Finally walking away from a toxic bank.
Bye bye, Barclays
Barclays goodbye
Yesterday my associations with Barclays Bank finally ended.
I closed my (now empty) current account. I warned them when they fucked me over whilst I was unemployed that they would lose a customer as a result. Without going into detail they refused to honour committments that were instrumental in my choosing to do business with them in the 90s, and in failing to honour those committments they profited and they cost me money at a time when I could ill afford it, and a consequent cascade of additional charges. My company accounts went a long time ago (along with the company itself). It took me the 8 years to completely fulfill the promise, partly through laziness but mainly for wanting to establish a stable history once I got back into work. (I would not normally make public comments about my banking arrangements for reasons of privacy and security, but since this is no longer applicable I have no reason not to.) After dragging my heels for so long, last year's rate-fixing scandal stung me into action not only because it was plain crooked, and I have no faith in a crooked bank, but also because the scandal reminded me of my own experiences of just how overtly self-serving Barclays actually are.
So - bye bye Barclays. I won't be back. Ever. And nor will anyone or anything I have any influence over. Very short-sighted of you.
