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Original poster

Absolutely livid with Barclays Bank!!!

28 replies

Zephyrrywitchescat · 17/10/2005 11:25

We went to Tesco at on Saturday evening to get the weeks shopping (the only chance we really get to do it) and dp's cashcard was refused.
We rang Barclays and dp spent about half an hour asking to speak to a supervisor becuase he was told that his card had been cancelled because they were issuing a new one - but they hadn't actually issued one. So we had no money for shopping and no way of getting any. After that call, I rang Barclays again on a different number and this time they let dp talk to a supervisor - who told him the same thing, they had cancelled his card but not issued a new one yet. He was then told that as it was now after 6, the people who could unblock his card had gone home and he needed to ring back after 9 tomorrow morning (sunday), which he did, only to be told that that department don't work on a Sunday!!! He was then told that the person he originally spoke to could have unblocked his card as we rang before 6 So we spent all day yesterday with no food, nothing to do and nowhere to go (Sunday is dd and ds's day where they choose where they want to go for the day as they're stuck home with me all week!!)

What can I do? I have to write to someone! Is there an obudsman system I can write to? Also do we have the right to the conversations as they were all recorded?

OP posts:
QueenVictoria · 17/10/2005 11:29

Its amazing what banks get away with. Make plenty of noise and dont give up. Their should be a banking ombudsman but i dont know about it.

Sorry i cant give any useful advice.

march29 · 17/10/2005 12:03

hi. having worked in a bank i can tell you that there is a way to tkae this further. tell your dh to go into his branch or nearest branch and make a fuss and if they don't tkae notice tell them to give you the contact details of their head office customer svces. talk to them directly and demand that they sort this out for you straight away and get u a new card by special delivery. also ask for compensation. don't take is sitting down coz they will get away with it.u do have a rihgt to the conversations if u take it further. when u contact their head office they will demand an internal investigation.

Original poster
Zephyrrywitchescat · 17/10/2005 13:49

Thanks ever so much March29 - that's just what I needed to know dp went into Barclays this morning and was told there is no way of reversing the block on a card so basically tough luck!! Will ring him now and send him back in there!! Honestly, we've had so much grief with Barclays they're not getting away with this one!!

OP posts:
edam · 17/10/2005 14:01

Barclays are cr*p IMO, dreadful customer service - act as if they are doing you a favour by deigning to take your money. Once this is sorted out suggest jumping ship - do some googling for advice on which banks are decent (would recommend mine but appears to have gone downhill... sigh...).

PeachyClairPumpkinPie · 17/10/2005 14:52

barclays and Nat West... crud, IMHO. Waiting for a card from Nat West... took them three attempts to order, telephonist admitted her colleagues probably too lazy (quote) to fill in the form, not that this one has turned up yet... can't drive, no bank here, stuffed!

PeachyClairPumpkinPie · 17/10/2005 14:52

(But Nationwide, Dh's bank, are great)

Original poster
Zephyrrywitchescat · 17/10/2005 15:13

Anyone with Bank of Scotland? dp has just got into a credit consolidation programme thing and part of their scheme is to set you up with the Bank of Scotland - which is partly why I want to have one big final go at Barclays for all their c**p!!!

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 17/10/2005 15:49

I had an absolute nightmare with a different bank and got the financial ombudsman involved.It's a free service and after about 6 months I won my case,got all my money back and £250 compensation.
My dad has also had problems with Barclays though.He paid some money into his account(in the branch)and queried it when it didn't show on his next statement.Apparently they had paid it into someone elses account,so it was a good job he checked!
I'm now with the Nationwide and they're brilliant!

bubbaloo · 17/10/2005 15:52

Just found they're website but "can't do links!".
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

HTH.

marthamoo · 17/10/2005 15:57

Sort it out then switch banks - Barclays are the pits. Co-op are good

Original poster
Zephyrrywitchescat · 17/10/2005 16:09

Brill, thank you

OP posts:
NannyL · 22/10/2005 23:39

LOL, can i please join the LIVID WITH BARCLAYS BAMK CLUB PLEASE??

had my old account with them a few years back.... they were completely incompetsnt, made about 3 mistakes on my account in a year (ie taking random £ out then putting it back in etc)
One day a mystery deposot appeared of £80 in a branch ive NEVER even heard of while o was at uni in an exam! They were ADAMENT it was me (but eventually found it wasnt), wrote telling me they'l take it back out on a certain day, took it out 3 weeks earlier, caused me LOADS of hssel etc so i swapped to halifax...

didnt quite close the account tho and last saturday got a letter teling me my account (with about a £1 in) was £255 OVER DRAWN

ot took me ALL morning to sort out, even on the computer said it was a 'bank error' so i told em i was CLOSING my account, but they wouldnt let me cause it was over drawn!!!! THEIR error.
They then told me it was a GOODWILL gesture that they have refunded the £25 unauthorised over draft fee (apperently you get 1 per year!)

