Barclays Bank - $££%%&^%^%**&*&@%!!!!!

Advantages: (+) expansive range
Disadvantages: (-) too many to mention...poor service, increasing prices, made many mistakes w/ my account

...Little bit of history: I first opened an account with Barclays Bank when I was 11 years old after being recommended by a school friend and her Mother. I had the normal savings account - a bank card to use at the ATM and bank branch itself, with a daily £50 limit. Between the ages of 11 and 15 I had no problems with the bank, until of course when I was 16; a week before my 16th Birthday my account was updated/upgraded. I now had a chip+pin card but my account was essentially the same as before. However, one difference was that I now had £100 daily limit instead of the former £50. This was agreed in my contract which I\'d received in the post around my 16th b.day. This is when the problems started. Thinking I had £100 to spend each day, I went shopping with friends and had planned to buy some Nike trainers costing £85. These were my...

vcarina88x 27.07.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays the Big Crappy Bank

Advantages: Their error means I now have a pro-active Bank
Disadvantages: they were very impersonal

...Before you read this Opinion you need to know that I am a Business Manager with NatWest Bank. This Opinion has been written by a friend of mine who has very recently switched from Barclays to NatWest (I didn't get involved apart from saying I would but this Opinion up for people to read). I personally would not go around slating our Competitors but considered my frineds experiences worthy of your interest. The Opinion is as follows ; Talk about being just a number and not recognised for who or what you are. When I was a student , all the Bank's courted us like crazy. At University we were approached by all the major UK PLC's trying to convince us to come and work for them. When we Graduated the Bank wanted to lend me lots of money to buy a Car. Then what happened (I dropped into this big void). You see when I...

richardandkaye 19.08.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays, and banking in general

Advantages: long established; worldwide reputation; provides wide range of facilities.
Disadvantages: Impersonal; poor at customer service except from branch staff

...All banking has changed dramatically since the '60s revolution when all workers were 'encouraged' to open a bank account. Since then with computerisation, a plethora of products, removal of managers and most staff, changes in the money market, the influence and competition from the USA and the drive to increase profits banking has lost the personal touch. Against that we now have greater control over our accounts and actions through internet banking. From my experience and comparing it to the other banks - not the building society banks - Barclays offers a good internet system and this extends to Barclaycard. Many of the bad comments are due to unrealistic expectations and education of what banks actually do. The first point is to understand that no one person has any responsibility for you or your account; secondly, the computer is...

apex2000 30.07.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Beware of the Bank that is Barclays

Advantages: (+) wide range of accounts (+) generally good savings accounts
Disadvantages: (-) poor online + phone service (-) poorly trained advisors (+) many charges

...Little bit of history: I first opened an account with Barclays Bank when I was 11 years old after being recommended by a school friend and her Mother. I had the normal savings account - a bank card to use at the ATM and bank branch itself, with a daily £50 limit. Between the ages of 11 and 15 I had no problems with the bank, until of course when I was 16; a week before my 16th Birthday my account was updated/upgraded. I now had a chip+pin card but my account was essentially the same as before. However, one difference was that I now had £100 daily limit instead of the former £50. This was agreed in my contract which I'd received in the post around my 16th b.day. This is when the problems started. Thinking I had £100 to spend each day, I went shopping with friends and had planned to buy some Nike trainers costing £85. These were...

verna-carina88x 16.07.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays Premier Life a/c - Revolutionary

Advantages: Great package for possibly cheaper than what you now pay.
Disadvantages: Strict eligibility criteria

...I have had a Barclays Premier account for something like 10 years and recently spotted on the Barclays website that they have introduced a new product called Premier Life. The website doesn't give you a great deal of information about this new product but as I have now been accepted and received the bumf I thought it would be useful to share it with you. I do not work for Barclays and am not on commission but have to say that it is the best thing to happen to banking in ages. What do you get?: Everything in the regular Premier account: ie : £1000 free overdraft £750 withdrawal limit. And yes you can take £750 out of a cash machine, you just need a very big wallet ( I paid the electrician by cash recently) 24 hour freecall customer service 9.9% overdraft instead of regular account 15.9% Discounted mortgage and loan products Instant...

