Is Barclays Business the worst in the world?
Discussion
I went from self employed to a proper business earlier this year. As part of that I had to set up a business account and my accountant suggested Barclays.
I've been absolutely staggered by their ineptitude! I had to go to a bank to set up up, fine. Except it couldn't be the local branch, or the next town or the one after that. It had to be 30 miles away. Because Covid.
Fine, all set up, including a credit card applied for. Paying in book and chequebook (helpful) arrived, no card (debit or credit). Debit card turned up eventually, three weeks later, still no credit card!
Many phone calls later (which included getting cut off by someone who clearly didn't want to deal with it), finally got a credit card out of them.
Third transaction - card declined. Called Barclaycard. Got put through to someone in India working from home using a computer (rather than an actual phone), couldn't understand what they were saying. Tried again, another India call centre worker, said he'd pass the call on to someone else. After over 1/4 hour on hold I gave up, called back again. Got passed on again, finally got through to someone. Basically, because it's a new account, and I've been using it, it's flagged up as a potential fraud. That, in itself, isn't an issue (well, it is but I get it), but the whole process of getting through...
Maybe I've been unlucky, maybe they're all like this, but certainly my personal banking has never been an issue like this.
Anyway, there it is, a vent while I've been on hold.
I've been absolutely staggered by their ineptitude! I had to go to a bank to set up up, fine. Except it couldn't be the local branch, or the next town or the one after that. It had to be 30 miles away. Because Covid.
Fine, all set up, including a credit card applied for. Paying in book and chequebook (helpful) arrived, no card (debit or credit). Debit card turned up eventually, three weeks later, still no credit card!
Many phone calls later (which included getting cut off by someone who clearly didn't want to deal with it), finally got a credit card out of them.
Third transaction - card declined. Called Barclaycard. Got put through to someone in India working from home using a computer (rather than an actual phone), couldn't understand what they were saying. Tried again, another India call centre worker, said he'd pass the call on to someone else. After over 1/4 hour on hold I gave up, called back again. Got passed on again, finally got through to someone. Basically, because it's a new account, and I've been using it, it's flagged up as a potential fraud. That, in itself, isn't an issue (well, it is but I get it), but the whole process of getting through...
Maybe I've been unlucky, maybe they're all like this, but certainly my personal banking has never been an issue like this.
Anyway, there it is, a vent while I've been on hold.
The high street banks have, in my view, overtaken HMRC as the leading anti-business institution available today.
I'm with Starling. Opened the account on an App. All set up there and then. Card arrived four days later. No issues with them whatsoever.
2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
I'm with Starling. Opened the account on an App. All set up there and then. Card arrived four days later. No issues with them whatsoever.
Al Gorithum said:
Walk away. vermin. They foreclosed on a commercial mortgage I had with them, for no visible reason whatsover (no arrears or late payments). If I hadn't had the cash available to pay it off immediately they would have taken my business.
Utter, utter filth...
I'm sure there are many similar stories. Mine - not Barclays but RBS - I think is worse.Utter, utter filth...
2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
StevieBee said:
I'm sure there are many similar stories. Mine - not Barclays but RBS - I think is worse.
2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
Dreadful story. IIRC I think it was RBS that deliberately pressurised firms into liquidation so that their vulture chums could swoop in and make a profit. 2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
Al Gorithum said:
StevieBee said:
I'm sure there are many similar stories. Mine - not Barclays but RBS - I think is worse.
2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
Dreadful story. IIRC I think it was RBS that deliberately pressurised firms into liquidation so that their vulture chums could swoop in and make a profit. 2011 and my then business was part of a group of businesses all interconnected. One of which was a printer. Around 70% of their work was publishing and printing charity greeting cards. They'd buy or commission artwork in the spring. Print over the summer and deliver in Autumn and get paid in the Winter. It had worked like clockwork for years using factoring provided by RBS. Was a nice, profitable enterprise. Then RBS announced they were withdrawing the factoring service. Like your story, no reason was given. Was unwilling to provide an overdraft. None of the other banks interested despite the books looking good and long term contracts in place. Result was that two weeks before Christmas the company was placed into insolvency; 30 people loosing their jobs.
Around this same time, my business partner had invested in an executive transport business (Airport Limos, etc.) with his accountant. Was supposed to be a pure investment but the accountant went rogue so he ended up running it with RBS effectively buying the accountant's share (35% IIRC). My business partner ended up running a business he had no interest in but turned it around very nicely and found a buyer that would have made him and the bank a nice slice of cash. RBS refused to sell stating openly to him that they'll wait for him to walk away. He didn't - ran it for several years before eventually RBS caved in.
Al Gorithum said:
Walk away. vermin. They foreclosed on a commercial mortgage I had with them, for no visible reason whatsover (no arrears or late payments). If I hadn't had the cash available to pay it off immediately they would have taken my business.
Utter, utter filth...
Exactly. Both RBS and Barclays are villians. They wanted to sell it for a quick profit, as happened with the other poster's business.Utter, utter filth...
Ari said:
Many phone calls later (which included getting cut off by someone who clearly didn't want to deal with it), finally got a credit card out of them.
Third transaction - card declined. Called Barclaycard. Got put through to someone in India working from home using a computer (rather than an actual phone), couldn't understand what they were saying. Tried again, another India call centre worker, said he'd pass the call on to someone else. After over 1/4 hour on hold I gave up, called back again. Got passed on again, finally got through to someone. Basically, because it's a new account, and I've been using it, it's flagged up as a potential fraud. That, in itself, isn't an issue (well, it is but I get it), but the whole process of getting through...
Vote with your wallet. Walk away, many better business accounts. We use Monzo. I've seen Starling is quite good too, and a number of others.Third transaction - card declined. Called Barclaycard. Got put through to someone in India working from home using a computer (rather than an actual phone), couldn't understand what they were saying. Tried again, another India call centre worker, said he'd pass the call on to someone else. After over 1/4 hour on hold I gave up, called back again. Got passed on again, finally got through to someone. Basically, because it's a new account, and I've been using it, it's flagged up as a potential fraud. That, in itself, isn't an issue (well, it is but I get it), but the whole process of getting through...
When I was arranging my mortgage the two cheapest rates were 1) Barclays and 2) Halifax. Mortgage broker quite rightly argued it's better to go for the (marginally) higher rate at Halifax than have to deal with Barclays and the indian call centre team.
He was right, as I had a mate get a mortgage with Barclays (poor sod) and took them 5 weeks to do what others did in 3 days.
Barclays are hopeless and grossly inept. Their help desk is appalling, staffed by Indian nationals with English as a second language who can only follow a given script, no help at all. Random “security” checks on legitimate payments causing loads of grief, but allow 5 IPhones to be bought at 2 minute intervals before flagging up a problem. The most clunky and unreliable business banking app known to man. Slowest and most unreliable mortgage division known to man.
Also use Lloyds who in my experience are vastly better in every department.
Also use Lloyds who in my experience are vastly better in every department.
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