My BR was formalised 2 weeks ago. Needed a new bank account and finally got an appointment today - New account opened up on the spot by a very friendly, helpful and well informed member of staff at one of my local branches who supplied:

1. Sortcode and Account number immediately.
2. Online banking login details
3. Got the iPhone App up and running for me.

Apparently Barclays have in the last week finally sorted the "software glitch" that wouldn't enable Internet banking for undischargeds.

Also available as of the same update, a proper contactless Visa Debit card which is winging its way to me.

Just one point - The information on Barclays website is a little lacking in some areas - A Cashcard account can ONLY be opened in branch. The branches operate an appointments system - You can't just walk in and be seen. Telephoning the callcentre to make an appointment is a waste of time. When I tried to on Friday I was met with a message saying wait times to speak to first level staff were in excess of 10 minutes.

So expect to drop into your branch to make the appointment one day, and then go back to open the account a few days after that. A pain when one lives rurally and only learned this by wasting 15 miles of fuel and car parking last week. To the surly unhelpful blob behind the counter in the branch I went to first (and never will again), whatever's going on in my life at the moment, it can't be nearly as bad as what's happening in yours!

Any how, the lovely chap I saw today in a different branch, plus the proper banking facilities now available to us undischargeds has in my eyes at least, redeemed their brand.