Although I don't use it too much these days, I still keep a Barclaycard for those unexpected emergencies and simple peace of mind. I was flabbergasted this morning to open receive a letter from Scott Miller, Barclaycard's Head of UK Operations informing me that my account would be closed in June because they are unable to provide a 'service' for those non-UK residents.
I am annoyed on several levels;
a) The notification arrived in a glossy brochure-looking letter which I normally dump without opening. Perhaps that was the idea?
b) What 'service' are they referring to. I have lived in France for 4 years, receive e-statements and other than sending me a replacement card once every 3 years the only 'service' I receive is unwanted bumph.
c) I have been a customer for well over 30 years and they seemed very happy to offer me a 'service' when I was paying them exhorbitant levels of interest but now I have retired and don't use it too often, they obviously find me a burden.
Yet another example of discrimination towards ex-pats. I felt sufficiently motivated to ping them a snotty email but this was easier said than done as they clearly do not encourage feedback on their website and restrict emails to just a few characters of free text and I hd 2 rsort 2 txt spk 2 snd thm msg. Feeling unsatiated in venting my speen (or shd i say vntng my spln!)I have also voiced my displeasure to their Customer Services in an old fashioned letter. It remains to be seen whether this is a policy change and a done deal or whether they will exercise discretion.
Has anyone else encountered this issue?
Yes they did correct their initial statement.
Not closing down but moving to non-core operations by 2016. I asked them after the news came out.
Barclays Bank recently announced that they were closing down their European operations in France, Portugal, Italy & Spain. Apparently these parts of their operation will be moved into a "bad bank."
Concerning my own situation I held a Barclaycard since 1969 and a few months ago was upgraded to Platinum and then a couple of weeks later the letter arrived!
Not so, mine was in regular use - not huge, but several entries each month.
Had exactly the same letter, after being a customer since 1970. What I found most annoying was the sentence that said they were terminating "because we can only temporarily support accounts based outside the UK". Since - as their records must show - I have had nothing but French addresses for 21 years, they have a strange definition of "temporary". To reply to your question, it appears that there is absolutely no discretion. A real person did in fact phone me in reply to my letter of protest, but made it clear they were not going to budge.
Their creative use of language gets better (if you can hang on to your sense of humour) - a new letter today reads "You recently asked us to close your Barclaycard account and although we're very sorry you have chosen to leave us, your account has now been closed".
I don't think contacting Barclays France is an option - I don't need another bank account, which they would insist upon, just a card payment service.
I would guess that much like the Barclaycard, if your account is in regular use, then they wont do anything. Its the sleepers they are trying to get shot of.
That would be a laugh, they would have to demand that around 30% of all account holders which includes the likes of Chinese and Russian investors close them too. That is one where they could not simply pick on 'resident' accounts because they have less money without a serious legal challenge which would undermine their reputation and cost them customers too.
Fortunately The Telegraph published and got a response about my question about our credit ratings. However what is planned next the closure of our UK bank accounts!?
I emailed Barclaycard Singapore who issued by card a couple of days ago and just after reading your link found a reply from them. The policy pursued in the UK is not being adopted by them since all countries operate separately. No doubt they have a vast majority of non-residents there anyway. Most people should probably open an account with any other Visa, Mastercard scheme in the country they live in, for instance here in France and be done with it.
Have just read the following published in The Telegraph; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/expat-money/10780197/Britons-face-losing-their-Barclaycards.html to which I gave my views. Seems like they are sticking by what they have said!
It has made me think about it at least, if not start getting worried about my card being taken away. Firstly, I have now been reminded in the course of this thread that my card was issued in Singapore, so presumably it is Barclaycard Singapore rather than UK, but that loads of the bumpf I receive comes from the UK, or perhaps via the UK. I now understand why I got a noticeable and perhaps slightly strange look when I gave them my Barclaycard in the bank here for them to read rather than use for a transaction that needed to be done by them. I was offered the opportunity to have a French one instead. Now I get the feeling that because it is foreign and especially the country of issue being a banking haven, that I was suspected of laundering perhaps. As if the trifling sums I move about or have at all would be worth doing it with to begin with. I am not really bothered since 99% of what I do could be done as easily with a debit card nowadays, but the whole thing does seem to be a dog's dinner the more I see.
I have been with Barclays since my first grant cheque in 1966 and that because the Bene't Street branch in Cambridge was between college and department, so first bank I saw. I had a Barclaycard very early on, never used it and did not have one again until 1998 I think. They then looked at my banking history in Singapore and saw that I had no naughties including the original unused card. If card issue practices are changing then I am suspicious and it looks very much like they are, so what exactly is behind it because it all looks very inconsistent?
I have a Barclaycard that I use regularly Brian and it has been renewed also. In fact my account was somehow hacked last year and they rang me to enquire if I was booking theatre tickets in Paris and flights to somewhere or other. As a result they cancelled my card , refunded the money and issued me with a new card. All very clean and courteous.
Oh dear me Brian!
What sort of delusion are you living under? I have been a customer with Barclays France for well over 20 years, not just a current account but lots of investments and assurancce vie, but when my Co-Op UK bank closed their Channel Islands operation last year and I asked Barclays France to help in opening an account with their Channel Island operation the response was an emphatic "get lost". This organisation, or rather lack of it, behave as if they have followed the UDI route and deny that the UK (or anywhere else) operation is nothing to do with them. they will not even send an identification document or sample signature to a branch outside France.
I've just been on the phone to Barclaycard aabout another matter and have been told they are closing all Barclaycaard accounts - I use my card about 5 times a month so they definitely can't claim lack of use though they don't make much off me, I always pay in full on the last day possible. I'll change my address to my sister in laws and manage the account on line.
The statement from Barclaycard was ambiguous Jennie, apparently if you use your card regularly, you are unlikely to receive a letter. Though there are comments about needing a UK address it would be interesting to hear from anyone who uses their card regularly who has received a letter. Seems to be expats who dont use the card or hardly ever use it.
Yep - same thing happened to me when living in the US. I phoned and wrote but no luck. I was told I could apply again for a new one when I returned to the UK. 3 years later I returned, applied for a card and was given one with a limit of £250 and it took years to build up a decent limit again despite letters of complaint. And when I tried to get a mortgage with them at age 60 - no help at all. My 43 yr history with Barclays counted for nothing. I changed banks.
Dont worry Debra, I just saw your response and wondered why the comment re 'bank accounts' was on the Barclaycard thread. Both subjects important for those who are ex pats without a UK address. Can imagine the fall out if the UK did ever decide to leave the EU...!
I am an expat, have been for 20 yrs, and now live in Rep. of Ireland. I use my Barclays Connect card regularly as I have a pension paid into my UK Barclays account and I shop in Northern Ireland. I have not, so far, received any notification like you have.
Fair enough...it can be a bit hit and miss.