What a bunch of Bankers... (Barclays Bank)

Member Name: Steve McNamee

Product:	Barclays Bank
Date:	08/11/02 (1016 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Poor customer services, No flexibility, Rude and discourteous staff

Barclays have contrived to make my life a living nightmare.

I have been with them for 15 years now, and the treatment I have had from them recently has been nothing short of demeaning, disrespectful, distrusting, amounting to pure rudeness at times.

After finishing University, my overdraft limit was an incredible £2600. After working extremely hard to decrease this to a mere £500, my job situation changed. I left my previous employer (the equally incompetent Accident Group - another story!) with them owing me £1500 in wages. The job I then took on was on a far lower pay bracket, but the bonus system was excellent. Unfortunately, this bonus scheme takes up to 2 months to bear fruit.
Unable to manage my bills and general living costs, I went to see a personal banker at Barclays to extend my overdraft a little up to £900. This would mean that I would be able to have peace of mind without the risk of my being evicted or becoming an anorexic overnight due to the price of food!!! The 'assistant' (and I use the term loosely) was very rude and even stated that she objected to the market area in which I work - even suggesting that this downturn in fortunes "might be a blessing in disguise as it will help [you] get a proper job doing something more honest"! After explaining my current situation, she explained that while the wage problem with my previous employer was "unfortunate" Barclays would not be able to extend my overdraft for the temporary timescale (3 months) that I was requesting.
I then explained that my account was in credit at this point (being the beginning of the month) albeit not by much, and that surely this was a strong bargaining position. I had, after all, evidence of a reliable income, and also a letter from my boss explaining the bonus scheme and the 2 month aspect. Her response was to stay within my current overdraft limit for the next 2 months, and then come back! I replied that this was im
possible, and that this was the whole reason I required an extension.
She became quite heated at this point and stated that if I wasn't happy with the service I was receiving "perhaps [you] should go and find another bank that [you] are happy with"!

Trying to contain my anger, I stated that if this was the way that Barclays dealt with people when their account was IN CREDIT, then I would hate to see how they spoke to people in serious debt. "I think perhaps you would" was the response I received. Shocked at this, I stood up and left, upset at being dealt with in such a cold, heartless manner. I am now considering other options but am unsure as to which bank I should take my business to.

I am left with a very sour taste in the mouth from Barclays, and am now facing mounting bills which I have no facility to deal with at this moment in time. This has left me feeling frustrated and depressed, as I cannot see a way out of this downward spiral. My advice is to not go anywhere near Barclays with a bargepole, as they have obviously not yet heard of the virtues of customer service and are completely inflexible (sp.?).

Summary: