Barcley's Bank are a complete pain and do not know what they are doing (Barclays Bank)

Member Name: jenjade

Product:	Barclays Bank
Date:	27/01/09 (308 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good rates!

Disadvantages: Do not know what they are doing. Won't take my cash!

I have read many reviews raving about how great Barclays bank are mainly the currant accounts being very good. I have no experience of the currant accounts but I do have lots of experience of ISA and Tax Havens with Barclays.

I had a Tessa ISA with the Woolwich and when they were taken over by Barclays my account when over to Barclay. Tessa's were then unavailable so I had to rearrange my cash. I choose to open an ISA in March before the new tax year and a Tax Haven after April so that would be all my money in Tax-free savings at a decent rate. Doing this was very complicated and I had to go to the branch on set days to open the account that was a complete pain but I did what they required me to do and the two accounts were opened.

In the following April I went into the branch on the 5th of April to transfer the ISA money across to the Tax Haven as the interest was much higher! I had to do it on the fifth to prevent losing interest on the ISA. So on the fifth i went in and completed the transaction. It had to be done in the branch rather then over the phone.

I went back into the branch in January as i had not received any statements or information about the accounts and requested a statement to be sent out. This was no trouble and the statement was send. Three days later, the statement arrived. Two statements for the two account. Very odd considering i should have only had the one account. To my shock, the money had not been transfer and my tax-free allowance had not been used! I went into the branch and i was very cross. The woman explained that you could not transfer from ISA to Tax havens i asked why i was not told this and was very cross. They did not apologies or seem to care. I calmed myself down asked whether i could pay into the TAX Haven from another account and was told i can pay £3,600 into the TAX Haven.

A few days later after i had sorted myself out and calmed down i went it with a cheque and some cash to put in the TAX Haven. I was told i could not put in cash but the cheque could go it. It would take a couple of days to clear. A week later i received a letter saying the cheque had not gone in and it had not cleared. I contacted my bank and they said there was nothing wrong with the cheque and it should have cleared. I wrote another cheque and the same thing happened again. I phoned Barclay and they blamed my bank although my bank said there was no problem.

I now have to set up a bank transfer, which i am a bit annoyed about. Barclays are more hassle then they are worth! Overall even with the higher rates i am considering removing my cash and putting it somewhere else it is just to much hasstle

Summary: Completly rubbish