Dont we deserve to know if our money is in safe hands? (Barclays Bank)

Member Name: Shmokeh

Product:	Barclays Bank
Date:	08/11/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Competitive rates, Dont discriminate over age, Welcoming

Disadvantages: Bad customer service

One of the top banks in the world, with branches spreading across the world! You would think they got there with excellent customer service and management, all is not so...


It has to be said that Barclays does boast a nationwide array of easy access branches, and you're never far from a cash point that supports a Barclaycard. However the lack of staff in these branches guarantees you a cue. I have yet to walk into a Barclays, even the local one in the middle of nowhere, and not had to cue for more than 5 minutes. The staff also seem to be a bit clueless and I have had countless times where they have had to contact another member of staff because they cannot help me.

In terms of Barclay's accounts, there's a large span of options to opt for; with accounts aimed at students, businesses, children, non working or working adults. I have yet to try a lot of these accounts as I am still a student, however the options I have had available to me usually beat most of the high street banks.

Barclays is the only bank that could offer me a debit card (without an overdraft) under the age of 18, and they don't discriminate giving you half the standard interest rate because of your age unlike most banks. They also offer excellent accounts with interest free overdrafts for students attending university; they are defiantly a wise choice for younger customers.

Recently I have had a major problem with Barclays; the fact that they monitor your transactions for fraud isn't particularly a good thing. I have had my card cancelled 3 times now due to 'suspicious activities'. All three times have been because I have brought something online, which never used to be a problem. They expect you to call a premium number to confirm these are not fraudulent, and cannot sort it out in your local branch.

To summarise Barclays offers some excellent accounts, and is certainly worth checking if you're looking for an overdraft or loan. I have only had experiance with Student Accounts and can safely say there are no drawbacks simply an interest free overdraft with little hastle. However beware of poor customer service and long waiting times as customer service certainly isnt one of their strong points!

Summary: Great for students, although lacking on customer service