ANYWAY was less then amused and told em they WILL be paying me my tme and traveling expenses for me to go to the bank AGAIN (and trust me they WILL!!!!)

HRHQoQ · 22/10/2005 23:40

you changed to the Halifax..........with it's ridiculous 6 working days to cash cheques, and cr*p customer service

NannyL · 22/10/2005 23:41

buballo wonder if they paid your dads money into MY account lol??

they were ggood at paying in other peoples money!

NannyL · 22/10/2005 23:42

Had no probs with halifax (yet) and rarely have cheques anyway

plan to move llyds tsb as and when i et round to it, (my works in C&G and when she needs 1 more for her targets she can use me!

NannyL · 22/10/2005 23:42

Had no probs with halifax (yet) and rarely have cheques anyway

plan to move llyds tsb as and when i et round to it, (my works in C&G and when she needs 1 more for her targets she can use me!

HRHQoQ · 22/10/2005 23:44

I've been with the Halifax for about 14yrs (got my first 'cardcash' account with them - and have never bothered to move).......lets just say they've gone downhill in recent years - and are now positively pants (although not as bad as HSBC or Barclays.......yet)

cinderelly · 22/10/2005 23:55

I only read first post and felt my blood pressure rising so I stopped. I used to work in a call center for about 9 months which was the most frustrating job ever. Nobody knows what they are doing including the people answering the phones. If I was you, write a complaint letter by all means but expect it to go in the bin! If you mean business write to a newspaper. Ombudsman too busy dealing with Endowment complaints.

cinderelly · 22/10/2005 23:57

p.s/ read a report and 1st direct got 10/10 for cust.service. Anyone bank there?

MamaMaiasaura · 23/10/2005 00:05

Zeph - saw barclays advert tonight with an invisible card for extra security - really stupid and pointless advert - but perhaps that is what happened - they issued an invisible one

SofiaAmes · 23/10/2005 15:51

Had it with useless moronic unhelpful barclays staff 3 or 4 years ago.....(still waiting for branch manager to call me back), So I switched to Royal Bank of Scotland and have never ever had a spot of trouble with them. In fact, not only do you reach your own branch directly when you call (no call center, hooray!!), but my branch manager gave me his mobile number in case I needed to get through to him in a hurry. Our branch is in a relatively poor neighborhood and anytime I am in the branch, I am always impressed by how much time the staff spend helping people who need it, including elderly and people who don't really speak english very well.

Make the change and don't look back!

LadySherlockofLGJ · 23/10/2005 16:05

I have been with First Direct for about 10 years and they are brilliant.

jambuttie · 26/10/2005 16:16

I paid my paypal account on saturday which was about 12.00(4 sep items) which was taken from my account on saturday- i know this as i could not take the cash out and seen it on my online statement.

One of dd's came of 5 days early which dh is dealing with as this has incurred a £35 bank charge.

Went online banking today to find we have £175 bank charges I nearly shit myself.

Bank say it's for card mis use and these caheges stand. Didnt understand why as there was fund available for my paypal and have now been charged £35 each transaction overdrawn.

I am so bloody livid and now have made appt with the another bank to swap my services.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! DH is going mad as he thought I had overspent

Harrizeb · 26/10/2005 16:18

I'm another one that hates Barclays. - they set up a 5 grand standing order on my account to transfer money between accounts - I wish I had that much in there to transfer once let alone on a regular basis!!!

Can't wait to get things sorted so that I can move else where, but at the moment not sure where too. Prefer an internet based bank. Anyone any experience of smile?

H x

Harrizeb · 26/10/2005 16:20

Sorry jambuttie crossed posts - that is absolutely horrendous!! How in hell do they get a way with this? really makes me so who's bloomin money is it in the first place!!!

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