Barclays Travel Pack

[Cesarina]

This is a heads up for anyone who has a Barclays bank current account and pays a monthly fee for the bank's Travel Pack.
There's a Travel Pack Plus, but I've never explored that option.
We have for many years paid for this travel pack which is now £14.50 per month.
Putting it briefly and simply, it offers comprehensive RAC breakdown cover, and world-wide travel insurance - with T's and C's obviously.
We've always felt this was very good value, especially as I had to have hospital treatment in Chicago 6 years ago for which I was covered!
We had a letter in 2024 stating that changes would be made to this cover for all Barclays account holders from January 2025.
I read it quickly but didn't realise exactly what the changes were until I started making plans to travel overseas this autumn. The letter stated that some pre-existing medical conditions that had previously been covered may no longer be covered, and that customers may need to pay for an upgrade.
So I knew I would have to go through the medical screening again as I was planning to travel after the changes had taken place.
I spent over an hour on the phone to Barclays yesterday listing every medical condition from when it started, what treatment/medication I am having/am due to have.
The questions are very thorough, understandably.
Barclays would prefer you to do this screening online, but I wanted to deal with a human being,
When I phoned the number specific to this issue, a robot asks you questions but doesn't always like your answers if they don't comply exactly to their script.
I just persevered and the robot eventually gives up and puts you through to a person!
After this lengthy screening, I was told that some of my pre-existing conditions would not be covered unless I pay an extra fee of £334 - on top of the ongoing £14.50 a month. These are conditions that were previously covered but are not life-threatening, but for which I'm receiving treatment. Think HRT for instance. And this extra cover lasts 12 months. My husband will almost certainly be asked for a higher upgrade fee than mine.
I've realised this is a long, rather rambling post, and I know banks and insurance companies are businesses, and aren't our friends.
But this is yet another example of financial institutions taking more and more from us and giving less and less.
Not just charging more for cover, but trying to save money on staff by steering us online or to robots.
Rant over - just wanted to warn people!

the main thing you need to know about Barclays Travel Pack is that they won’t cover you when you reach 80. On the other hand, I had to claim last year and it was very simple and no questions asked.

Thank you, but I already know about the "over 80" rule.
My main issue is that pre-existing conditions that were covered, are now not covered unless you pay extra on top of the monthly fee

Bump

I have some pre-existing conditions (nothing problematic) but this is what puts me off these packaged accounts.

Surely now is the time to get some separate quotes for travel insurance etc to see if the account and its benefits are still good value.

It obviously is something Barclays wants to get rid of - no new customers and they’ve written to me about 50 times suggesting I dump it. I went through their screening (real person!) and passed, but I’ll check again as no doubt that cold I had in 2004 will nullify a claim for the broken ankle I might get (please no!!) in two years’ time.

So Barclays have written to you suggesting you dump the Travel Pack?
In that case I see what you mean by suggesting Barclays would rather not be providing it anymore - although I've had a look and they are certainly still offering it 🤷🏻‍♀️
And they haven't written to me suggesting I cancel the pack.......(yet?).
Aside from that 'though, their wanting extra money for conditions that used to be covered is just the latest issue proving that Barclays are putting their greed for more and more profit way above care for its customers.
For instance - the Barclays branch in my town has shut, along with branches in my 2 nearest towns. The nearest is 7 miles away. There is a "banking hub" in our community hall, but hours are limited and they don't handle cash.
I'm certain that for customers in more rural areas there is even less provision.
The Blue Rewards scheme has been watered down so much that it's not worth having......I could go on.
I'm sure other banks/building societies are behaving in the same way - and it's shit! 😠

They are offering it to new customers? I must have an old version which has breakdown cover too. I definitely received letters suggesting it might not be right for me… it is thanks!!

Agree about the branches. I tried to open an account for dd. I was told I had to go into a branch - the nearest, like yours, being 7 miles away. And the next appointment wasn’t for six weeks. You’d have thought they would have been desperate for a new customer but clearly not. Walked into Nationwide and opened an account - just like that!

Yes, Barclays are still offering the Travel Pack and the Travel Pack Plus to both new and existing customers.as far as I can tell.
We have the Travel Pack, not the Travel Pack Plus, which covers travel insurance and RAC breakdown cover.
To @Manif3st101 - I felt the Travel Pack cover was good value until they demanded more money, and yes, I'm certainly going to look at other options now.