Not very good credit card provider (Barclaycard)

Member Name: paulie1975

Product:	Barclaycard
Date:	25/01/09 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good website and good adverts

Disadvantages: Awful customer service, really poor

I checked the rates and decided to get a credit card based on a number of things, reputation, interest rate APR, and 0% balance transfer, so last July I plumped for Barclaycard.

I feel like it was a huge mistake and have recently cancelled the card due to pretty appalling service.

Application
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At this stage, things seem really positive, I did all of this online and it was quick, painless, gave me a choice of the style of card required and was easy to understand and process.

Receiving the Card
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Again following confirmation of my acceptance, I was called to run over a few areas of clarification and then advised I would have my card within a week.

Setting the Card up
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Unfortunately for me this is where it all started going awry, I called to register my card and got through to an operator who struggled to understand me, he noted my address down incorrectly, and when I asked about the balance transfer at 0% told me this was not possible. I was appalled and told him so he simply said that I had been mistaken and he couldn't help me.

Using the card
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Using the card online was fine, I used it in a shop and they had to call my provider, we called them, neither myself or the shop assistant could understand what was being asked of us. I didn't use the card.

Also I went on holiday in November and advised Barclaycard, they asked me a security question about a purchase two months ago, I explained that I was at work and didn't have that information in front of me, could they ask me any of my security questions, without answer they put me through to their fraud section, I asked the fraud section why I was there, they said I was suspected of using the card fraudulently, then they advised the officer had put a block on the card, meaning I couldn't use the card on holiday at all it was ridiculous.

In trying to cancel the card last week, I again had language issues with the operator and had to ask to speak to somebody who could understand my request, I was put through to someone in London who was really helpful and told me I should have been allowed the 0% balance transfer, my card shouldn't have been stopped and how sorry he was.

Eventually the card was cancelled but i've had a statement today saying I still owe interest so I don't think it has, i've been embarrassed by how bad Barclaycard actually are and they have obviously cut their costs on customer service, but at the detriment of.....customer service.

Not a good service and definitely not something i'd recommend from my experience to others. Although the website is fine

Summary: Needs to spend more money on Customer Service and less on fancy adverts