zoetna 20.03.2008 (31.03.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Worst of the 'BIG FOUR' Banks

Advantages: Lots of branches, Free pens always in stock
Disadvantages: Inefficient and poorly trained staff, Fees, uncompetitive rates, HUGE queues

...I had decided to open an account with Barclays for the convenience of being able to pay money in at Barclays branches for occasions when none of my other banks' branches are nearby. This is important to me because I do receive a lot of cheques and Internet banking just doesn't help. OPENING AN ACCOUNT I took ID, credit and bank statements into my nearest Barclays bank, and waited in the waiting area until I was called up. When it was my turn, I was called over by a young male and invited to his desk where he preceded to enter my details into his computer. When completed, I was told that I couldn't have a Current account because my credit score isn't good enough. Poor start, but I was recommended a more basic current account, which I was happy with since I could still pay in at branches with it. I filled in a paper form...

Deru 23.08.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays A Great Bank

Advantages: Great range of competitive services to offer every type of customer
Disadvantages: Barclayard the credit card story..........

...I have banked with Barclays since i started work with them in March 2006, since then i have left working for them but they have offered me the great same service as always. Barclays gives you everything you need from a bank, from a basic bank accounts to help you build your credit history to student accounts that help you with many benifits that are greatly appriciated as a student(interest free overdrafts, low rate credit cards etc), also offering range of other services included personal loans, credit cards and high interest earning saving accounts. Barclays also offer shares and stocks and oppertunities for investment if you have money to play with, this includes long term and short term savings so you can see your money grow from the start. Competitive mortgage rates are available if you are interested in getting on the property...

ibby88 18.05.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank - Safe Haven for your future

Advantages: On-line - It's quick and Easy
Disadvantages: Popular Bank, so very busy at lunchtimes

...I have had an account with Barclays Bank for all of my life. My parents opened up a childrens savings account when I was a baby, deposited small amounts of money into my account for me, and once I was old enough to start taking any interest in money and savings, those small amounts had grown into a sizeable amount. I remember getting statements every six months and I could watch my money grow...and interest, I didn't know what it was, but every time that happened, more money went into my account. Barclays really did help me to become interested in saving money. It's not the most interesting subject in the world, but it is one of the most important! When I received special gifts with my account, like free stationary and money off vouchers, that's when I started to enjoy saving money. I think it's a good thing to do, get into...

Phil0205 18.11.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays Curent Account

Advantages: Good online service, good opening hours, local branches
Disadvantages: Poor customer service

...I've been a Barclays customer for eight years, have a current account, a Barclaycard and an ISA with them. I first started using the bank as a student, because they offered a pretty good overdraft limit. However, eight years later and I am currently experiencing some pretty shocking customer service in my opinion, which is making me seriously consider moving to another bank. After having a fraudulant payment taken out of my account in March I expected that it woudl be sorted out quickly. Six months later, I'm still waiting to get the money back, despite calls to debit card service, visits to the branch and now a complaint. The waits to get through to debit card services are very long - over an hour on hold. I then found that the staff were unhelpful and sometimes, in my opinion, verging on rude. I have tried going into the bank...

Leannie1000 07.09.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank

Barclays online banking in comfort

Advantages: Do all your banking at home
Disadvantages: None

...My husband joined Barclays bank quite a few years ago just after he left school. That was just an ordinary current account until he started a computer course at college and then changed it over to a student account. About a year into college he needed some cash to help everyday cost of living and to run his car. So he started work with an agency in a food factory a month after me (That's where we both met) and then decided to leave his college course as he wasn't learning anything new. He then had to change the type of account he had as it was still classed as a student account which he was no longer. The bank as a whole was very helpful and the change was done quickly and efficiently. After we got married in 1998 we then changed the account into a joint account for one reason or another but mainly because I needed access to cash while...

mumagain 20.04.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Barclays Bank Online