Barclaycard - shambles - what alternatives
Discussion
I've had a Barclaycard for many years but they appear to have lost the plot...
The chat function tells you "Our chat service is unavailable while we make changes to it".
The telephone support tells you to use the chat function because "We've fewer colleagues to speak to you in our contact centres at the moment" (no explanation as to why). If you do get past the AI IVR, the human that answers the call barely understands what a credit card is, then cuts you off. The last person I spoke to told me that their computer software didn't seem to be responding in a tone that suggested they were looking for advice from me to fix it!
So, what fee-paying or fee-free card is worth considering that gives some cashback (don't travel enough to use points / lounges) and has a customer service department that still vaguely remembers the concept of "customer service"?
The chat function tells you "Our chat service is unavailable while we make changes to it".
The telephone support tells you to use the chat function because "We've fewer colleagues to speak to you in our contact centres at the moment" (no explanation as to why). If you do get past the AI IVR, the human that answers the call barely understands what a credit card is, then cuts you off. The last person I spoke to told me that their computer software didn't seem to be responding in a tone that suggested they were looking for advice from me to fix it!
So, what fee-paying or fee-free card is worth considering that gives some cashback (don't travel enough to use points / lounges) and has a customer service department that still vaguely remembers the concept of "customer service"?
ecs0set said:
So, what fee-paying or fee-free card is worth considering that gives some cashback (don't travel enough to use points / lounges) and has a customer service department that still vaguely remembers the concept of "customer service"?
American Express (I have a free, cash back card) is in a completely different league to everyone else I've dealt with, and I do also have Barclaycard and Mastercard.Snag is it can be a bit limited where you can use it.
mikef said:
Yep, I traded in my Amex Platinum for a no-fee Blue when I retired, and the customer service is still good
The blue one looks pretty basic, Cashback Everyday at least pays you a reasonable amount of cash back albeit you can’t use it abroad without charges. Pair that up with either a Lloyds Ultra or Virgin Money Cashback card to cover off the situations where you either want to use it abroad or the retailer doesn’t take Amex.Ultra possibly shades it a bit, but VM still seem to have reasonable customer service, albeit it’s anyone’s guess what will happen when Nationwide attempt to integrate them. Both Lloyds and VM give decent enhanced cash back offers over & above the standard rate for the card.
Sheepshanks said:
Snag is it can be a bit limited where you can use it.
It's not bad anymore though, even Aldi takes it 
You can also link-it via PayPal which sometimes allows you to pay using it when the vendor doesn't take Amex, you can then still get the points/cashback. I reckon we put 95% of our non-fixed cost spending through Amex.
Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 3rd February 14:50
CMTMB said:
What is it you need to speak to them about? There's not much that can be sorted online / on an app these days.
Two (attempted) interactions in the last 12 months...One was a section 75 claim due to an online reseller who claimed to have delivered something, hadn't, and refused any responsibility. Barclaycard did the automatic bit, but then left it open with no action for 2 months. Impossible to get an update from them. Fortunately, it eventually turned up when someone arrived at their 2nd home and discovered a correctly addressed parcel than was 1/4 mile from the correct destination so section 75 cancelled.
Second, Barclaycard emailed back in September to tell me that the "Barclaycard Cashback Rewards" account was closing and that I needed to redeem it and watch out for the exciting new "Barclaycard Cashback Rewards" account which I could apply to join in October. No subsequent comms about it. I seem to have been enrolled in the new one automatically, I just wanted to know the reason for the change, what differences there were to T&Cs.
The latter one didn't seem a difficult question, but couldn't find anything online. I lasted 45 minutes on the phone with the "Rewards Team" and "Barclaycard Team" before deciding that they are now a total shower and that I expected more from a financial institution.
I did previously have an Amex Blue. It was a bit limiting when some places don't accept it.
One from the same place as the current account (Nationwide) isn't a bad shout. I'll check if they do a rewards one (this is PH, I spend enough on car maintenance alone for cashback to be worthwhile!).
One from the same place as the current account (Nationwide) isn't a bad shout. I'll check if they do a rewards one (this is PH, I spend enough on car maintenance alone for cashback to be worthwhile!).
I just want plain cashback and I can't be bothered with loyally points or rewards or fees.
For years and years all my spending used my Barclaycard Cashback Credit Card which once said Founder Member on the card and originally paid maybe 2% cashback but over the years has reduced to only 0.5%. No fees.
I have recently converted my Lloyds Platinum Balance Transfer Card which I didn't use for years into a Lloyds Ultra Credit Card which pays 1% cashback for 1 year. No fees. The conversion was instant online and I could make purchases there and then without having possession of the card as everything including PIN and CVC is online. Which is a bit worrying.
For years and years all my spending used my Barclaycard Cashback Credit Card which once said Founder Member on the card and originally paid maybe 2% cashback but over the years has reduced to only 0.5%. No fees.
I have recently converted my Lloyds Platinum Balance Transfer Card which I didn't use for years into a Lloyds Ultra Credit Card which pays 1% cashback for 1 year. No fees. The conversion was instant online and I could make purchases there and then without having possession of the card as everything including PIN and CVC is online. Which is a bit worrying.
Cupid-stunt said:
I had (and still have) the Am Ex for a number of years.
But decided to get the Lloyds card at the start of the year and try to do all my spending on that instead.
No issues with it and seems to work fine.
Not had any dealings with customer service....
I got a Lloyds Ultra a few months ago after my Barclaycard got hacked. The Lloyds card gave 1% cashback and was fee free abroad. But decided to get the Lloyds card at the start of the year and try to do all my spending on that instead.
No issues with it and seems to work fine.
Not had any dealings with customer service....
My initial experience was pretty good, but they've been a bit of a shambles when I added a second card for my wife. They require you to validate quite a few transactions. For me that was fine, easy with the app or by code to phone. Second card holders can't use the app and there is no obvious way of adding a phone number for the second card. The humans on the online chat (Bot was useless) appear to be in India and were very variable, with conflicting advice.
They do seem better if you get through a UK based person.
There's also no way of checking second card details or PIN through the app.
Overall, no worse than Barclaycard.
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