Barclaycard unable to set up a direct debit

Honeydog

Hi,

I used to have a Barclaycard but didn't use it much and they stopped sending me statements. For some reason (probably because I hadn't actually cancelled it) they sent me a new card when one was due.

I decided to use it again - thought having just one card for net purchases might be a good idea.

Anyway. I asked them to set up a direct debit for the full amount each month. They said OK but I would have to make a couple of payments manually as it would take 6 weeks to set up the dd.

SIX WEEKS????? But when you set up any other dd it hardly takes a few days.

Anyway made a couple of payments manually, then lo and behold, on my statement I saw the hallowed words "Your account will be debited..etc etc"

Cool I thought. No more manual payments. So I didn't make any. And when the next statement came through I'd been charged interest on a missed payment!

Cue lots of phonecalls. BC promised to refund the interest and set up the dd properly.

Next statement. They had charged me again for the interest! They'd given it back as a credit and then charged for it again.

Cue more phonecalls. Threat of cancelling my account got me away from India and to a UK call centre.

Apologetic person gives me £15 credit as a goodwill gesture and promises to sort it out. I actually got the £15 credit but so far they haven't sorted it out. They promised to call me back and haven't bothered. Plus I checked this morning and there was still no dd from them.

BC have blamed my bank but I've had that account for more than 25 years and it has never had a problem with any other DDs or SOs. Compare a magazine sub which was set up within a week.

So what's up then? Are BC just a bunch of muppets? Shall I cancel? I need a credit card co. to be reliable. I don't want to have to keep checking up on them.

Anyone else had any similar problems with Barclaycard?

Thanks HD

RichyRich

IIRC the 6 weeks thing is so that it fits with your payment cycle - so that only payments you've been informed will be taken out by DD, will be (to save a payment being manually made once, and also direct debited).

However, there's no excuse for this show of ineptitude in the ability (or otherwise!) to set up a DD. My advice? Dump Barclaycard. It's uncompetitive anyway, and if they can't even manage a Direct Debit do you really want to trust them with any of your other financial affairs.

If you're paying the full balance monthly, both American Express and Capital One currently have some very attractive cashback offers. See Martin's excellent article for more info.

YorkshireBoy

RichieRich has told you why they (might) need 6 weeks, which is to ensure they comply with the direct debit guarantee (which exists to protect YOU).

You can check whether a DD is actually 'set up' with your bank, either by visiting a branch or by telephone/online banking. There's no need to wait until the next statement comes to find out it hasn't been paid.

So far you've been dealing with the issue by phone. Why not register a formal complaint? That way, they must rectify your complaint within 8 weeks or you escalate matters to the FOS.