The story so far:

Barclays Bank (UK) shut down my account without telling me, and while I still owed them money.  They seem to have written my business account off as a bad debt. Last Thursday, Paula Moore, Barclays, told me I’d been handed over to the complaints team who would contact me.

This morning, three working days later, I wrote this email to Barclays:

From: Omani
Sent: 11 November 2008 10:26
To: Moore, Paula : Local Business Network
Subject: RE: Closure of Business Account

Dear Paula,

Thank you again for your email.  I’ve been looking forward to hearing from Barclays ‘complaints team’, but so far there’s been no contact from them.  At this stage I’d like to gather more information on what exactly happened. 
1) Why was the account closed without me getting anything in writing?
2)  Did the person who decided to close my business account consider the fact that I had several other personal accounts with Barclays?
3) That I’d been a business customer of Barclays since 1998?
4) Is there any intention to provide me with a final statement of the now closed account?

I don’t feel ready to complain, yet, because I’m not in possession of the full facts.  I have only experienced the end product, the process is still a mystery to me.

Please help me sort this out.  I’ll continue to relate to you as my relevant Barclays manager until that happens.

With thanks for your help and anticipated help with this disturbing matter. I still can’t believe Barclays shut my business account without telling me, and left me to discover it through hard, embarrassing and time-consuming experience.
Your sincerely

Omani

______________________

21 minutes later…

 

Tuesday, 11 November, 2008 10:47 AM
From: 
To:      Omani

RE: Closure of Business Account

From:
To:  Omani
 
To Mr O’Mani,
 
Barclays complaints team are now dealing with this for you.
 
Please contact them on 08453004149 to discuss this any further as I am unable to answer your questions in any more detail.
 
Your complaint reference number is 100832TZ.
 
Many Thanks
 
Paula Moore
______________________
 
To which, 27 minutes later after a strong cup of water, I replied…
Tuesday, 11 November, 2008 11:14 AM
From:Omani
To: "Moore, Paula : Local Business Network"
Bcc: My whole world

Thank you for your email.

 

I’m reluctant to contact the complaints team because, as you said, I should expect them to contact me when they have investigated the matter.  I guess they will decide what Barclays are going to do to rectify the situation, or, I hope, make reparation for the trouble that’s been caused. That may take time and I don’t want to press them to  move faster than they can.


I don’t want to be left in limbo between you and them.  I’m sure you’ll appreciate this; it’s the sort of position you could easily be put in by any complex organisation from which you expect joined-up quality customer service.

Omani

Glanmire, Cork, Ireland

Dear Readers… I do not intend to give up, no matter how much I feel like walking away from Barclays Bank.  People like us need banks to provide a reliable quality service and they need crotchedy old bastards like me to nag and nag and nag, nicely.  If this goes on and on, I’ll publish the full length story and mail it to the Matthew W Barrett, Group Chief Executive and each member of the Leadership Team at the bank.