and for goodness sake sort yourselves out. Anyone else tried to open this account today???

blushingbride_3

i just called and they wouldnt let me!
he wouldnt speak to anyone higher said he is highest and its his job!
says because base rate has dropped then the interest has dropped!

RayWolfe

susieque wrote: »

arranged for two CHAPS payments to be made to the new Savings Account by the close of business today at a cost of £20 per transaction ie £40

Welcome.
In order to qualify to be an MSE, you mustn't waste money and I'm afraid you have just paid out more to receive a higher rate of interest than the amount of extra interest will provide!
Never mind, you will get better at it, we all had to start somewhere.
Happy new year.

Milarky

susieque wrote: »

So we went to our own bank (RBS) who were incredulous that Barclays couldn't (wouldn't) take our CASH - we therefore paid in the CASH to our account and arranged for two CHAPS payments to be made to the new Savings Account by the close of business today at a cost of £20 per transaction ie £40!!!!!

This could have cost you nothing if you had requested a 'single payment' (perhaps just by completing a form in-branch for each Barclay RS account number?)* as RBS personal bank customers now enjoy FREE 'faster payments' up to £10,000 (certainly up to £250) and payments to Barclay's are instant....not simply 'end of day'

*perhaps it takes a day to input payees manually anyway, but you can certainly 'set up and pay' via on-line banking yourself.

blushingbride_3

on the phone now and he's lovely and opening me one! i'm so pleased

7sefton

I've got a problem with Halifax Regular Saver:

Although I can't remember the exact day I 'opened' the account (i.e. applied online, got accepted and given my account details) I am sure it was in early December when the advertised fixed rate was 7%. I subsequently arranged for the first standing order to be made, and this reached the RS on 16 Dec. I have had nothing through the post to confirm my account, nor is the rate quoted on online banking.

So I called the Halifax today to check a) the rate, and b) if I should have received confirmation in the post. The advisor couldn't see what the rate was straight away, and after putting me on hold came back and said it was 6%. I questioned this as I opened it under the impression I qualified for 7%. Her response was that the account was 'opened' on 16 Dec (when the standing order was received), and the rate had changed on 11 Dec so I was too late.

Not only am I annoyed with myself for missing the Barclays 7.75% deal, I'm now upset that Halifax will only be paying me 6%. And I am sure I opened it when 7% was the advertised rate.

Has anyone got any advice? Thanks in advance

Supreme_2

I am obviously too late for the Barclays deal, but what is the next best one for me to go for? I am with Natwest, so their 4.47% is appealing, but it's quite low really.