Hi All, I thought of sharing my bitter experience with Barclay cards which was launched recently in India. I was not keen on going for additional card, as I am already holding 5 cards from different banks. When I saw the huge hoarding on the busy roads of Chennai, I thought of checking the branch networks in India. I started browsing their website and collected few info about the background of the bank. I was in a perception that Barclays bank was US Based bank, cos most of the time I could find their advt in F1 race...My perception was wrong. Ok lets get into review.
On the same day after seeing the huge hoarding one of my colleague got a call from Barclays card and he had called the sales representative to drop into my office with application forms.
After a slight hesitation me too applied for a "Barclays Gold Card" almost 15 people in our office had applied for Barclays card on the same day. It should be an happy day for the sales guy, cos he might have achieved his per day sales target within hours time. Almost everyone in our office had applied for Gold Card... Within 2 days we got the verification calls and through with that. Most of my colleagues and me have given our gold card as a proof for previous card holders and also as address proof. I had given my HSBC gold card as a proof of other bank credit card.
After 20 days I got a Pin mail from Barclays and followed by Barclays Credit Card kit. I was surprised and taken back when I saw the letter enclosed with the credit card, my credit limit was fixed to Rs 20000/- including a cash limit of 8000/-. I tried reaching their customer support to inquire whats going on with Barclays card, I applied for Barclays Gold Card using my HSBC Gold card as proof and they had sent me Smart card which is not in 1/4th of the credit limit of HSBC card. My efforts reaching their customer support service went in vain for almost 15 days. Most of the time the line were busy and even I tried reaching them using other state code, but no use.
In meantime I wrote a mail to Barclaycard stating the flaw in fixing the credit limit and mismatch in sending the card. One fine Friday evening I decided that today at any cost I should reach these guys, after half hour of relentless try I got through the line and I spoke to a customer support agent and told him about the mishap in Credit Card offering from Barclays. He was clueless when I put forth several questions. Whenever I raised a question he took more than 10 mins to get back to me with a solution, that too not concrete ones.
I abruptly told him to cancel the card and I am no more interested in continuing relationship with Barclays. He tried to convince me by saying we will give you gold card...bla bla bla... a pure customer retention strategy. First impression makes the best impression, and Barclays failed to catch up this tagline and hence they gonna a loose lot of customer based on this until they come up with best package and promotions to attract customers. And the worst thing they dont have branch in Chennai, and very few drop boxes that too in shopping malls and small shops were time is restricted between 8 AM - 10.30PM. I seriously advice not to go for this card unless they have a branch in City this is purely for last minute payers :)
Note: I havent got any formal letter from Barclays for card cancellation and still I am getting promotional sms and phone calls from Barclays.