altho resident in japan i still keep my old uk bank account at barclays – tho i’m seriously of the opinion it’d be far more reliable to keep your money under the bed mattress – it took several months for them to acknowledge a change of address from me – because it’s regarded by barclays as a “security hazard” – meanwhile they continued to send all my bank statements containing all my account information to unknown people at my old address – that isn’t a security hazard apparently!
i had reason to contact them again recently – re three things actually:
i) most urgently and importantly i wanted to cancel a direct debit
ii) i needed information on how to transfer money from my savings account to my current account
iii) i wanted to register for online banking but it appears their web site form to sign up does not allow foreign post codes, so how do i proceed?
simple matters i’d have thought – but of course nothing is straightforward with barclays – they are resolutely fixed on being of minimal assistance possible and maximum inconvenience – japan: the customer is god – england: the customer is always at fault – customer care equals couldn’t care less
i received a reply saying they cannot carry out my request (singular?) because “we do not have a record of your signature” – meaning, basically, they’ve lost my most vital security information? – of course it is now my responsibility to rectify their professional incompetancy – i’ve been instructed to visit my nearest barclay bank to supply id and “update” my signature – my nearest barclays bank being, as they are fully aware, some 6000 miles away from me?!
and the fact is they DO already have all my personal security info – i blogged about it here!
also, my (ignored?) latter two questions were non-account specific, non-security hazard, general information queries – what kind of company/corporation refuses to impart information about their customer services? – answer: a very shady one!
i tried contacting them via their web site email form (hidden deep in their site) but always get the following error: “5 – Sorry – Barclays Online Banking is currently unavailable” – for “currently” please read permanently! – an impressive bureaucratic brick wall, barclays – i now suspect this is a fake message and i’m simply being auto-blocked because i’m outside the uk
the id they request is passport – along with a driving license or eu national identity card, neither of which i have – i do have a japanese equivalent but i think, looking at their track record of deliberate obnoxious aggravation, we can safely predict they’ll reject that…
i want “my” money! : (
That sucks on so many levels..
I’d try the same thing I always do when I’m pissed off at my cell phone carrier or cable provider or whatever if they don’t do as they should. (Mind you, I’m not asking for the world, just that their services works like they should, as I’m paying for them)
I contact them to let them know that I want to cancel my subscription, that always seems to put them in a better mood. Might work in this case as well?
Banks are the worst. I recently had a run in with Bank of America and ended up shouting into my phone at them. It’s so disconcerting that the people we give our money to are so very unprofessional and un-service oriented. The mattress option looks better and better!
yes, i’ve been trying hard not to write back a mr angry old man letter – waiting a few days to calm down, letting off steam here…
Sounds familiar…I’ve lived in the Netherlands for the last 20 years and I’m treated like an alien by my UK bank.Internet banking not available as I’m not a resident of the UK……?….Good luck with it
I am just glad my bank treats me well and is very helpful about almost everything (I have Nordea)
Why do you keep using this awful bank?
Ha ha, I still have a UK bank account but it soon became clear that if you move abroad they really can’t be bothered to be bothered with you. Best to move most of your cash to somewhere more convenient like the international, jet-setting, tax-dodging, filthy rich do. Only keep my UK account for nuisance value now : )
Let us know how you get on, Trevor ….