A couple of months after I received my Barclays Credit Card, I received a phone call in mid-August from Barclays, offering me membership of Barclays Priority Circle. The benefits were lucrative, and so I agreed to the membership. However, when I searched the net for this BPC offer, I found all negative feedback. People were pretty unhappy with the quality of the free strolly bag, were wary of their holiday packages etc.
So, I shot-off an email asking Barclays to cancel my membership on 28-08-2008. I followed it with a phone call to thier "customer care" on 29-08-2008. As I had read in one of the feedbacks on the net, the customer care told me that ther membership can not be cancelled. However, an email reply from Barclays dated 30-08-2008 said that my case had been forwarded to the concerned department. So, I waited for their reply.
When I did not receive ant reply, I escalated my complaint to Head-Service of Barclays on 01-10-2008. Having not received any suitable response, I again wrote to Head Service on 14-10-2008, informing then that I will have to take the case up with Banking Ombudsman. I received an email, giving me a reference number for my case, and assuring a response in 7 days.
When I did not hear from them till 31-10-2008, I lodged a complaint with RBI’s Banking Ombudsman on 01-11-2008 through their website.
Today, on 03-11-2008, I have received email from Head Service - Barclays, that my membership has been cancelled, and refund will be made in the next statement.
I believe this is the end of the saga.
However, I am not going to use their card for these reasons :
1) Extremely poor (and this is an understatement) response from Barclays.
2) Card statement can not be viewed on the net (as I can do with my ICICI & Citi cards).
A very clear advice to all - STAY AWAY FROM BARCLAYS.
P.S. : On 11-11-2008, I received another email from Head Service, informing me that BPC fee and other charges on that fee has been reversed. I also received a phone call on 19th, confirming the same.
However, on 24-11-2008 I received an email from Barclays Service Executive that Barclays can not cancel my membership as there was delay of more than 21 days since debit of BPC fee, when I communicated them about my intention of cancellation of BPC membership (while, in fact, the delay was zero days, and I have documentary evidence of it).
Clearly, Barclays is being run highly unprofessionally. My complaint is already with Banking Ombudsman, and such volte-face will cost Barclays heavily.
Further post in March, 2009 : Finally, I have received statement from Barclays, showing zero balance. It has been mental torcher dealing with Barclays.